What do you think?
Rate this book
Humble Pie
For the first time Gordon talks frankly about his tough and emotional childhood, including his father's alcoholism and violence and the effect on his relationships with his mother and siblings. His rootless upbringing saw him moving from house to house followed by bailiffs and debtors as his father lurched from one failed job to another. He recounts his short-lived career as a footballer, how the whole family moved to Scotland when he was signed by Glasgow Rangers at the age of 15 and how he coped when, just two year later, injury dashed his hopes. Having dropped out of football Gordon looked around for another career and, much to his father's disgust, went into catering. Gordon explains how his career developed from there; his time in Paris where he got a job without knowing any French and made his mark, leading to his collection of Michelin-starred restaurants. Then there is the fame that has come with his draft. Gordon talks freely about how he copes with the impact of fame on himself and his family, his television career, the rapacious tabloids and his own drive for success.
331 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2006
257 people are currently reading
3858 people want to read
About the author
Gordon Ramsay
176 books692 followersGordon James Ramsay is a British celebrity chef, restaurateur, television presenter, and writer. His restaurant group, Gordon Ramsay Restaurants, was founded in 1997 and has been awarded 17 Michelin stars overall and currently holds eight. His signature restaurant, Restaurant Gordon Ramsay in Chelsea, London, has held three Michelin stars since 2001. After rising to fame on the British television miniseries Boiling Point in 1999, Ramsay became one of the best-known and most influential chefs in the world.
Ramsay's TV persona is defined by his fiery temper, aggressive behaviour, strict demeanour, and frequent use of profanity, while making blunt, critical, and controversial comments, including insults and sardonic wisecracks about contestants and their cooking abilities. He combines activities in the television, film, hospitality and food industries, and has promoted and hired various chefs who have apprenticed under his wing. He is known for presenting television programmes about competitive cookery and food, such as the British series Hell's Kitchen (2004), Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares (2004–2009, 2014), and The F Word (2005–2010), with Kitchen Nightmares winning the 2005 British Academy Television Award for Best Feature, and the American versions of Hell's Kitchen (2005–present), Kitchen Nightmares (2007–present), MasterChef (2010–present), and MasterChef Junior (2013–present), as well as Hotel Hell (2012–2016), Gordon Behind Bars (2012), Gordon Ramsay's 24 Hours to Hell and Back (2018–2020), and Next Level Chef (2022–present).
Ramsay was appointed an OBE by Queen Elizabeth II in the 2006 New Year Honours list for services to the hospitality industry. He was named the top chef in the UK at the 2000 Catey Awards, and in July 2006 he won the Catey for Independent Restaurateur of the Year, becoming the third person to win three Catey Awards. Forbes listed his 2020 earnings at US $70 million and ranked him at No.19 on its list of the highest-earning celebrities.
Ramsay's TV persona is defined by his fiery temper, aggressive behaviour, strict demeanour, and frequent use of profanity, while making blunt, critical, and controversial comments, including insults and sardonic wisecracks about contestants and their cooking abilities. He combines activities in the television, film, hospitality and food industries, and has promoted and hired various chefs who have apprenticed under his wing. He is known for presenting television programmes about competitive cookery and food, such as the British series Hell's Kitchen (2004), Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares (2004–2009, 2014), and The F Word (2005–2010), with Kitchen Nightmares winning the 2005 British Academy Television Award for Best Feature, and the American versions of Hell's Kitchen (2005–present), Kitchen Nightmares (2007–present), MasterChef (2010–present), and MasterChef Junior (2013–present), as well as Hotel Hell (2012–2016), Gordon Behind Bars (2012), Gordon Ramsay's 24 Hours to Hell and Back (2018–2020), and Next Level Chef (2022–present).
Ramsay was appointed an OBE by Queen Elizabeth II in the 2006 New Year Honours list for services to the hospitality industry. He was named the top chef in the UK at the 2000 Catey Awards, and in July 2006 he won the Catey for Independent Restaurateur of the Year, becoming the third person to win three Catey Awards. Forbes listed his 2020 earnings at US $70 million and ranked him at No.19 on its list of the highest-earning celebrities.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 505 reviews
October 2, 2024
When we read biographies, we all want honesty. Humble Pie delivers this - Ramsay doesn't hold back on personal issues and struggles with members of his family, rivals in the industry, or other personal grievances. He admits when he did "jerk moments" in his youth and when he did the wrong thing. He admits not noticing a friend's drug habit before it was too late, and he admits wanting to build boundaries toward his brother because of the continuous and draining heroin addiction.
The writing style is straight forward, like a conversation you'd have about a topic, expletives included. It's divided into sections, starting with his childhood and volatile relationship toward his father. He goes in chronological order, which makes sense in every autobiography but that isn't always followed when celebrities pen their memoirs.
His childhood was fascinating stuff and explained much. His animosity toward his father still seems strong, which is warranted, and it seems much wasn't resolved before the man's death years ago. This wasn't on the fault of Ramsay, however, as it just seems to be the way things go. The chapter with his brother Ronnie and the heroin addiction was painful. He mentions that he has been ostracized in the public regarding his brother, including his brother accepting money from tabloids to "sell him out" in order to ensure another fix. He brings up things his brother did to him in response to aid. I sympathize. It's hard living with an addict relative, and sometimes we do have to put up walls to stop the vampiric draining that feeds an endless cycle of self-absorption and self-sabotage. He even includes a tidbit about the woman who is claiming to be his half-sister he had never heard of, and how he disapproved of the way she approached it with media.
He has a section called "War" which speaks of his battles with starting his restaurants and all the cut-throat competition and double-crossing which went on. He speaks of his beginning growths and experiences through various cities and avenues, including an interesting section spent on a private yaught that ended in tragedy/death for a particular co-worker. The section titled "War" lives up to his name. It's almost like a mini-mafia with some of the double crossing, people choosing sides, blacklisting names, lawsuits. Good grief, such pressure!
