4/5

For a long time I felt like I was the only person in the world who hadn’t read this book. In 2018, I actually purchased a copy of the book for my mother as a Christmas gift, only to have her inform me she had read it over a decade ago. Well, better late than never I suppose, and I certainly can understand why the book has the popularity it does.

For as long as I can remember, I have been a very picky eater. It was definitely a childhood deficiency that was allowed to fester, and now I find myself as an adult trying to play catch up to so many different types of food. Bourdain’s book makes me envy the naturally culinary-adventurous-types. His story of going to Japan and eating anything put in front of him made me both excited and a little squeamish while reading. Still, the book is mesmerizing. Having worked in kitchens for a few years, Bourdain’s antics line up with the sort of people I met in the restaurant business. It was funny, it was touching, and it was damn interesting.