What do you think?
Rate this book
The Anthony Bourdain Reader: New, Classic, and Rediscovered Writing
The definitive, career-spanning collection of writing from Anthony Bourdain, assembled for the first time in book form
Anthony Bourdain represented many things to many people—and he had many sides. But no part of his identity was more important to him, and more long-lasting, than that of a writer. The Anthony Bourdain Reader is a collection of his best and most fascinating writing, and touches on his many pursuits and passions, from restaurant life to family life to the “low life,” from TV to travel through places like Vietnam, Buenos Aires, Paris, and Shanghai.
The Anthony Bourdain Reader is also a showcase for new and never-before-seen material, like diary entries from Bourdain’s first trip to France as a teenager and “It’s Cruel and Unforgiving Terrain,” a piece on the New York restaurant scene, as well as unpublished short fiction like “I Quit My Job Yesterday” and chapters from No New Messages, his unfinished novel. These newly discovered pieces all contribute to give the fullest picture of the man behind the books.
The Anthony Bourdain Reader is a testament to the enduring and singular voice Bourdain crafted, with eclectic and curated chapters that encapsulate the unique brilliance of his restless mind. Edited by Bourdain’s longtime agent and friend Kimberly Witherspoon and with a foreword by Patrick Radden Keefe, this is an essential reader for any Bourdain fan as well as a vivid and moving recollection of the life and legacy of one of our most distinctive writers.
Anthony Bourdain represented many things to many people—and he had many sides. But no part of his identity was more important to him, and more long-lasting, than that of a writer. The Anthony Bourdain Reader is a collection of his best and most fascinating writing, and touches on his many pursuits and passions, from restaurant life to family life to the “low life,” from TV to travel through places like Vietnam, Buenos Aires, Paris, and Shanghai.
The Anthony Bourdain Reader is also a showcase for new and never-before-seen material, like diary entries from Bourdain’s first trip to France as a teenager and “It’s Cruel and Unforgiving Terrain,” a piece on the New York restaurant scene, as well as unpublished short fiction like “I Quit My Job Yesterday” and chapters from No New Messages, his unfinished novel. These newly discovered pieces all contribute to give the fullest picture of the man behind the books.
The Anthony Bourdain Reader is a testament to the enduring and singular voice Bourdain crafted, with eclectic and curated chapters that encapsulate the unique brilliance of his restless mind. Edited by Bourdain’s longtime agent and friend Kimberly Witherspoon and with a foreword by Patrick Radden Keefe, this is an essential reader for any Bourdain fan as well as a vivid and moving recollection of the life and legacy of one of our most distinctive writers.
512 pages, Hardcover
Published October 28, 2025
About the author
Anthony Bourdain
78 books6,400 followersAnthony Michael Bourdain was an American celebrity chef, author, and travel documentarian. He starred in programs focusing on the exploration of international culture, cuisine, and the human condition.
Bourdain was a 1978 graduate of The Culinary Institute of America and a veteran of many professional kitchens during his career, which included several years spent as an executive chef at Brasserie Les Halles, in Manhattan. He first became known for his bestselling book Kitchen Confidential: Adventures in the Culinary Underbelly (2000).
Bourdain's first food and world-travel television show A Cook's Tour ran for 35 episodes on the Food Network in 2002 and 2003. In 2005, he began hosting the Travel Channel's culinary and cultural adventure programs Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations (2005–2012) and The Layover (2011–2013). In 2013, he began a three-season run as a judge on The Taste and consequently switched his travelogue programming to CNN to host Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown. Although best known for his culinary writings and television presentations, along with several books on food and cooking and travel adventures, Bourdain also wrote both fiction and historical nonfiction.
Bourdain was a 1978 graduate of The Culinary Institute of America and a veteran of many professional kitchens during his career, which included several years spent as an executive chef at Brasserie Les Halles, in Manhattan. He first became known for his bestselling book Kitchen Confidential: Adventures in the Culinary Underbelly (2000).
Bourdain's first food and world-travel television show A Cook's Tour ran for 35 episodes on the Food Network in 2002 and 2003. In 2005, he began hosting the Travel Channel's culinary and cultural adventure programs Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations (2005–2012) and The Layover (2011–2013). In 2013, he began a three-season run as a judge on The Taste and consequently switched his travelogue programming to CNN to host Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown. Although best known for his culinary writings and television presentations, along with several books on food and cooking and travel adventures, Bourdain also wrote both fiction and historical nonfiction.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 151 reviews
August 10, 2025
Book Review: The Anthony Bourdain Reader
Rating: 4.5/5
Anthony Bourdain’s posthumous anthology, The Anthony Bourdain Reader, is a masterful curation of his literary legacy, showcasing the razor-sharp wit, unflinching honesty, and voracious curiosity that defined his career. Edited by his longtime agent Kimberly Witherspoon, this collection transcends mere nostalgia, offering both longtime fans and new readers a prismatic view of Bourdain’s evolution as a writer—from kitchen confessionalist to global storyteller.