Some of the situations in the training in the kitchen he encountered when he was young sounded traumatic in written form - I couldn't imagine putting up with it myself. You really must be motivated and to live for cooking to put up for that sort of abuse. Not to sound callous, but I wonder if the abuse he suffered through with his father numbed him a bit to that kind of attitude and physical manhandling in the kitchen. Not to where it's acceptable, but to where he could survive it and not give up where others would have?
He speaks of his family often, including meeting his wife and admitting jealousy of his mate who had her first. I had no idea they had their children through IVF treatment and that chefs suffered from low sperm count because of the heat in the kitchen after so many years. He brings up being criticized for never changing diapers or being at the birth of any of his children - again, brutal honesty and the direct approach to criticism.
I can't connect with Ramsay when it comes to his total dedication and almost obsessive ambition, since that's not a personality trait I carry. What I can do is connect with him over his points of life, friends, family, and situations. I found the behind-the-scenes industry experiences informative, and the build-up from a horrible childhood to a productive adulthood inspiring. He shows there are still struggles and failures, and that this is life and not a fairy tale.
Since these sections are told with frank honesty, even painting himself in a negative light in a few places as long as he's being forthcoming, it's intriguing stuff. The writing style is spot-on and easily digestible. Humble Pie speaks of his shows at the end of the book, but this is emphasizing his life stories and his growth into the chef he has now become.
Highly recommended for fans of autobiographies or Ramsay.
The writing style is straight forward, like a conversation you'd have about a topic, expletives included. It's divided into sections, starting with his childhood and volatile relationship toward his father. He goes in chronological order, which makes sense in every autobiography but that isn't always followed when celebrities pen their memoirs.
His childhood was fascinating stuff and explained much. His animosity toward his father still seems strong, which is warranted, and it seems much wasn't resolved before the man's death years ago. This wasn't on the fault of Ramsay, however, as it just seems to be the way things go. The chapter with his brother Ronnie and the heroin addiction was painful. He mentions that he has been ostracized in the public regarding his brother, including his brother accepting money from tabloids to "sell him out" in order to ensure another fix. He brings up things his brother did to him in response to aid. I sympathize. It's hard living with an addict relative, and sometimes we do have to put up walls to stop the vampiric draining that feeds an endless cycle of self-absorption and self-sabotage. He even includes a tidbit about the woman who is claiming to be his half-sister he had never heard of, and how he disapproved of the way she approached it with media.
He has a section called "War" which speaks of his battles with starting his restaurants and all the cut-throat competition and double-crossing which went on. He speaks of his beginning growths and experiences through various cities and avenues, including an interesting section spent on a private yaught that ended in tragedy/death for a particular co-worker. The section titled "War" lives up to his name. It's almost like a mini-mafia with some of the double crossing, people choosing sides, blacklisting names, lawsuits. Good grief, such pressure!
Some of the situations in the training in the kitchen he encountered when he was young sounded traumatic in written form - I couldn't imagine putting up with it myself. You really must be motivated and to live for cooking to put up for that sort of abuse. Not to sound callous, but I wonder if the abuse he suffered through with his father numbed him a bit to that kind of attitude and physical manhandling in the kitchen. Not to where it's acceptable, but to where he could survive it and not give up where others would have?
He speaks of his family often, including meeting his wife and admitting jealousy of his mate who had her first. I had no idea they had their children through IVF treatment and that chefs suffered from low sperm count because of the heat in the kitchen after so many years. He brings up being criticized for never changing diapers or being at the birth of any of his children - again, brutal honesty and the direct approach to criticism.
I can't connect with Ramsay when it comes to his total dedication and almost obsessive ambition, since that's not a personality trait I carry. What I can do is connect with him over his points of life, friends, family, and situations. I found the behind-the-scenes industry experiences informative, and the build-up from a horrible childhood to a productive adulthood inspiring. He shows there are still struggles and failures, and that this is life and not a fairy tale.
Since these sections are told with frank honesty, even painting himself in a negative light in a few places as long as he's being forthcoming, it's intriguing stuff. The writing style is spot-on and easily digestible. Humble Pie speaks of his shows at the end of the book, but this is emphasizing his life stories and his growth into the chef he has now become.
Highly recommended for fans of autobiographies or Ramsay.
November 13, 2018
Brilliant. So glad I finally got round to finishing this.
Loved the writing style.
Gordon is an incredibly driven and down to earth person. This book is a real eye opener to his early years.
Loved the writing style.
Gordon is an incredibly driven and down to earth person. This book is a real eye opener to his early years.
January 5, 2020
I LOVE this guy. My whole family watch his shows avidly. I have enjoyed his restaurants.
The first chapter of this book was raw and riveting, leaving me with goosebumps.
Unfortunately, the rest read like a quick ghostwriter copy and paste job sprinting through the stages of Ramsay's life without pausing for breath. It glossed over so many details and left me with the impression that he started his restaurant empire by filching his buddy's girlfriend, who had a father with connections and capital.
I thought I would be getting an insightful, behind-the-scenes look at the world of cuisine, like Anthony Bourdain did in Kitchen Confidential: Adventures in the Culinary Underbelly. Unfortunately, I got a marketing pamphlet seemingly pushed out quickly to capitalize on Ramsay's American TV success a decade ago. I didn't get to know the man behind the apron and other than the initial chapter, I didn't feel like it was an authentic, candid memoir.
Quel dommage :(
The first chapter of this book was raw and riveting, leaving me with goosebumps.
Unfortunately, the rest read like a quick ghostwriter copy and paste job sprinting through the stages of Ramsay's life without pausing for breath. It glossed over so many details and left me with the impression that he started his restaurant empire by filching his buddy's girlfriend, who had a father with connections and capital.
