Get a free audiobook
Medium Raw
People who bought this also bought...
-
Kitchen Confidential
- Adventures in the Culinary Underbelly
- Written by: Anthony Bourdain
- Narrated by: Anthony Bourdain
- Length: 8 hrs and 19 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars 571
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 517
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 513
Last summer, The New Yorker published chef Anthony Bourdain's shocking, "Don't Eat Before Reading This." Now, the author uses the same "take-no-prisoners" attitude in his deliciously funny and shockingly delectable audiobook, sure to delight gourmands and philistines alike.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
definitely one of my favourite books.
- By patrick on 2018-09-29
-
Humble Pie
- Written by: Gordon Ramsay
- Narrated by: Gordon Ramsay
- Length: 3 hrs and 1 min
- Abridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 14
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 13
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 13
Shortlisted for the British Book Awards, Biography of the Year, 2007.
Longlisted for the Audiobook Download of the Year, 2007.
This is Gordon Ramsay's autobiography, the first time he has told the full story of how he became the world's most famous and infamous chef. He also discusses his difficult childhood, his brother's heroin addiction, and his failed first career as a footballer.
-
4 out of 5 stars
-
More about him than the kitchen
- By GL on 2019-08-19
-
Bone in the Throat
- Written by: Anthony Bourdain
- Narrated by: Kaleo Griffith
- Length: 8 hrs and 51 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars 2
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 2
-
Story5 out of 5 stars 2
When up-and-coming chef Tommy Pagana settles for a less than glamorous stint at his uncle's restaurant in Manhattan's Little Italy, he unwittingly finds himself a partner in big-time crime. And when the mob decides to use the kitchen for a murder, nothing Tommy learned in cooking school has prepared him for what happens next. With the FBI on one side and his eccentric wise guy superiors on the other, Tommy has to struggle to do right by his conscience and avoid getting killed in the meantime....
-
Anthony Bourdain, Eric Ripert, and Gabrielle Hamilton on 'How I Learned to Cook'
- Written by: Anthony Bourdain, Eric Ripert, Gabrielle Hamilton
- Narrated by: Michael Ruhlman
- Length: 1 hr and 25 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars 4
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 1
-
Story5 out of 5 stars 1
Anthony Bourdain, Gabrielle Hamilton, and Eric Ripert are all well established, accomplished chefs; they share their early cooking experiences, what influenced their cooking styles, and what made them want to be chefs forever. Bourdain is the executive chef at Brasserie Les Halles, the author of the best-selling book Kitchen Confidential: Adventures in the Culinary Underbelly, and the host of the popular Food Network series, A Cook's Tour.
-
32 Yolks
- From My Mother's Table to Working the Line
- Written by: Eric Ripert, Veronica Chambers
- Narrated by: Peter Ganim
- Length: 7 hrs and 26 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 2
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 2
-
Story5 out of 5 stars 2
In an industry where celebrity chefs are known as much for their salty talk and quick tempers as their food, Eric Ripert stands out. The winner of four James Beard Awards, co-owner and chef of a world-renowned restaurant, and recipient of countless Michelin stars, Ripert embodies elegance and culinary perfection. But before the accolades, before he even knew how to make a proper hollandaise sauce, Eric Ripert was a lonely young boy in the south of France whose life was falling apart.
-
Life, on the Line
- A Chef's Story of Chasing Greatness, Facing Death, and Redefining the Way We Eat
- Written by: Grant Achatz, Nick Kokonas
- Narrated by: Johnny Heller
- Length: 12 hrs and 51 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars 6
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 6
-
Story5 out of 5 stars 6
In 2007 chef Grant Achatz seemingly had it made. He had been named one of the best new chefs in America by Food & Wine in 2002, received the James Beard Foundation Rising Star Chef of the Year Award in 2003, and in 2005 he and Nick Kokonas opened the conceptually radical restaurant Alinea, which was named Best Restaurant in America by Gourmet magazine. Then, Achatz was diagnosed with stage IV squamous cell carcinoma - tongue cancer.