Strengths & Reactions
Bourdain’s voice leaps off the page with its trademark blend of irreverence and insight. The anthology’s eclectic structure—spanning essays, recipes, graphic novel excerpts, and unpublished fragments—mirrors his restless intellect. His writing on food is visceral (his rant about brioche buns is both hilarious and oddly profound ), but it’s his geopolitical musings and self-deprecating reflections on fame that linger. A chapter on Vietnam, for instance, captures his ability to weave personal vulnerability with cultural critique, leaving readers equal parts enlightened and unsettled.
As an academic reader, I appreciated the volume’s refusal to sanitize Bourdain’s edges. His critiques of Western foreign policy and the commodification of travel feel eerily prescient, while his darker, introspective pieces (like those touching on addiction) underscore the duality of his public persona. The inclusion of lesser-known works, such as early fiction attempts, adds depth to understanding his creative process, though some may find these sections uneven compared to his polished nonfiction.
Constructive Criticism
While the anthology is comprehensive, its thematic jumps—from kitchen tales to graphic novels—can feel disjointed. A more structured chronology or thematic grouping might have aided coherence. Additionally, though Witherspoon’s editorial hand is deft, a critical introduction contextualizing Bourdain’s literary influences (e.g., Orwell, Hunter S. Thompson) would have enriched the academic value.
How I would describe this book:
- A feast for the mind—Bourdain’s brilliance, served raw and unfiltered.
- Proof that Bourdain was as much a writer as he was a chef, traveler, and provocateur.
- An essential volume that captures the heartbeat of a generation’s most resonant voice.
Personalized Remarks & Gratitude
Reading this felt like sharing a late-night conversation with Bourdain himself—equal parts exhilarating and melancholic. His ability to find humanity in a bowl of noodles or a war-torn alley remains unmatched. Thank you to Edelweiss and HarperCollins for the advance copy; this anthology is a fitting tribute to a man who taught us to “eat boldly” and think even more boldly.
Final Verdict: 4.5/5 — A must-read for Bourdain devotees and anyone who values writing that crackles with life, even in its darkest corners.
Rating: 4.5/5
Anthony Bourdain’s posthumous anthology, The Anthony Bourdain Reader, is a masterful curation of his literary legacy, showcasing the razor-sharp wit, unflinching honesty, and voracious curiosity that defined his career. Edited by his longtime agent Kimberly Witherspoon, this collection transcends mere nostalgia, offering both longtime fans and new readers a prismatic view of Bourdain’s evolution as a writer—from kitchen confessionalist to global storyteller.
Strengths & Reactions
Bourdain’s voice leaps off the page with its trademark blend of irreverence and insight. The anthology’s eclectic structure—spanning essays, recipes, graphic novel excerpts, and unpublished fragments—mirrors his restless intellect. His writing on food is visceral (his rant about brioche buns is both hilarious and oddly profound ), but it’s his geopolitical musings and self-deprecating reflections on fame that linger. A chapter on Vietnam, for instance, captures his ability to weave personal vulnerability with cultural critique, leaving readers equal parts enlightened and unsettled.
As an academic reader, I appreciated the volume’s refusal to sanitize Bourdain’s edges. His critiques of Western foreign policy and the commodification of travel feel eerily prescient, while his darker, introspective pieces (like those touching on addiction) underscore the duality of his public persona. The inclusion of lesser-known works, such as early fiction attempts, adds depth to understanding his creative process, though some may find these sections uneven compared to his polished nonfiction.
Constructive Criticism
While the anthology is comprehensive, its thematic jumps—from kitchen tales to graphic novels—can feel disjointed. A more structured chronology or thematic grouping might have aided coherence. Additionally, though Witherspoon’s editorial hand is deft, a critical introduction contextualizing Bourdain’s literary influences (e.g., Orwell, Hunter S. Thompson) would have enriched the academic value.
How I would describe this book:
- A feast for the mind—Bourdain’s brilliance, served raw and unfiltered.
- Proof that Bourdain was as much a writer as he was a chef, traveler, and provocateur.
- An essential volume that captures the heartbeat of a generation’s most resonant voice.