I thought I would be getting an insightful, behind-the-scenes look at the world of cuisine, like Anthony Bourdain did in Kitchen Confidential: Adventures in the Culinary Underbelly. Unfortunately, I got a marketing pamphlet seemingly pushed out quickly to capitalize on Ramsay's American TV success a decade ago. I didn't get to know the man behind the apron and other than the initial chapter, I didn't feel like it was an authentic, candid memoir.
Quel dommage :(
November 19, 2008
I LOVE Gordon Ramsay. Now I just need to get past the fact that he has four kids and never changed a diaper, which was really the only thing about this book I didn't like.
July 3, 2015
Everyone thinks they know the real Gordon Ramsay: rude, loud, driven, stubborn. Bearing in mind his turbulent private life I find it funny when he gives conciliatory family advice on his Kitchen Nightmares television program. However, this is his own story. In this bestselling autobiography, Humble Pie, Ramsay tells his life story starting long before he became the world’s most famous and infamous chef. He tells openly of his difficult childhood. Ramsay talks frankly about his tough childhood, this was exacerbated his father’s alcoholism and violence. It also affected his relationships with his mother and siblings. He also discusses his brother who suffers from a heroin addiction.
Ramsay also explores his first career as a footballer. The whole family moved to Scotland when he was signed by the world famous Glasgow Rangers at the age of fifteen, and how he coped when his career was over due to injury just three years later. He played only once for Rangers before injury brought the footballing dream to a premature end.
Gordon’s early career as a chef learning his trade in Paris and London explains how his career developed from there. I found his time in Paris under Albert Roux particularly interesting. At the time of writing his book he had seven Michelin starred restaurants. Gordon spills the beans about life behind the kitchen door and how a restaurant kitchen is run in Anthony Bourdain style. It is really an fascinating book and one that I read quickly.
He explains his fanatical pursuit of gastronomic perfection. (Ramsay now holds an impressive 11 Michelin Stars.) He also reveals the man behind his TV persona. These are all the things that have made him a celebrated culinary talent and media powerhouse.
Gordon Ramsay’s radical career change in his teenage years led him to London and to huge success as chef, restaurant owner empire building celebrity. Gordon has published nine best selling recipe books and has starred in the hugely successful television series the Bafta award winning Ramsay’s Kitchen Nightmares, Hell’s Kitchen and The F Word.
Ramsay tells how he copes with the impact of fame on himself and his family. He describes his television career, the intrusion of the rapacious tabloids and his own drive for success. In 2006 he was appointed OBE and saw the launch of his New York restaurant. He has since opened a new restaurant at Caesar’s Palace, Las Vegas, USA. The book is easy to read and if you are interested in learning about a varied life that succeeded in the face of adversity, I would highly recommend it.
Amongst the other biographies and autobiographies reviewed on my site are: A Hebraic Obsession https://bookreviewstoday.wordpress.co..., My Scotland, Our Britain https://bookreviewstoday.wordpress.co....
Ramsay also explores his first career as a footballer. The whole family moved to Scotland when he was signed by the world famous Glasgow Rangers at the age of fifteen, and how he coped when his career was over due to injury just three years later. He played only once for Rangers before injury brought the footballing dream to a premature end.
Gordon’s early career as a chef learning his trade in Paris and London explains how his career developed from there. I found his time in Paris under Albert Roux particularly interesting. At the time of writing his book he had seven Michelin starred restaurants. Gordon spills the beans about life behind the kitchen door and how a restaurant kitchen is run in Anthony Bourdain style. It is really an fascinating book and one that I read quickly.
He explains his fanatical pursuit of gastronomic perfection. (Ramsay now holds an impressive 11 Michelin Stars.) He also reveals the man behind his TV persona. These are all the things that have made him a celebrated culinary talent and media powerhouse.
Gordon Ramsay’s radical career change in his teenage years led him to London and to huge success as chef, restaurant owner empire building celebrity. Gordon has published nine best selling recipe books and has starred in the hugely successful television series the Bafta award winning Ramsay’s Kitchen Nightmares, Hell’s Kitchen and The F Word.
Ramsay tells how he copes with the impact of fame on himself and his family. He describes his television career, the intrusion of the rapacious tabloids and his own drive for success. In 2006 he was appointed OBE and saw the launch of his New York restaurant. He has since opened a new restaurant at Caesar’s Palace, Las Vegas, USA. The book is easy to read and if you are interested in learning about a varied life that succeeded in the face of adversity, I would highly recommend it.
Amongst the other biographies and autobiographies reviewed on my site are: A Hebraic Obsession https://bookreviewstoday.wordpress.co..., My Scotland, Our Britain https://bookreviewstoday.wordpress.co....
May 14, 2021
Don't read enough biographys to be honest. But found this when I looked for a shorter audiobook to listen to and I'm very happy i decided to pick it up. Gordon Ramsay is a bit of an food icon. He's very entertaining to watch on TV and he seems to be very skilled at cooking, would be so cool to try some day. (hey everyone can dream). In this he tells you about his life and of though and difficult it has been, but he's very honest in that he might not always done the right thing. I like it when people are honest and not trying to paint them self in a better life but instead show his humanity. This biography made me like him even more and see him as more then what I've seen on TV.
June 26, 2024
“I know how it feels to be in a corner, unnoticed and unloved.”
Ramsay's brutal honest is the best part of this tell-all autobiography. I connected with his struggle, I admired his determination, and I'm most certainly inspired by his wit and strength.
It's a story about how you can transform your pain into power. He never stopped at anything, he kept on pushing every hurdle and every limit. He deserved his success because he worked very, very hard to reach where he is today.
Although Humble Pie lacked the glamour of fancy and sophisticated words but, in my humble opinion, that's exactly what added to its charm because you could almost read it with Gordon's voice in your head knowing fully that each sentence were written by him, truthfully.
It's page-turner, inspiring and real.
March 26, 2015
This is a surprisingly good biography, written in the no nonsense style that you would expect, complete with expletives.