-
Kitchen Confidential
- Adventures in the Culinary Underbelly
- Written by: Anthony Bourdain
- Narrated by: Anthony Bourdain
- Length: 8 hrs and 19 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars 571
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 517
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 513
Last summer, The New Yorker published chef Anthony Bourdain's shocking, "Don't Eat Before Reading This." Now, the author uses the same "take-no-prisoners" attitude in his deliciously funny and shockingly delectable audiobook, sure to delight gourmands and philistines alike.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
definitely one of my favourite books.
- By patrick on 2018-09-29
-
Humble Pie
- Written by: Gordon Ramsay
- Narrated by: Gordon Ramsay
- Length: 3 hrs and 1 min
- Abridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 14
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 13
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 13
Shortlisted for the British Book Awards, Biography of the Year, 2007.
Longlisted for the Audiobook Download of the Year, 2007.
This is Gordon Ramsay's autobiography, the first time he has told the full story of how he became the world's most famous and infamous chef. He also discusses his difficult childhood, his brother's heroin addiction, and his failed first career as a footballer.
-
4 out of 5 stars
-
More about him than the kitchen
- By GL on 2019-08-19
-
Bone in the Throat
- Written by: Anthony Bourdain
- Narrated by: Kaleo Griffith
- Length: 8 hrs and 51 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars 2
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 2
-
Story5 out of 5 stars 2
When up-and-coming chef Tommy Pagana settles for a less than glamorous stint at his uncle's restaurant in Manhattan's Little Italy, he unwittingly finds himself a partner in big-time crime. And when the mob decides to use the kitchen for a murder, nothing Tommy learned in cooking school has prepared him for what happens next. With the FBI on one side and his eccentric wise guy superiors on the other, Tommy has to struggle to do right by his conscience and avoid getting killed in the meantime....
-
Anthony Bourdain, Eric Ripert, and Gabrielle Hamilton on 'How I Learned to Cook'
- Written by: Anthony Bourdain, Eric Ripert, Gabrielle Hamilton
- Narrated by: Michael Ruhlman
- Length: 1 hr and 25 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars 4
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 1
-
Story5 out of 5 stars 1
Anthony Bourdain, Gabrielle Hamilton, and Eric Ripert are all well established, accomplished chefs; they share their early cooking experiences, what influenced their cooking styles, and what made them want to be chefs forever. Bourdain is the executive chef at Brasserie Les Halles, the author of the best-selling book Kitchen Confidential: Adventures in the Culinary Underbelly, and the host of the popular Food Network series, A Cook's Tour.
-
32 Yolks
- From My Mother's Table to Working the Line
- Written by: Eric Ripert, Veronica Chambers
- Narrated by: Peter Ganim
- Length: 7 hrs and 26 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 2
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 2
-
Story5 out of 5 stars 2
In an industry where celebrity chefs are known as much for their salty talk and quick tempers as their food, Eric Ripert stands out. The winner of four James Beard Awards, co-owner and chef of a world-renowned restaurant, and recipient of countless Michelin stars, Ripert embodies elegance and culinary perfection. But before the accolades, before he even knew how to make a proper hollandaise sauce, Eric Ripert was a lonely young boy in the south of France whose life was falling apart.
-
Life, on the Line
- A Chef's Story of Chasing Greatness, Facing Death, and Redefining the Way We Eat
- Written by: Grant Achatz, Nick Kokonas
- Narrated by: Johnny Heller
- Length: 12 hrs and 51 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars 6
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 6
-
Story5 out of 5 stars 6
In 2007 chef Grant Achatz seemingly had it made. He had been named one of the best new chefs in America by Food & Wine in 2002, received the James Beard Foundation Rising Star Chef of the Year Award in 2003, and in 2005 he and Nick Kokonas opened the conceptually radical restaurant Alinea, which was named Best Restaurant in America by Gourmet magazine. Then, Achatz was diagnosed with stage IV squamous cell carcinoma - tongue cancer.
-
The Never-Ending Present
- The Story of Gord Downie and the Tragically Hip
- Written by: Michael Barclay
- Narrated by: George Stroumboulopoulos
- Length: 17 hrs and 55 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 232
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 210
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 208
In the first biography of the Tragically Hip, Michael Barclay talks to dozens of the band’s peers and friends about not just the Hip’s music, but about the opening bands, the American albatross, the band’s role in Canadian culture, and Gord Downie’s role in reconciliation with Indigenous people. When Downie announced he had terminal cancer and decided to take the Hip on the road one more time, the tour became another Terry Fox moment; this time, Canadians got to witness an embattled hero reach the finish line.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Loved the band, loved the book!
