This book is for fans of Bourdain, a posthumous collection of works as a celebration of his writing. And yet, reading this collection of his works from teenage years to the very last article he wrote, it feels almost wrong to be peeking into these private thoughts. How horrified would I be if my journals from age 19 were published? I felt conflicted but also curious about seeing these tidbits of his life, the handwritten scraps of paper, drawings and comics, sketches and poems.

The unfinished novel in the book was one of my favorite excerpts, although of course I wish he had finished it. I have read one of Bourdain’s other fiction novels, Bone in the Throat, which was an early work, before Kitchen Confidential and his TV fame. You can see the tremendous growth in his fiction writing from that book to the unfinished one. His travel experiences seep into the pages of the book, especially in the food descriptions. The plot reminds me of something Carl Hiaasen might write, tropical island crime fiction, but with the swagger and snarky coolness we all love about Bourdain.

His unique voice shines in any piece he writes. As I read his writing, I imagine his voice in my head, the familiar narrator from all those voiceovers of episodes I have and will continue to rewatch countless times.

A large portion of the book included excerpts taken from his other non-fiction books, which I have read multiple times. I skimmed these sections since I am already very familiar with them. Overall, this was an excellent collection of works by a strange, brilliant, and complicated man. I could sense the influences of Hunter S. Thompson and Chuck Palahniuk in his fiction, the plots filled with drug-fueled debauchery and carnage… and so much delicious food, of course.

This collection of writings from Anthony Bourdain was such a special read.I enjoyed seeing his handwriting, with some of his drawings, and being able to connect more with his work.

If you’re an Anthony Bourdain fan, this book is a must. For the lover of food and travel, this book this will be incredibly noteworthy.

Here's the thing. Anthony Bourdain means the world to me. Every time I feel a real depression coming on, it's time for Parts Unknown. Every time I need a pick me up, it's Kitchen Confidential. And now, this collection is just another zoloft in my life.

Thank you to Ecco and NetGalley for the Advanced Reader's Copy!

Available October 2025.

I came upon Anthony Bourdain when I was stuck in the house during quarantine. He had committed suicide a few years before that & it felt extremely vouyeristic to watch a dead man give tours of countries, histories, and food ways. However, I couldn't stop watching - Bourdain's mix of social commentary, humor, and food was just too addictive. The world he showed felt so foreign & so quickly slipping away - it's a bit like watching a time machine. This collection feels the same way - vouyeristic with its mix of unpublished stories & diary entries, a wry mix of humor and disdain at the world, and a look into the crazy world of kitchens from the 70s to the early aughts. It makes me appreciate Bourdain more.

This was an excellent book. It was well-written. I would highly recommend this book. It's very easy to read.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the ARC.

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).

An interesting quick read with a peek into Anthony Bourdain's life. Without ever reading anything by him I was able to learn about him and his friends. I will read more books by him because of this book. Thank you for the ARC. Recommend.

No one writes about food the way Anthony Bourdain does. Whether it’s cooking it, eating it, or traveling to find it, his writing is poetic with a mix of rage, adoration, and nostalgia. It’s hard to believe he’s been gone for seven years now or that Kitchen Confidential just hit its twenty-fifth anniversary. While I know he is gone, I have found myself craving more of his work, rewatching old episodes of No Reservations to scratch the itch but not quite getting rid of it.

Enter: The Anthony Bourdain Reader, a beautiful compilation of unpublished works and familiar favorites, edited by Bourdain’s agent and friend, Kimberly Witherspoon. Witherspoon’s personal anecdotal chapter introductions add insight into her friend Tony, showing a new layer to who he was off the screen. You can feel Witherspoon’s love and care for her friend in her words.

I thoroughly enjoyed that Witherspoon opted to photocopy several Bourdain’s works through the book, giving the reader the opportunity to read in his handwriting, see some of his drawings, and connect more with the works.

My favorite chapter in the book was Vietnam. I laughed, grimaced, and glued my eyes to the page with intrigue reading about his experience eating the entire cobra at Huong Rung Restaurant.

If you’re an Anthony Bourdain fan, this book is for you. If you’re a lover of food and travel, this book is for you.

Thank you to NetGalley and Ecco for the e-arc of this book

This is a nice book if you are a fan of Anthony Bourdain and miss him being on tv or on the printed page. There are excerpts from some of his books and bits of unfinished work. And quotes from the things he had to say in articles, on television and in interviews.
I did not find much new that I had not already seen somewhere else, but still I enjoyed reading this.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for allowing me this ARC.