He talks frankly about his shocking childhood-his mother used as a punchbag by his cheating alcoholic father, the poverty the family lived in, the frequent moves all over the country each time his dad lost a job, the family going hungry while his dad wasted all his money on his dead end singing career. It's pretty shocking to imagine families having to live like that. He goes on to talk about getting his chance to join Rangers as a youngster, hoping to be good enough to get a chance in the first team, but injury preventing him from getting even close to that goal. From there, he goes towards a career in cooking.
This part of the story is better known and was interesting to read from Ramsay's point of view. We know about his battles with mentor Marco Pierre White who is viewed here as a violent bully who assaulted his staff and tried to cheat Ramsay in their professional dealings. I'm not passing comment on this as I've yet to read Marco's book and his version of the events. Either way, it was a volatile relationship. It was also interesting to see the reliance that Ramsay had on his father-in-law in business matters, especially with the two of them at loggerheads in court recently. Again, I'm not going to comment on the court dealings as I don't know the full story but it must have been a nightmare for his wife to end up stuck between her husband and her father.
Ramsay found fame on TV with Boiling Point where he came over as being the psycho chef from hell. He admits that this was being filmed at the time when his relationship with Marco was deteriorating, his dream of opening his own place was hanging by a thread and he was under extreme stress. It's no surprise that he was losing his rag. Add in the issue of dealing with a drug addicted brother and you can imagine why he was stressed.
People don't like Ramsay and I fully understand why. But you can't ignore the fact that he worked bloody hard to get to where he is and be a success. These chefs work long hours in difficult working conditions and have to take massive financial risks to get that big break. Even when they open that dream place, the hard work is just beginning. It is not for the lazy or faint hearted!Too many people grudge hard working people their success and think the world owes them a living instead. People like Ramsay get out there and work hard for a living and deserve a bit of credit for it. He is at least providing a good life for his kids so they don't experience his kind of childhood.
I like the honesty in the book. Ramsay admits his faults and explains why he does the things that drive people crazy. I liked his admission that he was too much of a control freak to be at the birth of his kids and not able to deal with anything gooey! You can imagine him all hyped up, pacing the delivery room, effing every ten seconds, feeling sick and winding up the staff AND his wife! Maybe he is the sexist git that he is supposed to be but if his wife is happy with him and his faults, I'm not going to judge him. Besides I think his wife seems well capable of keeping him in line!
I find Ramsay to be entertaining on TV and I like to watch his shows. I loved the UK Kitchen Nightmares series. I've yet to get the chance to watch his US Hell's Kitchen which I look forward to. I found the books equally entertaining and you could imagine that he was sitting beside you in the pub, telling his story. That is the style it was written in, which was better than some of these biographies that go for fancy writing and leave you needing a dictionary!
If you like his TV work, this book should interest you.
He talks frankly about his shocking childhood-his mother used as a punchbag by his cheating alcoholic father, the poverty the family lived in, the frequent moves all over the country each time his dad lost a job, the family going hungry while his dad wasted all his money on his dead end singing career. It's pretty shocking to imagine families having to live like that. He goes on to talk about getting his chance to join Rangers as a youngster, hoping to be good enough to get a chance in the first team, but injury preventing him from getting even close to that goal. From there, he goes towards a career in cooking.
This part of the story is better known and was interesting to read from Ramsay's point of view. We know about his battles with mentor Marco Pierre White who is viewed here as a violent bully who assaulted his staff and tried to cheat Ramsay in their professional dealings. I'm not passing comment on this as I've yet to read Marco's book and his version of the events. Either way, it was a volatile relationship. It was also interesting to see the reliance that Ramsay had on his father-in-law in business matters, especially with the two of them at loggerheads in court recently. Again, I'm not going to comment on the court dealings as I don't know the full story but it must have been a nightmare for his wife to end up stuck between her husband and her father.
Ramsay found fame on TV with Boiling Point where he came over as being the psycho chef from hell. He admits that this was being filmed at the time when his relationship with Marco was deteriorating, his dream of opening his own place was hanging by a thread and he was under extreme stress. It's no surprise that he was losing his rag. Add in the issue of dealing with a drug addicted brother and you can imagine why he was stressed.
People don't like Ramsay and I fully understand why. But you can't ignore the fact that he worked bloody hard to get to where he is and be a success. These chefs work long hours in difficult working conditions and have to take massive financial risks to get that big break. Even when they open that dream place, the hard work is just beginning. It is not for the lazy or faint hearted!Too many people grudge hard working people their success and think the world owes them a living instead. People like Ramsay get out there and work hard for a living and deserve a bit of credit for it. He is at least providing a good life for his kids so they don't experience his kind of childhood.
I like the honesty in the book. Ramsay admits his faults and explains why he does the things that drive people crazy. I liked his admission that he was too much of a control freak to be at the birth of his kids and not able to deal with anything gooey! You can imagine him all hyped up, pacing the delivery room, effing every ten seconds, feeling sick and winding up the staff AND his wife! Maybe he is the sexist git that he is supposed to be but if his wife is happy with him and his faults, I'm not going to judge him. Besides I think his wife seems well capable of keeping him in line!
I find Ramsay to be entertaining on TV and I like to watch his shows. I loved the UK Kitchen Nightmares series. I've yet to get the chance to watch his US Hell's Kitchen which I look forward to. I found the books equally entertaining and you could imagine that he was sitting beside you in the pub, telling his story. That is the style it was written in, which was better than some of these biographies that go for fancy writing and leave you needing a dictionary!
If you like his TV work, this book should interest you.
February 26, 2018
If I’d reviewed this book when I read it, I would’ve given it more stars. Granted, I was lying on a beach in Fiji at the time of reading. We didn’t have a Kindle at that point and hadn’t taken enough books to last the holiday, so I was reading it cover to cover no matter what dammit! And lying on a beach in Fiji with a book is an absolutely magnificent way to spend time, so I probably would’ve read and enjoyed The Da Vinci Code if that had been the only available read.
