Anthony Bourdain: The Kindle Singles Interview

by David Blum

From his drug-addled youth (“I wanted to be a heroin addict long before I could get my hands on any heroin”) to the crowd-sourcing of food criticism (“the chickens have gnawed their way through the chicken wire”), author-chef-television host Anthony Bourdain lets loose on himself and the food world in a wide-ranging and provocative Kindle Singles Interview. In between jet-setting expeditions for new episodes of his hit CNN series, “Anthony Parts Unknown,” the bad-boy chef sat down recently for lunch at a New York bistro and served up an extended conversation, medium rare, covering all aspects of Bourdain’s extraordinary life. The interview was conducted by David Blum, who works for Amazon as the editor of Kindle Singles. Blum began his career as a staff reporter for The Wall Street Journal, and has been the editor-in-chief of The Village Voice, the New York Press and 02138 Magazine. He was previously a writer and editor at The New York Times Magazine, and a contributing editor at New York and Esquire magazines. He has written two "Flash in the The Life and Death of an American Restaurant" (1992), and " The Long Life & Turbulent Times of 60 Minutes" (2004). Cover design by Adil Dara Kim

Genres: Nonfiction, Food, Memoir, Biography, Culinary, Food and Drink

26 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 10, 2013

Reviews

[Jesse]

A very surface-level interview that merely echos themes from Bourdain's show and works. The time to read is better spent just watching Bourdain's new show.

[Greg]

There isn't much new in this interview. Anthony Bourdain is very honest in this interview it's interesting to get a brief background of how he became popular. This is only an interview so they only briefly go into Bourdain's life from his early days as a chef to his TV shows.

If you watch his shows there isn't a lot of new material here. His openness and tone are also the same as in his shows.

[Pat]

Purely emotional

Honestly, it was just nice to read Bourdain’s voice again and hear his cadence in my head. I thought the interview questions were interesting and allowed for a good response, so props to Mr. Bloom on that. I’ll read more of his interviews in the future.

[Steve]

An interview with Bourdain over beers and lamb burgers the night before Thanksgiving, 2013. Blum has moved away from food writing (he authored "Flash in the Pan" - which he here thanks Bourdain for recommending in one of his books, thereby making it successful years after it was published).

A "kindle single interview" that can be read in 30 minutes, and at $0.99 is worth it. Although I do wish Bourdain had "named names" of the critic who requires loads of perks for a review, and a positive review.

Fun, and controversial, as expected. Why I like Bourdain - he admits to his limited skills in the kitchen (despite a CIA education!). I don't agree with everything he says (yes, even in the age of social media, restaurant critics do matter). Worth a read, if you're into F&B, or Bourdain.

[K]

I want to be ....

If you don't want to be some semblance of Anthony Bourdain you must live under a rock. Travel, food, artistic license and no B.S., who wouldn't want to? David Blum asks the right questions you might have wondered about if you are a fan, and gets candid answers. Bourdain obviously, and wisely, thinks about all these kind of questions beforehand, even so it has some of the no nonsense off the cuff remarks he is famous for. A few shameless plugs(why not?), he admits as much in the interview although not in the same breath.
The best recommendation I can give, I will pass this on to my(adult) kids. Worth reading.

[Karen Hanson]

Interesting Snippet of Bourdain

I've just recently become a fan of Bourdain from watching his show No Reservations. Reading this interview was a lot like listening to him on his show, but with a few more personal insights. I wouldn't say the interview questions were all that insightful, but Bourdain's answers made it interesting and worth my time. Probably more like 3.5 stars but I'll bump it to 4 just because I'm a fan. Not a bad way to spend a half hour.

[Jeff]

As someone who has a passing interest in celebrity chef culture, and only knows Bourdain through Kitchen Confidential and the occasional Top Chef, this interview is a decent read. I cannot imagine a fan of his getting much new out of this, but it's overall a pretty standard interview.

[Amanda]

Like being there

I felt as if I was at the table eating with them. It is not that this was life changing in any capacity, but instead it was transporting. I was there. I could hear their voices, the glasses chiming with ice in them, forks hitting plates, chewing between sentences. A gateway to read more about Bourdain.

[David Ye]

David Blum asks some probing questions in this short but insightful interview. There are some missed opportunities to go beyond the tired questions about Bourdain's past drug use and his aversion to establishments like Zagat.

[CJ - It's only a Paper Moon]

A nice little hang out

feels like I just had lunch with Bourdain. the interviewer wasn't exactly Cronkite but did have a nice natural flow and I could easily picture the two of them eating burgers and having a beer.

[Robert Cummer]

Interesting and quick

Blum's interview of Bourdain was a quick, but revealing look at the former chef's views on critics and what it means to be a chef in today's world. Not too detailed, but enough to make me interested in reading Bourdain's books.

[Stephanie]

Enjoyable quick read

Anthony says many of the things that I felt while working in restaurants. So nice to know that I'm not the only one who has those thoughts. This little read has also inspired me to read more of his publications. His honesty is refreshing.

[James]

warning biased review

The rawness of an interview like this is crazy and very deep. I am a fan of Bourdain since about high school. I am cook at a local chain of googie diners and I can feel what he's saying here.

[Tom]

Really 3.5 stars. Not a lot new if you've read Bourdain's writing or other interviews, but he's consistently a no-BS guy who is nothing but honest about his good fortune and what is important in life to him. If only we all had the same opportunities and appreciation for life.

[Timothy]

A big fan of Bourdain. The interview is honest and engaging. You feel as if your sitting at a table with him. Not much more than what is already known about him, but it is still interesting to hear him tell it.

[Kristine]

Great dinner conversation!

Love kindle singles! Quick easy read, few chuckles and a great peek into a real character! Tony's kitchen confidential is a bigger view.... if you haven't read it yet,don't wait! Do it now!!!

[Emily]

An interesting interview

Bourdain always approaches food with an open mind, which is refreshing. How he describes the people who made the dish is as important as the food itself, and the way he talks about current food culture is a bit anthropological and a bit philosophical.

[Joe Long]

An ok interview with Bourdain, nothing incredible about it, that being said, it was worth the dollar I shelled out.

[John Fleischman]

Decent

I'm a fan of Bourdain and like his stories. This is a quick and moderately entertaining interview. Worth your time.

[Glenn]

Short and Sweet

A nice, short interview with Anthony Bourdain. I wish it would have been a little longer, but you get what you pay for.

[AnnMArie Pallister]

Fast read

I think that this book was a good introduction to Anthony. He has a very down to earth way of telling.g his tale. I look forward too reading more of his work.

[Maryellen]

It's only a single, but still manages to capture the feel of sitting down with Anthony Bourdain and having a burger. I enjoyed every page of it.

[Jon]

Seems like everything I read by Bourdain (even though this is an interview) is interesting and thoughtful.

[Tori]

I loved to hear the way he talked about his daughter. Surprisingly sweet.

[Jana]

Enjoyable interview, but nothing too surprising or unexpected. It was a great way to pass some time during a flight delay.

[Gaby]

Wish was longer

[Hayprell McArthur]

Want more

This man is so interesting I wanted so much more. I realize this is just an interview but it sure left me with wanting more. Great interview David Blum.

[Randy]

nice pacing and questions

[Damian]

Fun interview

I enjoyed reading this short interview. AB is always interesting and I love to hear his adventures and his take on things.

[Carrie Sissel]

For Newbies?

I'm a fan, have been a fan for long time so I didn't really learn much. It was a nice article