- By Susan Visser on 2018-09-18
-
Restaurant Man
- Written by: Joe Bastianich
- Narrated by: Joe Bastianich
- Length: 8 hrs and 9 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars 12
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 12
-
Story5 out of 5 stars 12
How does a nice Italian boy from Queens turn his passion for food and wine into a nationwide empire? In his intrepid, irreverent, and terrifically entertaining memoir, Restaurant Man, Joe Bastianich charts his remarkable culinary journey from his parents’ neighborhood eatery to becoming one of the country’s most successful restaurateurs, along with his superstar chef partners: his mother, Lidia Bastianich, and Mario Batali.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Great read
- By Amazon Customer on 2018-12-27
-
Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat
- Mastering the Elements of Good Cooking
- Written by: Samin Nosrat
- Narrated by: Samin Nosrat
- Length: 5 hrs and 57 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars 20
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 20
-
Story5 out of 5 stars 19
A visionary new master class in cooking that distills decades of professional experience into just four simple elements, from the woman declared "America's next great cooking teacher" by Alice Waters.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Best cookbook for folks don't follow recipes
- By Anonymous User on 2018-09-16
-
Gordon Ramsay
- On Top of the World
- Written by: Neil Simpson
- Narrated by: Richard Aspel
- Length: 9 hrs and 10 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars 3
-
Performance3 out of 5 stars 2
-
Story4 out of 5 stars 2
Best known as the host of Fox's Hell's Kitchen and Kitchen Nightmares, Gordon Ramsay is one of the most driven, successful, and irate chefs around. He has thrown Hollywood actresses out of his restaurants and is notorious for his anger, but his food has been served to numerous heads of state, and he is one of only three chefs in England whose restaurant is rated at three Michelin stars. Sometimes hilarious and frequently heartbreaking, this is Gordon Ramsay’s full life, from tenements and poverty to top-notch restaurants and fame.
-
Heat
- An Amateur's Adventures as Kitchen Slave, Line Cook, Pasta-Maker, and Apprentice to a Dante-Quoting Butcher in Tuscany
- Written by: Bill Buford
- Narrated by: Michael Kramer
- Length: 12 hrs and 15 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars 3
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 3
-
Story5 out of 5 stars 3
From one of our most interesting literary figures, former editor of Granta, former fiction editor at The New Yorker, acclaimed author of Among the Thugs, a sharp, funny, exuberant, close-up account of his headlong plunge into the life of a professional cook.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
great!
- By Brianna Humphrey on 2019-01-03
-
Born a Crime
- Stories from a South African Childhood
- Written by: Trevor Noah
- Narrated by: Trevor Noah
- Length: 8 hrs and 44 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars 4,816
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 4,422
-
Story5 out of 5 stars 4,415
One of the comedy world's fastest-rising stars tells his wild coming of age story during the twilight of apartheid in South Africa and the tumultuous days of freedom that followed. Noah provides something deeper than traditional memoirists: powerfully funny observations about how farcical political and social systems play out in our lives.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Superb
- By Amazon Customer on 2017-11-10
-
Texas Flood
- The Inside Story of Stevie Ray Vaughan
- Written by: Alan Paul, Andy Aledort, Jimmie Vaughan - epilogue
- Narrated by: Alan Paul, Andy Aledort, Full Cast
- Length: 11 hrs and 39 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall0 out of 5 stars 0
-
Performance0 out of 5 stars 0
-
Story0 out of 5 stars 0
Texas Flood provides the unadulterated truth about Stevie Ray Vaughan from those who knew him best: his brother Jimmie, his Double Trouble bandmates Tommy Shannon, Chris Layton, and Reese Wynans, and many other close friends, family members, girlfriends, fellow musicians, managers and crew members.
-
The Making of a Chef
- Mastering Heat at the Culinary Institute of America
- Written by: Michael Ruhlman
- Narrated by: Jeff Riggenbach
- Length: 12 hrs and 14 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars 1
-
Performance0 out of 5 stars 0
-
Story0 out of 5 stars 0
Ruhlman propels himself and his readers through a score of kitchens and classrooms, from Asian and American regional cuisines to lunch cookery and even table waiting, in search of the elusive, unnamable elements of great cooking.