I am a foodie. I like to cook. I like Food TV. I really like what celebrity chefs have done to the standard of global cuisine. They’ve made food sexy again. In Nigella Lawson’s case, food has become porn. But I digress... this is a review of Mr Angry’s book and I’m not talking about the character from the Mister Men series.
Let’s talk about the positives. Mr Ramsay wrote the book himself. It’s printed on paper manufactured from sustainable forests. It’s an interesting insight into his life and explains why he is so driven to collect Michelin Stars. At the time of reading, I thought he had been misunderstood by his critics, chiefly the ones that said he was a bully.
Ironically, not long after reading the book, I was asked to write the cover story for M2 Magazine about Mr Ramsay as 'The Boss from Hell.' During the research process I found the article where Ramsay confessed he engineered the Aubergine staff walk-out to stick it to Marco Pierre-White.
The book paints quite a different picture of that incident. Ramsay says in his account that he started the walk-out in protest to one of the chefs getting bullied. He’s the heroic figure of the sequence, with his top chefs around him shedding tears as they stand up to their oppressors. Having found out it was done for revenge left me with a bad taste in my mouth and questioning the sincerity of the book as a whole.
The title suggests the main ingredient of the book is humility, but in fact, Ramsay is quite happy to cook up events if it puts him in a better light. So, as a paying customer, I’m not inclined to tip the book any more than two stars as an interesting piece of semi-fiction.
I am a foodie. I like to cook. I like Food TV. I really like what celebrity chefs have done to the standard of global cuisine. They’ve made food sexy again. In Nigella Lawson’s case, food has become porn. But I digress... this is a review of Mr Angry’s book and I’m not talking about the character from the Mister Men series.
Let’s talk about the positives. Mr Ramsay wrote the book himself. It’s printed on paper manufactured from sustainable forests. It’s an interesting insight into his life and explains why he is so driven to collect Michelin Stars. At the time of reading, I thought he had been misunderstood by his critics, chiefly the ones that said he was a bully.
Ironically, not long after reading the book, I was asked to write the cover story for M2 Magazine about Mr Ramsay as 'The Boss from Hell.' During the research process I found the article where Ramsay confessed he engineered the Aubergine staff walk-out to stick it to Marco Pierre-White.
The book paints quite a different picture of that incident. Ramsay says in his account that he started the walk-out in protest to one of the chefs getting bullied. He’s the heroic figure of the sequence, with his top chefs around him shedding tears as they stand up to their oppressors. Having found out it was done for revenge left me with a bad taste in my mouth and questioning the sincerity of the book as a whole.
The title suggests the main ingredient of the book is humility, but in fact, Ramsay is quite happy to cook up events if it puts him in a better light. So, as a paying customer, I’m not inclined to tip the book any more than two stars as an interesting piece of semi-fiction.
October 7, 2018
I love Gordon Ramsay, but this book is not the best piece of literature or of humility, for that matter.
May 4, 2023
Man vienmēr ir paticis un patiks Gordons Remzijs. Man ļoti patīk viņa personība un ballsiness, un šajā dzīves posmā tā mani iedvesmo. Tāpēc vēlējos beidzot iepazīties arī ar viņa dzīves stāstu. Saprast, no kurienes nāk tādi cilvēki kā Gordons Remzijs.
Mani sajūsmina virtuves reāliju stāsti! Visi trakie šefpavāri, emocionālā un fiziskā vardarbība, kuru visi nākotnes izcilie pavāri pacieš un iziet tam cauri. Degsme un apņēmība turpināt darīt un būt vislabākajam par spīti jebkādiem sarežģījumiem un karstiem virtuves traukiem, kas lido tavā virzienā. Protams, man vienmēr prātā ir jautājums, vai tiešām iekšējā virtuves dzīve nevar iztikt bez visas šīs psihopātiskās puses. Bet, iespējams, es kā absolūti nesāncensīgs cilvēks kaut ko nesaprotu.
Remzija ģimenes stāsts ir ļoti interesants un savā ziņā bēdīgs. Var just līdzi. Bet visam stāstam caurvijas Remzija neatlaidība, apņēmība un enerģija darīt un sniegt labu sniegumu - tas ir ļoti iedvesmojoši. Lasot viņa stāstu, sarunājos ar sevi: kāpēc es neesmu tik apņēmīgs cilvēks?
Mani sajūsmina virtuves reāliju stāsti! Visi trakie šefpavāri, emocionālā un fiziskā vardarbība, kuru visi nākotnes izcilie pavāri pacieš un iziet tam cauri. Degsme un apņēmība turpināt darīt un būt vislabākajam par spīti jebkādiem sarežģījumiem un karstiem virtuves traukiem, kas lido tavā virzienā. Protams, man vienmēr prātā ir jautājums, vai tiešām iekšējā virtuves dzīve nevar iztikt bez visas šīs psihopātiskās puses. Bet, iespējams, es kā absolūti nesāncensīgs cilvēks kaut ko nesaprotu.
Remzija ģimenes stāsts ir ļoti interesants un savā ziņā bēdīgs. Var just līdzi. Bet visam stāstam caurvijas Remzija neatlaidība, apņēmība un enerģija darīt un sniegt labu sniegumu - tas ir ļoti iedvesmojoši. Lasot viņa stāstu, sarunājos ar sevi: kāpēc es neesmu tik apņēmīgs cilvēks?
