Anthony Bourdain's Book Recommendations

"A. J. Liebling’s “Between Meals” is his memoir of meals in Paris before and after the war, and it’s fantastic. He was an enthusiastic lover of food and wine, very knowledgeable but never a snob. It’s the benchmark for great food writing."

"Q: Whose writing today most inspires you? A.B. Marlon James’s “A Brief History of Seven Killings” was incredible."

"Charles Portis’s “True Grit” is a masterpiece. Don’t settle for seeing the film versions. One of the great heroines of all time and a magnificent book filled with great dialogue."

"David Ignatius’s “Agents of Innocence” is very, very good."

"The Wind in the Willows, a classic I loved as a child."

"Graham Greene’s memoir, “Ways of Escape,” is a book I’ve read many times but keep coming back to."

"A book I love."

"Q: What’s the last book that made you laugh? A.B. I published it, on my Ecco imprint, Anthony Bourdain Books: Michael Ruffino’s “Adios, ________."

"I particularly like The Man Who Lost the War."

"Elegant, deliciously immoral entry in series of sociopath as hero."

"The font of all wisdom. [The author] is right about nearly everything."

"The book that probably influenced me more than any other."

"[The author] gets to the heart of the matter."

"Rejuvenating, excoriating genius."

"The best, most realistic crime novel ever. Best dialogue in a crime novel ever."

"Violent. Twisted. Hilarious and beautiful."

"This is—and will remain—an essential account for anyone considering travel to Vietnam."

"Anthony Bourdain tweeted about this book."

"[The author] managed to convince a goodly number of the world's best, and best-known, chefs to let it all go."

"An absolutely wonderful exploration of the poorly understood sport of MMA."

"Q: Whose writing today most inspires you? A.B. Donald Ray Pollock was a revelation when I first read “The Devil All the Time.” Daniel Woodrell’s work."

"One of the truly great books."

"A fucking masterpiece."

"[This book] is everything."

"I wish I could write like [this author]."

"The world needs Rice, Noodle, Fish."

"I re-read it frequently. Particularly when visiting Vietnam."

"Spy novel authors and titles I particularly like include W. T. Tyler’s The Man Who Lost The War and Rogue’s March."