-
Letters to a Young Chef
- Written by: Daniel Boulud
- Narrated by: Mario Brassard
- Length: 3 hrs and 57 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall0 out of 5 stars 0
-
Performance0 out of 5 stars 0
-
Story0 out of 5 stars 0
From the reinvention of French food through the fine dining revolution in America, Daniel Boulud has been witness to, and creator of, our contemporary food culture. A modern man with a classical foundation, he speaks with the authority that comes from a lifetime of experience, and no small amount of passion, about the vocation of creating and serving food.
-
Robin
- Written by: Dave Itzkoff
- Narrated by: Fred Berman
- Length: 16 hrs and 15 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 70
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 61
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 62
From his rapid-fire stand-up comedy riffs to his breakout role in Mork & Mindy and his Academy Award-winning performance in Good Will Hunting, Robin Williams was a singularly innovative and beloved entertainer. He often came across as a man possessed, holding forth on culture and politics while mixing in personal revelations - all with mercurial, tongue-twisting intensity as he inhabited and shed one character after another with lightning speed. But as Dave Itzkoff shows in this revelatory biography, Williams’ comic brilliance masked a deep well of conflicting emotions and self-doubt.
-
3 out of 5 stars
-
Not quite what I expected
- By Maryam on 2018-09-19
-
Blood, Bones & Butter
- The Inadvertent Education of a Reluctant Chef
- Written by: Gabrielle Hamilton
- Narrated by: Gabrielle Hamilton
- Length: 10 hrs and 4 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 9
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 9
-
Story4 out of 5 stars 9
Before Gabrielle Hamilton opened her acclaimed New York restaurant Prune, she spent twenty fierce, hard-living years trying to find purpose and meaning in her life. Above all she sought family, particularly the thrill and the magnificence of the one from her childhood that, in her adult years, eluded her. Hamilton’s ease and comfort in a kitchen were instilled in her at an early age when her parents hosted grand parties, often for more than one hundred friends and neighbors.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Thank you.
- By Brianna Humphrey on 2018-12-30
-
The Soul of a Chef
- The Journey Toward Perfection
- Written by: Michael Ruhlman
- Narrated by: Donald Corren
- Length: 12 hrs and 14 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 4
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 4
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 4
In his second in-depth foray into the world of professional cooking, Michael Ruhlman journeys into the heart of the profession. Observing the rigorous Certified Master Chef exam at the Culinary Institute of America, the most influential cooking school in the country, Ruhlman enters the lives and kitchens of rising star Michael Symon and the renowned Thomas Keller of the French Laundry. This fascinating audiobook will satisfy any listener's hunger for knowledge about cooking and food, the secrets of successful chefs, at what point cooking becomes an art form, and more.
Publisher's Summary
The long-awaited follow-up to the mega-best-seller Kitchen Confidential
In the 10 years since his classic Kitchen Confidential first alerted us to the idiosyncrasies and lurking perils of eating out - from Monday fish to the breadbasket conspiracy - much has changed for the subculture of chefs and cooks, for the restaurant business and for Anthony Bourdain. Medium Raw explores those changes, moving back and forth from the author's bad old days to the present. Tracking his own strange and unexpected voyage from journeyman cook to globe-traveling professional eater and drinker, and even to fatherhood, Bourdain takes no prisoners as he dissects what he's seen, pausing along the way for a series of confessions, rants, investigations, and interrogations of some of the most controversial figures in food.
Beginning with a secret and highly illegal after-hours gathering of powerful chefs that he compares to a mafia summit, Bourdain pulls back the curtain, but never pulls his punches, on the modern gastronomical revolution, as only he can. Cutting right to the bone, Bourdain sets his sights on some of the biggest names in the foodie world, including David Chang, the young superstar chef who has radicalized the fine-dining landscape; the revered Alice Waters, whom he treats with unapologetic frankness; the Top Chef winners and losers; and many more.