June 23, 2011
I've been a Gordon Ramsay fan since well before his volatile tv persona was snatched up and appropriated by Fox TV here in the US. This autobiography gives insight into the rough background that gave Ramsay his drive and you can see how Ramsay the persona has been developed to keep him (and the "machine" behind him, the staff, the restaurants, the people with families that the Ramsay name now supports) at the top. While I feel like Ramsay sold his soul to Fox to make the crap television that the masses are eating up (unlike his food, which many can't afford, and several of his restaurants are now struggling), from this account of his early life I can see where he's coming from and why he does it. Ramsay has had an interesting life and his personality comes through in this book. I would love for him to write again as he (hopefully) ages gracefully to get more insight on what's driving him now and how he feels about being seen more as a spectacle than as a chef. I'll keep rooting for him, none the less.
February 5, 2019
I love Gordon so much and listening to his life story and how he got successful is truly amazing and he narrates the book himself so it's like he's talking to us. Very inspirational and an interesting read. Entertaining and humorous at times. Total respect for this guy.
February 16, 2019
I’m so glad I decided to pick up this book! My boyfriend is low-key obsessed with Gordon Ramsay, whereas Jamie Oliver is more my style, but this book made me reconsider. Gordon is very honest about his struggles in his youth, and the competition in the restaurant business. At times it kind of felt like reading a true crime thriller! Would absolutely recommend if you want to learn more about the restaurant business, and nit so much the art of cooking.
January 22, 2020
This is a genuinely entertaining read from the chef everyone has an opinion about. Love him or hate him (I'm in the former camp), he's a fascinating character.
I was surprised to learn about his very difficult childhood, with an alcoholic, womanizing father, and constant moves due to bill collectors. His childhood poverty makes it much easier to understand why he is so driven. It was heartbreaking to read about his brother, an addict. Anyone who has ever had anyone like that in their lives will empathize.
There is also a wicked sense of humor there and I found myself laughing and shaking my head often. The fact that I could hear so much of this in his voice made me think that this was an honest and forthcoming account from Ramsay himself. There is also a healthy ego, as I suspect is the case with most chefs, but an underlying sense of always remembering where he came from and how far he's come.
Over the years, I have come to enjoy cooking and have learned to put some interesting things together. I credit two chefs with that: Emeril Lagasse and Gordon Ramsay. Emeril taught me about Cajun and Creole foods, that things can be flavorful without being extremely spicy. Ramsay has taught me to step outside my comfort zone and to experiment a little. He might also be one of the rare people who can give me a run for my money when it comes to my foul mouth!
This was really a lot of fun.
I was surprised to learn about his very difficult childhood, with an alcoholic, womanizing father, and constant moves due to bill collectors. His childhood poverty makes it much easier to understand why he is so driven. It was heartbreaking to read about his brother, an addict. Anyone who has ever had anyone like that in their lives will empathize.
There is also a wicked sense of humor there and I found myself laughing and shaking my head often. The fact that I could hear so much of this in his voice made me think that this was an honest and forthcoming account from Ramsay himself. There is also a healthy ego, as I suspect is the case with most chefs, but an underlying sense of always remembering where he came from and how far he's come.
Over the years, I have come to enjoy cooking and have learned to put some interesting things together. I credit two chefs with that: Emeril Lagasse and Gordon Ramsay. Emeril taught me about Cajun and Creole foods, that things can be flavorful without being extremely spicy. Ramsay has taught me to step outside my comfort zone and to experiment a little. He might also be one of the rare people who can give me a run for my money when it comes to my foul mouth!
This was really a lot of fun.
December 21, 2022
You either love him or hate his guts. I love his guts. The book I’m reading is called “Gordon Ramsay: Humble Pie”. I love writing is easy to follow with a bit of British slang and swearing which it makes me laugh. GR is a legend and someday I would love to meet him in person. I always loved watching his show TV shows like Hell's Kitchen, Kitchen Nightmares, etc. But this book opens a window into where his energy comes from. I think deep down inside he is a humble person. I’m not going to spoil you this time. The story unfolds, he was born in Scotland but grew up in Stratford-upon-Avon, England. How he become a chef? Why is that? How his life makes him stronger now? You can decide.
April 9, 2021
Thoroughly enjoyed this! The book was littered with Ramsay's brash comedy and the fact he was able to make jokes when talking about his difficult childhood highlighted how far he has come. After listening to this you have to question if he would've become a roaring success at whatever he had taken his hand to, how work ethic and drive to learn rivals anyone.
October 14, 2011
If you are a Gordon Ramsay fan this book is a must have. If you are not a fan it's still a great read. There's everything in this autobiography. There's love, drama, sadness, broken dreams and fulfilled dreams. Here Gordon Ramsay tells all about his life and working his way to the top of the culinary field.
My favorite parts are when Gordan tells about his sad relationship with his brother Ronnie and dealing with Ronnie's drug addiction. Anyone who has had a family member who was involved in drug addiction could very well relate to all the ups and downs of these types of relationships and ultimately the heartbreak, when you realize as Gordon did, that sometimes you just cannot help those who do not want to help themselves.
Also, Gordon tells about his growing up with a father who wasn't a very good dad, who also was a terrible husband and who also wasn't the best role model. He tells this all without any self pity. Instead, he uses these experiences as a tool to deal with some of the worst tempered chefs in the world.
Another plus in this book is the several color photographs of Gordon and his family from him as a child up to the present.
Lastly, he tells of working his way up through some of the toughest kitchens in the UK and in France. He isn't afraid to name drop about those that have tried to make him go "tits up". Also, he gives kudos to those chefs that have helped him become the chef he is today.
Overall, a greatly fun read which I read in two days.
My favorite parts are when Gordan tells about his sad relationship with his brother Ronnie and dealing with Ronnie's drug addiction. Anyone who has had a family member who was involved in drug addiction could very well relate to all the ups and downs of these types of relationships and ultimately the heartbreak, when you realize as Gordon did, that sometimes you just cannot help those who do not want to help themselves.
Also, Gordon tells about his growing up with a father who wasn't a very good dad, who also was a terrible husband and who also wasn't the best role model. He tells this all without any self pity. Instead, he uses these experiences as a tool to deal with some of the worst tempered chefs in the world.