Personalized Remarks & Gratitude
Reading this felt like sharing a late-night conversation with Bourdain himself—equal parts exhilarating and melancholic. His ability to find humanity in a bowl of noodles or a war-torn alley remains unmatched. Thank you to Edelweiss and HarperCollins for the advance copy; this anthology is a fitting tribute to a man who taught us to “eat boldly” and think even more boldly.
Final Verdict: 4.5/5 — A must-read for Bourdain devotees and anyone who values writing that crackles with life, even in its darkest corners.
November 16, 2025
my partner while i was reading this book:
“when he’s opinionated and unapologetic it’s 'endearing' and 'good writing' but when i do it it’s problematic”
and such is anthony bourdain
“when he’s opinionated and unapologetic it’s 'endearing' and 'good writing' but when i do it it’s problematic”
and such is anthony bourdain
2025
June 24, 2025📱 Thank you to NetGalley and Ecco
December 31, 2025
bourdain was filled with relentless curiosity + intellect.
i miss him so much.
i miss him so much.
January 7, 2026
Bourdain is one of my favourite non-fiction writers, his charm and personality radiate from the page and are utterly unique. His fiction just isn't for me, and that's ok.
July 10, 2025
This was such a beautifully crafted tribute to Anthony Bourdain. I have never been someone who has been affected by celebrity deaths, but his completely gutted me. Since he passed, I haven’t been able to watch reruns of No Reservations and I have wanted to get back into his shows and writing. This was the perfect way to do so. The Bourdain Reader really has a bit of everything in it. While it has excerpts from Anthony’s books and cookbooks, there are handwritten notes, plays he wrote, drawings, comics, ideas for tv shows. You really get a full in-depth look back in to his life. Reading this truly brought me back to his storytelling. Two things Tony always was 1. a chef (regardless of how he viewed himself-food is everywhere in his writing) and 2. an incredible storyteller. Kimberly Witherspoon wrote in the beginning that she hoped she did him justice by putting these items together, and I truly can’t imagine anyone doing a better job. It felt like getting to visit with Tony one more time. Thank you so much to NetGalley and Ecco for the eARC, while it broke my heart to read it, I truly enjoyed every word (and picture).
January 20, 2026
The Anthony Bourdain Reader is a comprehensive anthology of his writings across almost the entirety of his career. It contains both published and unpublished works, across a variety of mediums, both fiction and non-fiction. The book is organised according to different themes and ideas that Bourdain explored in his writing, but his indisputable love and admiration for food and the Restaurant industry is pertinent throughout.
I really wanted to like this book more than I did. This was my first experience with Bourdain's fiction and I have to say that it was not a memorable one. His fiction is, in a word, fine, but it pales in comparison to the raw honesty of his non-fiction — a distinction that is particularly glaring when you read them in such close proximity to each other.
3.5 ☆
I really wanted to like this book more than I did. This was my first experience with Bourdain's fiction and I have to say that it was not a memorable one. His fiction is, in a word, fine, but it pales in comparison to the raw honesty of his non-fiction — a distinction that is particularly glaring when you read them in such close proximity to each other.
3.5 ☆
December 18, 2025
I miss him i miss him i miss him. Grateful for the people who loved and knew him to make this book for fans to know a deeper side of him, mainly in that he was always a writer first and being a chef was a livelihood.
March 5, 2026
Girls don’t miss their exes. We miss Anthony Bourdain.
December 8, 2025
Like many others, I was gutted when Anthony Bourdain succumbed to his inner demons and took his own life. I had seen all of his television shows and read most of his books. When I saw "The Anthony Bourdain Reader" on the library shelf I knew I had to check it out.
If you have never read anything Bourdain wrote, this would be an excellent primer. As a long-time fan, I felt there was too much recycled and not enough unpublished or new-to-me material. However, it was nice to spend a few commutes with Tony, his voice working as a sort of security blanket during the rush hours.
If you have never read anything Bourdain wrote, this would be an excellent primer. As a long-time fan, I felt there was too much recycled and not enough unpublished or new-to-me material. However, it was nice to spend a few commutes with Tony, his voice working as a sort of security blanket during the rush hours.
January 28, 2026
Bittersweet and extensive collection of Bourdain’s writing, both fiction and non-fiction. There were quite a few pieces in here that have not been published and I had never seen before. While I enjoyed his fiction, the non-fiction really made me miss him and how very talented he was.
June 6, 2026
Tony just does it for me!
February 5, 2026
A nicely packaged bit of barrel scraping from Bloomsbury. The highfalutin title of ‘Reader’ promises a collection of the author’s most essential works, and I was expecting something akin to Hunter S. Thompson’s The Great Shark Hunt, e.g. the best of the uncollected articles folded in with extended extracts from the major books. Instead we get a not entirely appetising hotpot of prime cuts, offcuts, offal and gristle.