Always he returns to the question "Why cook?" Or the more difficult "Why cook well?" Medium Raw is the deliciously funny and shockingly delectable journey to those answers, sure to delight philistines and gourmands alike.
What the critics say
What members say
Average Customer Ratings
Overall
-
4.5 out of 5 stars
-
5 Stars143
-
4 Stars32
-
3 Stars9
-
2 Stars1
-
1 Stars0
Performance
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
5 Stars155
-
4 Stars18
-
3 Stars1
-
2 Stars0
-
1 Stars0
Story
-
4.5 out of 5 stars
-
5 Stars117
-
4 Stars39
-
3 Stars17
-
2 Stars0
-
1 Stars0
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story4 out of 5 stars
- NePatsGirl
- 2019-02-02
A must for your wish list
Once again bourdain tells a great story. Although I enjoyed kitchen a bit more (can’t put my finger on why) this was a great book. As he tells more stories of his life I couldn’t help morbidly looking for some key or clue from way back then to explain his last year(s). I would recommend this book as I did the last for any fan, foodie or someone wanting a break from their own monotonous day. Bourdain’s ability to tell a great story is comparable to none
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
- Brianna Humphrey
- 2018-12-28
Just perfect
when grinding out the past of your holiday rush and prep Tony sure helps keep you company.
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Amazon Customer
- 2018-12-03
Having Tony Narrate It Makes It!
really captures your attention. I couldn't stop listening! Having Anthony as the narrator really pulls you into his writing and thoughts. I definitely recommend!
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Michelle
- 2018-09-18
Great listen
Bourdain really delves in to his personal life as well as the chef world in this book. He narrates it well - I love hearing his voice.
Highly recommend.
#audible1
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- James
- 2018-09-18
Funny
Great follow up to Kitchen Confidential. Funny and heart warming. Easy listen...didn't want it to end. #Audible 1
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Sherry Galesloot
- 2018-09-13
I miss Anthony Bourdain
Now that Anthony is no longer with us, his books narrated by himself are a way to keep his spirit alive. #Audible1
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Adam Drew
- 2018-07-16
We may never see his like again
Anthony Bourdain, the "bad boy" of food writing, was a storyteller without peer in his field. His travel, his passion, his instinctive way of bringing out the best in the people around him. He roared to fame with Kitchen Confidential, but this book served as, not an apology, but a recontextualization of that work, through the voice of an older, wiser, but no less funny or cutting Bourdain, no longer a chef, but instead known worldwide as a lover of food, and of the people who make it and serve it.
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story4 out of 5 stars
- Sparkly
- 2012-10-09
Surprisingly tender.
I loved Kitchen Confidential, in part because it was the story of a punk rock underdog from Manhattan, a demographic close to my heart and history. Occasionally over the years I have wondered how success and maturity have affected Bourdain, and this book answered most of my questions. Bourdain narrates, which is all important. The chapters on the dissolution of his marriage and his grappling with fame were moving, and quite sad. I found it laudable that he has the ability to admit that he's a jerk and has been wrong about a lot of things. And the section on the fish expert at Le Bernardin is just amazingly good journalism. Yes, he can be a strident, opinionated blowhard, but I think that's part of his charm. His devotion to cooking (and cooks) is infectious.
63 of 63 people found this review helpful
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- PKsweets
- 2010-07-16
I like it......well done!
This is the continuation of Kitchen Confidential...and also a review of sorts of many of the heavy hitters in the food business...from the Restaurants to the TV shows....a insightful background story that is always entertaining and even though it is NSFW, it delivers a great life lesson....you never know where you will end up, and the journey can be so interesting....well done! Great narration and great story....
31 of 31 people found this review helpful
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars
-
Performance4 out of 5 stars
-
Story4 out of 5 stars
- Marie
- 2013-04-10
Fun read of a lush life
This was a really fun listen and at times I laughed out loud. This is my first Anthony Bourdain book, so I don't know how it compares to his more famous book.
Did I learn anything? Not really. This book is one where you just sit back and enjoy the ride and it is a fun ride that goes to various parts of the world and US. It is also like sitting at the bar with the world 2nd most interesting man as he spins tales about crazy girlfriends, lucky jobs, and life enjoyably wasted on booze and drugs.
I've seen criticisms about authors reading their own books, this is one of those things where the author does a really good job.