Another plus in this book is the several color photographs of Gordon and his family from him as a child up to the present.
Lastly, he tells of working his way up through some of the toughest kitchens in the UK and in France. He isn't afraid to name drop about those that have tried to make him go "tits up". Also, he gives kudos to those chefs that have helped him become the chef he is today.
Overall, a greatly fun read which I read in two days.
January 18, 2013
Humble Pie is an interesting peek into the life of one of the most controversial celebrity chefs. This is a story about how he clawed his way up the culinary ladder, from his dysfunctional family life to his current fame as a successful Michelin-starred chef. As expected, Ramsay did not spare any expletive, and the book is peppered with his usual "bollocks" and "fuck" ejaculations. Very raw and sincere, just like a good memoir should be.
What I liked about the book is the inside-story on Ramsay's success, but what I think the book needs is a more organized storytelling and a clearer timeline. It would have been great if he discussed the chronology of his restaurant alongside his television success because that's the kind of dual personality that we have come to know of: Ramsay on the boob tube and Ramsay in the kitchen. I like the Billy Elliot-esque story of his childhood, and I also love learning more about Ramsay's character - things that I haven't got the slightest idea about, e.g. Ramsay actually being good at soccer and so on.
Whether this book will change your opinion about Ramsay, it's for you to discover.
What I liked about the book is the inside-story on Ramsay's success, but what I think the book needs is a more organized storytelling and a clearer timeline. It would have been great if he discussed the chronology of his restaurant alongside his television success because that's the kind of dual personality that we have come to know of: Ramsay on the boob tube and Ramsay in the kitchen. I like the Billy Elliot-esque story of his childhood, and I also love learning more about Ramsay's character - things that I haven't got the slightest idea about, e.g. Ramsay actually being good at soccer and so on.
Whether this book will change your opinion about Ramsay, it's for you to discover.
June 13, 2010
I was really surprised by this. I had actually downloaded it as an ebook to test my new reader, quite simply because of the affordable price. I think I may have bought the condensed version because it was quite short but it was really very interesting. I'm not normally a biography sort of person but am very glad I bought this. My only exposure to Gordon Ramsay before reading this book was through his reality TV shows, of which I have only seen one episode. This definitely painted a very different picture of his life - abusive father, hard knock childhood, broken dreams of professional football and finally, the blood, sweat and tears that preceded his successful cooking career. A very interesting insight into the life of someone whom I had previously thought of as a bit of a rude upstart.
April 29, 2011
I really wasn't interested in the football career or even restaurants of Gordon Ramsay, however I was intrigued to know of his childhood and background, so started reading this book thinking I would only read the first couple of chapters then pass it on. It captivated me so much, however, that before I knew it I was romping towards the end of the book...
Very readable, whilst it doesn't necessarily endear me to Gordon Ramsay (quite the opposite at times) it does give some insight into the man behind the personality and how he came to be where he is today.
Very readable, whilst it doesn't necessarily endear me to Gordon Ramsay (quite the opposite at times) it does give some insight into the man behind the personality and how he came to be where he is today.
December 11, 2011
I read a 60-page highly abridged version of this book and found it to be an interesting insight into the famous chef's beginnings, how he moved up the career ladder and found himself to be a celebrity. His voice is so unique that I could practically hear him reciting the book to me as I read it.
January 5, 2019
I really enjoyed this book, lucky enough to get a signed out of print hardcover edition for Christmas. I started my first business armed with little more than notes from religiously watching the British version of Kitchen Nightmares, documenting the obsession with fundamentals, simplicity, and dedication, and throwing everything else out.
It was enjoyable reading about the guy behind the celebrity - and the book does a nice job with the self-awareness of ‘playing the game’ (Hollywood TV and swearing / etc) and genuine substance (true dedication to a craft and encouraging anyone to push themselves to the limit in pursuit of a goal). I had no idea he came from such a rough background, and enjoyed the authenticity of the book. You can practically hear him talking on each page.
It was enjoyable reading about the guy behind the celebrity - and the book does a nice job with the self-awareness of ‘playing the game’ (Hollywood TV and swearing / etc) and genuine substance (true dedication to a craft and encouraging anyone to push themselves to the limit in pursuit of a goal). I had no idea he came from such a rough background, and enjoyed the authenticity of the book. You can practically hear him talking on each page.
November 8, 2025
Endearing, short read packed with honesty and humour. It feels like Gordon Ramsay is just sitting down and talking to you. He’s a real paradox. I wanted to read this to understand why he’s such a legend in Kitchen Nightmares and I guess the answer is he’s been the poorest of poor and it’s never left him.
It’s so crazy as well when he leaves restaurants during a shift because he’s treated like shit and paid nothing and they have to shut down. That’s the level of skill that’s required for the work in Michelin restaurants.
I swear to god in another life he’s a charming and brilliant trade union organiser and leader.
It’s so crazy as well when he leaves restaurants during a shift because he’s treated like shit and paid nothing and they have to shut down. That’s the level of skill that’s required for the work in Michelin restaurants.
I swear to god in another life he’s a charming and brilliant trade union organiser and leader.
April 7, 2020
4.5 stars
Brutally honest memoir! Review coming soon.
Brutally honest memoir! Review coming soon.
May 20, 2024
Love Gordon, he’s a great guy
However I’ve read it way to late but great to learn about his younger years
However I’ve read it way to late but great to learn about his younger years
August 5, 2020
I am not a fan of Gordon Ramsay, largely as a result of seeing him in his cooking programmes on TV, not that I have followed them lavishly. The book was interesting though and was an easy read.
January 13, 2013
I can't cook, anything that I do cook is done in the oven, very occassionaly I make a cake. I know my limits, if a recipe involves a food processor - forget it. It's taken me years to realise that my cakes are so moist because I haven't whipped my eggs for long enough (didn't know they were supposed to be all fluffy, mine were normally a lot of liquid with a few bubbles in). But I have immense respect for anyone that can cook and can't help myself when it comes to cookbooks - it always looks so easy.