The famous New Yorker article that landed Bourdain his big break is included, but there’s remarkably little from Kitchen Confidential, the bestseller on which his ‘literary’ reputation will forever be based. The less popular follow-ups, Medium Raw and A Cook’s Tour, are both over- and under-represented by frequent but frustratingly short little excerpts.
Nevertheless, these are the most satisfying dishes on this tasting menu. They represent the gossipy, abrasive, grittily incisive Bourdain that endeared him to every docker’s cap wearing hipster in the western world.
The rest is fairly uneven, some of it goes down all right and some of it makes you want to boak. The fiction could, at best, be described as ‘competent’. Placed side by side with Bourdain’s non-fiction pieces, you can tell they’re just reheated anecdotes that he tells better in the first person. The comics are much more entertaining, with their grand guignol takes on culinary folk tales. I would have preferred to see more of these than another extended bit of riffage (roughage) from Bone in the Throat.
The facsimiles of pages from his cookbooks and obscure fanzines are pure padding. As for the juvenilia, including short stories from the late 70s, when Bourdain was barely out his teens, these ought to have stayed in the archive. It tends to be the case with inconveniently dead authors that their ‘new’ material is generally anything thought unfit for publication when they were alive. And I’m not sure any writer would like their school projects served up next to their most iconic works.
Overcooked then. Too many ingredients. Like Marco Pierre White says, ‘keep it simple,’ and just buy Kitchen Confidential instead.
The famous New Yorker article that landed Bourdain his big break is included, but there’s remarkably little from Kitchen Confidential, the bestseller on which his ‘literary’ reputation will forever be based. The less popular follow-ups, Medium Raw and A Cook’s Tour, are both over- and under-represented by frequent but frustratingly short little excerpts.
Nevertheless, these are the most satisfying dishes on this tasting menu. They represent the gossipy, abrasive, grittily incisive Bourdain that endeared him to every docker’s cap wearing hipster in the western world.
The rest is fairly uneven, some of it goes down all right and some of it makes you want to boak. The fiction could, at best, be described as ‘competent’. Placed side by side with Bourdain’s non-fiction pieces, you can tell they’re just reheated anecdotes that he tells better in the first person. The comics are much more entertaining, with their grand guignol takes on culinary folk tales. I would have preferred to see more of these than another extended bit of riffage (roughage) from Bone in the Throat.
The facsimiles of pages from his cookbooks and obscure fanzines are pure padding. As for the juvenilia, including short stories from the late 70s, when Bourdain was barely out his teens, these ought to have stayed in the archive. It tends to be the case with inconveniently dead authors that their ‘new’ material is generally anything thought unfit for publication when they were alive. And I’m not sure any writer would like their school projects served up next to their most iconic works.
Overcooked then. Too many ingredients. Like Marco Pierre White says, ‘keep it simple,’ and just buy Kitchen Confidential instead.
August 6, 2026
Bourdain is always five stars!
Read
July 27, 2026This is going unrated because I don’t think its merits need to be measured by stars (sorry for the slight melodrama). “Anthony Bourdain” as a persona and global phenomenon has bounced around in my head for a while now but I never actually consumed any of his content while he was living. I think that my first real introduction to him being through this collection has been a fascinating journey. The collection pieces Bourdain together through sporadic yet skillfully organized bits of writing. Reading (or listening to, as I did) this organization induces a manifestation of Bourdain, you can feel his personhood and his humanity in every single thing he wrote. Many great authors have a commanding presence but Bourdain just never leaves you alone while consuming his work. I am excited to delve more deeply into his other writing, but there are so many unfinished pieces in this collection that I think will haunt me for a long time. I am thrilled for the upcoming Matt Johnson film covering Bourdain’s youth. If it stays true to the bits Tony wrote about himself and brings home the ever elusive and tragically hopeful sentiment I felt while reading his work, I think it will be a seminal film for disheartened young adults everywhere.
January 22, 2026
A well-curated collection of pieces that showcase a variety of Bourdain's writings including excerpts from well known books like "Kitchen Confidential" and a "Cooks Tour", to magazine articles, non-fiction, scripts and even graphic comics. Many items have never been published.
The pieces are thoughtfully arranged by topic and capture a lifetime of writing from a 1971 high school creative writing composition to his final unpublished piece.
Even for someone like me, who has read a lot of Bourdain and seen a lot of his television, this collection will provide additional insight into the man. Sadly, it gives us even more reasons to miss his voice.
