I don't always read memoirs or biographies, but I'm glad that I requested this one. Chef Andre's story is a wonderful and amazing and tough one, with ups and downs, heartbreaks and triumphs. I really enjoyed this book and I recommend people give it a shot, even if memoirs aren't quite your thing.

We've all seen the picture.

This memoir looks to explain how a brick wall of a man became Chef to the big wigs of DC. More of a collection of inspiring anecdotes than na autobiography/memoir, those looking for behind-the-scenes gossip and goings on within the White House will be disappointed, as was I.

An entertaining and enlightening story that shows that you don’t need a college degree to achieve your dreams. Andre Rush has accomplished so much in his life, all without compromising who he is. He’s felt pushback along the way but persevered even through PTSD. I enjoyed getting to know Andre Rush and seeing his triumphs.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Each chapter had me wanting to read on to the next one. While some of what he said felt farfetched, if most of it were actually true, he has a very interesting past to reveal.

A good memoir with lots of interesting stories about how he became the chef that he became and the route he took to get there. It had humor, sadness, bigotry and racism, tragedy, but there is hope and a whole lot of push-ups and you’ll definitely enjoy it and wonder if he ever reconnected with those who had wronged him in the past, like the manager of the store, where he had worked at when he was younger. So when you get a chance, check it out and enjoy.

PTSD in veterans has been, and remains, a serious issue. I’m glad to see Rush using his platform to share his experiences.

Andre Rush is an American hero, without a doubt. He’s also incredibly inspiring - his perseverance and strength of character are admirable.

I like memoirs, and this was certainly very different than ones I’ve read before. Chef Andre Rush has accomplished a ton and seems to be a really honorable guy. He speaks directly and isn’t afraid to call out people who have done him wrong.
That said, he doesn’t show growth in this book. Every time he changes, it’s some sort of split second thing where he just decides to change and there’s nothing about the thoughts or feelings. In fact, there’s a real lack of feelings or reflections in the book overall. Chef Rush endured possibly unneeded surgeries, attempted suicide, spent time inpatient, and so much more—but all I get is that he was very angry.
Almost none of the book was about cooking and I had to google him to find out why he does 2,222 push-ups every day (if it was in the book, i must have missed it, but all I could find was him repeating over and over how many push-ups he did—not why).
Books can be good and find an audience that isn’t me. As a nerdy white lawyer who enjoys jogging and reading, maybe I am just not his audience. But I can’t figure out who would be.

I am grateful to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for free access to a review e-book in exchange for an un-biased review.

This wasn't for me. Sometimes I like military memoirs, like Jet Girl, but this wasn't that interesting and just wasn't for me. I didn't really care for his voice and the writing wasn't really there.

Andre Rush grew up working on a farm prior to joining the military and dedicating the next 24 years of his life to service. Andre found his passion and love for cooking during this time and became such a sensation that he was invited to the Pentagon, where he was during the dark day of 9/11. While he stepped up and used his instincts to assist as needed, Andre suffered from Post-Traumatic stress on top of dealing with racism and stereotypes that he dealt with his whole life. Early on he found out he was a physically strong and made sure he used that in his favor.

Andre shares detailed, personal stories of his tragedies and triumphs throughout his lifetime. If you are wanting to learn a perspective of how someone in the military may think, and what they may experience, then this book is for you. This book shows vulnerability by sharing stories that you may not here during a friendly dinner.

Thank you to Harper Horizon for allowing me to read an electronic ARC copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. This story won't be for everyone, but it strengthened my love for the military and confirms that everyone has a story, and you never know what someone may be going through.

This was a wonderful book that was a lot of fun to read. I thoroughly enjoyed reading about the chef's experiences, inside as well as outside of the kitchen.

There is no doubt that Chef Andre Rush’s life was a journey filled with ups and downs even as he persevered through if not triumphed over awful societal mores, prejudice, and personal challenges. His perseverance and triumphs deserve our admiration.

However, “Call Me Chef, Dammit: A Veteran's Journey from the Rural South to the White House" (ISBN9780785249450), is a regrettably unsatisfying book that ends up being more of an unintentional character study than it is an inspiring memoir. If one is looking for a motivational memoir that illustrates a person’s greatness without having to simultaneously diminish others, then a reader may want to give Andre Rush’s, "Call Me Chef, Dammit," a pass. One star.

Thanks to the publisher, Harper Horizon, for granting this writer the opportunity to read an Advance Reader Copy of, "Call Me Chef, Dammit," prior to publication, and thanks to NetGalley for helping to make that possible.

#CallMeChefDammit #NetGalley.