To truly enjoy this book, belly up to the bar, or sit out on the patio with a drink and a nice app.
14 of 14 people found this review helpful
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
- Allan
- 2011-06-13
fantastic entertainment
Anthony Bourdain observes and reports with an edgy wit peppered with just the right blend of erudition and four-letter words. There is not a boring moment in this and you'll easily listen to it twice. It does meander slightly and its hard to discern an overall theme- but you'll be so hypnotized by the stream of ideas and wit that you won't notice this.
9 of 9 people found this review helpful
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars
- susan
- 2010-08-22
Tony does it again...
Enjoyable, if somewhat strident at times, this book catches readers up on the life of the author (and his antics) and recaps the lives of people covered in other books. Very enjoyable book.
8 of 8 people found this review helpful
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars
- Slothflyer
- 2010-08-13
a decent sequel
This sequel to Kitchen Confidential is very good, but Bourdain's ego and opinions get a little bloated and tedious. However, when he begins to berate the Food Network, it is the best. definietly download if you like his first book.
13 of 14 people found this review helpful
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars
- Thomas
- 2010-07-22
Well written, well read and thought provoking
What more is there to say about an audio book? Anthony Bourdain is outspoken and passionate. He writes about food and the food industry intending to inform and entertain. He does this with humor and perception. Tony introduces you to a world that is deeper and more important than many people give credit to - a world just as prominent in politics as it is in high society. He makes you think about what he is telling you and challenges you to draw your own conclusions.
My only gripe - lay off the four letter words.
19 of 21 people found this review helpful
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story4 out of 5 stars
- Matthew M. Ryba
- 2013-02-27
Tony does it again.
Would you listen to Medium Raw again? Why?
Yes, I had read this book twice in a hard cover edition before listening to it via Audible. There is something to be said about Tony Bourdain narrating it himself. In my head the book read in his voice and being a long time fan of his writing as well as his TV shows, it just made sense. It's a great story to catch a chapter or two, especially late at night when on the Subway in NY, begin able to visualize some of the places around the city he references, and even more, being told to you in the friendly familiar voce of another New Yorker.
Great book, strongly recommended, for the story telling, jokes, and tips on what might be a cool place to visit when in NY. If it weren't for Bourdain I would have no idea who David Chang was, and wouldn't frequent one of my favorite restaurants in NY as a result.
Who was your favorite character and why?
It's somewhat self-biographical, and Tony gives a great performance.
Which scene was your favorite?
The story about his drunken musings in the Caribbean with his psychopathic girlfriend.
If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?
Medium Raw; Why bloody is better.
5 of 5 people found this review helpful
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Sophia
- 2011-12-27
Great to read, great to hear.
Would you listen to Medium Raw again? Why?
Yes, I already listened to it twice. I have incredibly long commutes to and from work. Listening to Bourdain's book in the car helped me survive my worst commuting week of the year. His story is so unique and fascinting and his writing so honest, thought-provoking, and funny that listening to him narrate it just feels right.
Who was your favorite character and why?
Anthony Bourdain is my favorite character because of his depth and humor. Justo Thomas, Ottavia Bourdain, and Fergus Henderson have such important roles and are described so grandly it is hard not to admire them.
What does Anthony Bourdain bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?
Bourdain's narration taught me that reading and listening are totally different experiences. I had already read and was a fan of Bourdain's story. I didn't think that the audiobook would add anything to my experience but decided to try it out before I gifted it to a friend. Listening made me appreciate the story even more. It was also great to finally learn the correct pronunciation of various places and things.
Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?
I could probably have listened to it all in a couple of sittings, because nine hours is a bit long. My listening was interrupted only by work and the end of an exhausting commute. But because it was the only thing I listened to in my car it took less than a week for me to finish.
17 of 19 people found this review helpful
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
- Nathan T
- 2010-08-11
Great from snout to tail...
Really enjoyed this book. Funny, barbed, and insightful in ways that go beyond "foodiedom", this book frequently had me in stitches. If you like food, are fascinated by the inner workings of the restaurant business (told in a tell-it-like-you-see-it style) you can't go wrong with this. Bourdain never ceases to provide food for thought, be it bad food or good.
10 of 11 people found this review helpful