The pieces are thoughtfully arranged by topic and capture a lifetime of writing from a 1971 high school creative writing composition to his final unpublished piece.
Even for someone like me, who has read a lot of Bourdain and seen a lot of his television, this collection will provide additional insight into the man. Sadly, it gives us even more reasons to miss his voice.
February 27, 2026
I can't say enough good about Anthony Bourdain. His voice is so well heard through each and every phase of his writing, and this book shows a light on all varieties and eras of his writing. Some I've read before but most was new to me.
Not a lot new to say about Bourdain that I haven't said in my reviews for Kitchen Confidential & Medium Raw , but I will forever be inspired by the raw view he took on life.
Rest in Peace Anthony Bourdain
5/5 Stars
Finn H seal of understanding our world isn't good enough for some
Not a lot new to say about Bourdain that I haven't said in my reviews for Kitchen Confidential & Medium Raw , but I will forever be inspired by the raw view he took on life.
Rest in Peace Anthony Bourdain
5/5 Stars
Finn H seal of understanding our world isn't good enough for some
June 3, 2026
“An ounce of sauce covers a multitude of sins.”
Edited by his long time agent Kimberly Witherspoon, this is a collection of works from across Anthony Bourdain's books. For fans familiar with his writing this will be nostalgic and for those experiencing it for the first time, it's a good introduction to the body of work he wrote over the years.
His quirks are shared from page to page with new unpublished sections. Also featured throughout are excerpts from articles, graphic novels and his unfinished novel. The collection ends with his last piece of writing.
I enjoyed taking this trip down memory lane and do recommend it to those who followed his shows and books.
Edited by his long time agent Kimberly Witherspoon, this is a collection of works from across Anthony Bourdain's books. For fans familiar with his writing this will be nostalgic and for those experiencing it for the first time, it's a good introduction to the body of work he wrote over the years.
His quirks are shared from page to page with new unpublished sections. Also featured throughout are excerpts from articles, graphic novels and his unfinished novel. The collection ends with his last piece of writing.
I enjoyed taking this trip down memory lane and do recommend it to those who followed his shows and books.
August 9, 2025
Bourdain is one of those people that took time to connect with society. To see the beauty in the mundane. The importance in food, passion, and words. I will forever cherish his talents and this collection is a wonderful embodiment of his creativity. Included are short stories, scripts, comics, drawings and all of Bourdain’s personality. I will absolutely be rereading his words as I continue to miss his contributions to our world.
Thank you NetGalley, Ecco, and Kimberly Witherspoon for putting together this collection and gifting me the eARC in exchange for my honest review. “The Anthony Bourdain Reader” is expected to be published October 28, 2025!
Thank you NetGalley, Ecco, and Kimberly Witherspoon for putting together this collection and gifting me the eARC in exchange for my honest review. “The Anthony Bourdain Reader” is expected to be published October 28, 2025!
April 5, 2026
I liked organizing this around themes rather than by chronology or something, it made the book much easier to read in bite sized chunks.
The last play snippet in particular was really interesting but also really indicative of where his head was right before he killed himself, which, shockingly, means it was depressing
The last play snippet in particular was really interesting but also really indicative of where his head was right before he killed himself, which, shockingly, means it was depressing
July 19, 2026
The type of reading that seeps into your mind and leaves you mourning someone you never met. Moments where I found we weren’t too far off ideologically but that there was some darkness that held him, the type that can justify his final action and that’s near impossible for anyone to pull someone out of. Maybe if he were less witty it would’ve ended differently.
January 3, 2026
Bourdain's journalistic and memoir-y voice are second-to-none: fresh, real, unflinching. It's a joy to be with him. His fiction is not great — cliched, restauranty vignettes revolving around drinking, for the most part.
January 9, 2026
a bit eclectic, but I enjoyed the writings
January 21, 2026
4.5 stars. A great collection of writing by a great, and badly missed, writer. More Bourdain is always good.
March 12, 2026
Easy chill entertaining read! I’m ngl I skipped all the parts where it was Tony writing a play / short story and not about his experiences (~15% of the book) lol. He’s an engaging natural writer and I enjoy his writing a lot
May 6, 2026
If you have read anything from Bourdain, you will enjoy this anthology. Interesting to see the different topics he covers. There are some drawings etc. Enjoyed it.
September 8, 2026
All I can say is Anthony Bourdain is a national treasure. This took me on a rewatch of his series as well.
October 12, 2026
Great intro to AB’s body of work .
September 30, 2025
Reading Bourdain still feels like sitting with an old friend. You may know some of the stories but that only adds to the enjoyment.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 151 reviews