Gordon Ramsey is a favourite of mine - on the TV in any case - yes, to begin with he was surly and rude, but over the years he's mellowed. I like a bad boy. And this book gives an indication of how much of a bad boy he's been and explains where his attitude has come from.
His upbringing wasn't easy (did Dad was a git, driving his older sister out of the house and generally being abusive), they didn't have much money and after Gordon's dream of professional football came to an end he went into cooking and that was that. Working his way through different kitchens, always learning, taking demotions to join new kitchens, just to learn. Spending time in Paris, to learn. Putting up with awful conditions, and by this I don't mean the kitchens were dirty, but the attitude of the chefs around him. Having Marco Pierre White throw a saucepan of boiling sauce at his head for example and knowing that you couldn't say anything back, because that just would have made him even angrier. The mindgames that were played.
Dealing with his junkie brother, time and time again - he is very honest about the situation.
This is a man that is so driven to suceed and wants others to suceed. He has such pride in the chefs that he's brought through, given them their own restaurants to run.
Very interesting.
Gordon Ramsey is a favourite of mine - on the TV in any case - yes, to begin with he was surly and rude, but over the years he's mellowed. I like a bad boy. And this book gives an indication of how much of a bad boy he's been and explains where his attitude has come from.
His upbringing wasn't easy (did Dad was a git, driving his older sister out of the house and generally being abusive), they didn't have much money and after Gordon's dream of professional football came to an end he went into cooking and that was that. Working his way through different kitchens, always learning, taking demotions to join new kitchens, just to learn. Spending time in Paris, to learn. Putting up with awful conditions, and by this I don't mean the kitchens were dirty, but the attitude of the chefs around him. Having Marco Pierre White throw a saucepan of boiling sauce at his head for example and knowing that you couldn't say anything back, because that just would have made him even angrier. The mindgames that were played.
Dealing with his junkie brother, time and time again - he is very honest about the situation.
This is a man that is so driven to suceed and wants others to suceed. He has such pride in the chefs that he's brought through, given them their own restaurants to run.
Very interesting.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 10, 2015
This is the second of two Ramsay autobiographies on the market, the other being Playing with Fire, and although it probably didn’t help that I read the two of them out of order, I do think that Playing with Fire was better. That said, they do cover different subject matter, except for in the last sixty or so pages of Humble Pie which would essentially act as an introduction to the second book, if you read them in order. It’s just kind of hard to read about something that he’s looking forward to at the time of writing, when you already know what happens.
Still, it’s a great read, and Ramsay is a more-than competent writer – it probably comes from writing the dozens of cookbooks that he has on the market. Here, we learn about his early life with his abusive father, as well as his later life with his wife and kids, his father-in-law Chris going in to business with him, and his heroin addict brother, who he has mixed feelings for.
If you’re a fan of Ramsay’s or if you love food then this is the book for you, although I’d recommend picking up both books at once and reading them back to back, if you’re that interested. The great thing about them is that they’re easy to get lost in, because there’s always something happening that you want to hear more about. This book in particular is also well-divided by subject matter, so you can skip in to sections like ‘Football‘, ‘The Great Walk-Out‘ and ‘Ronnie‘ to find out more about whatever interests you . I wouldn’t bother with that, though – read it from cover to cover and you’ll be satisfied.
Plus, it comes with a bunch of old photographs too, from the present-day family to a young Gordon and even his father dressed up in country and western gear.
Still, it’s a great read, and Ramsay is a more-than competent writer – it probably comes from writing the dozens of cookbooks that he has on the market. Here, we learn about his early life with his abusive father, as well as his later life with his wife and kids, his father-in-law Chris going in to business with him, and his heroin addict brother, who he has mixed feelings for.
If you’re a fan of Ramsay’s or if you love food then this is the book for you, although I’d recommend picking up both books at once and reading them back to back, if you’re that interested. The great thing about them is that they’re easy to get lost in, because there’s always something happening that you want to hear more about. This book in particular is also well-divided by subject matter, so you can skip in to sections like ‘Football‘, ‘The Great Walk-Out‘ and ‘Ronnie‘ to find out more about whatever interests you . I wouldn’t bother with that, though – read it from cover to cover and you’ll be satisfied.
Plus, it comes with a bunch of old photographs too, from the present-day family to a young Gordon and even his father dressed up in country and western gear.
October 4, 2015
I love Gordon but for some reason I thought his autobiography was going to be quite arrogant... I was wrong. I knew he had an obscure past but reading about it made me understand a bit more his character. I've always seen him as a very strict, hard working man and now I get why.
What I loved the most was that he constantly repeated: "I worked my ass off." That's what you have to do when you want to achieve your goals. Now he is one of the best chefs, with more than ten Michelin stars and a series of restaurants all over the world. I admire him more now, knowing that he came from nothing and how hard he had to work to get where he is now.
Also, his writing style is exactly as his "speaking style": fast and sharp. That makes this book super easy to read, and even funny every now and then.
I highly recommend it, even if you are not into cooking or into Gordon, to anyone who has an evening to spear. The book is inspirational and I'm pretty sure you'll enjoy it.
What I loved the most was that he constantly repeated: "I worked my ass off." That's what you have to do when you want to achieve your goals. Now he is one of the best chefs, with more than ten Michelin stars and a series of restaurants all over the world. I admire him more now, knowing that he came from nothing and how hard he had to work to get where he is now.
Also, his writing style is exactly as his "speaking style": fast and sharp. That makes this book super easy to read, and even funny every now and then.
I highly recommend it, even if you are not into cooking or into Gordon, to anyone who has an evening to spear. The book is inspirational and I'm pretty sure you'll enjoy it.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 505 reviews