Funny, Well Written, and Unexpectedly Educational
585524
I got a lot from this book, to my surprise.

First off, the writing is, in my opinion, much richer than your typical memoir, being filled with personality, perceptiveness, and no small amount of humor (and some impressive prose, even). Likewise, the formatting is clean and straightforward, resulting in a generally coherent, readable text (aside from a few minor parts that, to my eyes, read awkwardly, or were self-contradictory). The length, too, was agreeable to my tastes. Thus, from a literary perspective, 'Kitchen' worked for me.

As for content, the book proved to be as strong and pleasing in this respect, with a wide variety of substance that grabbed my attention and held it. Furthermore, there is a lot of depth to Mr. Bourdain's story, exceeding both biographical and cooking themes. The reader is treated to everything from travelogues, to character analyses, to practical descriptions of kitchen logistics, to the author's personal philosophical musings, with regular detours into the bespoke culinary adventures and other tidbits still. And, thanks to the solid writing, all of it comes across with a stark, gritty authenticity that goes far to enhance the read, and in several ways. Most readers would, I think, find something of interest here (whether or not you like the author's character).

Personally, what I found most engaging was the book's frank depiction of restaurant culture and its complexities, that "culinary underbelly" advertised on the cover. In this regard, 'Kitchen' offers a remarkably valuable, behind-the-scenes glimpse into this hidden sociological ecosystem, as a human study and beyond. For me, I took much from the author's experiences in this strange niche of life on earth, namely in the way of psychology and the ever-elusive mystery of human behavior. Though often irreverent and dismissive in its treatment of these things, the book nonetheless offers much to learn for a student of mankind (and, perhaps, everybody to some degree). And what a strange source for such data, in the pages of a famous chef's culinary retrospective.

My sincere thanks goes out to this book's author, subjects, and publisher. I am grateful for, and have benefited from, your work.

* * *

Some notable quotes from 'Kitchen Confidential':

"My last semester at Vassar, I'd taken to wearing nunchakus in a strap-on holster and carrying around a samurai sword -- that should tell you all you need to know." -- p. 36

"No one understands the American Dream of hard work leading to material rewards better than a non-American." -- p. 56

"Personally, I'd prefer to eat food that tastes good and is an honest reflection of its ingredients than a three-foot-tall caprice constructed from lemongrass, lawn trimmings, coconuts and red curry. You could lose an eye trying to eat that." -- p. 63

"They were assembling machine guns for sale in the employee bathroom when I arrived." -- the single best chapter-opener I've ever read, p. 134

"Writing anything is a treason of sorts. Even the cold recitation of facts [...] is never the thing itself. And the events described are somehow diminished in the telling." -- p. 298-299
1865291
An anthology of science and nature based essays can intimidate those of us who failed all the sciences at high school. This collection though is so well written, engaging, informative and surprisingly funny at times, that I enjoyed the book very much. The introduction by Amy Stewart covered all the bases, the place of such writing in history, the need for the journalistic articles as well as the more lighthearted all serve the readers. The goal of this book, of science writers, is to make us look outside of our own spheres, to see beyond the obvious, and to learn about the bigger world. It's a fascinating collection of stories.
Some of the essays are pretty light, such as Amy Leach and the Modern Moose. Others are heartbreaking, the final essay ever written by Oliver Sachs reminds us all of the fact of our own mortality.
Please read this. I'm glad I did. It's thought-provoking in the best way, and yes, I did laugh out loud at some of the images and experiences.
<a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/Bring-A-Chainsaw-and-other-stories-from-my-solo-travels/dp/1523359854/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">Bring A Chainsaw: (and other stories from my solo travels)</a>
4018957
I got this book as a Christmas present from my roommate but I didn't start to read it until after Easter. But I'm really glad I did. It was both funny and thought-provoking. There is so much most people don't know about the language we use every day. It was really interesting, and the articles are short and not technical at all so you don't get bogged down.
As I read through it I got really into it and was going to give a copy to my Dad for Father's Day. But then there was a whole article (really funny!) about new uses of the f-word and that's not really for parental units...my roommate said her parents loved it, though.
However, I liked this book so much that I googled the magazine Verbatim and subscribed!
2288400
This book is so much fun to read that it hardly seems like a text book!

It presents a thorough coverage of the subject in a way that would satisfy any student's curiosity.

The writing is very skillful with witty little treats throughout. Reading it, I frequently laughed out loud, and many times had to stop to share
particularly hilarious passages with a friend!  Even the notes at the end of the chapters are sometimes funny.

Each chapter lists internet resources which enable the reader to get specific information about his or her own personality characteristics.

As if these qualities weren't enough to recommend the book, it is filled with the most superlatively amusing and wonderful cartoons that
brilliantly illustrate the concepts being discussed.

It's hard to say enough good things about this book!
1898482
This is such a fun combination of bizarre fantasy and a lecture from history and art. The plot about Danny, who goes on an adventure with a creature named Nostrildamus (if you find that funny, this is a book for you) if basically a foil for meeting a bunch of cool characters based on real people from history. The writing is funny, creative and perfect for younger readers, but adults can also have a lot of fun with this, I certainly had. I love the world that the author built, very imaginative and vividly described, along with that lovely gang of characters.
This is not an educational book per se, but with its entertainment value it has a lot to offer to a young reader and there is no doubt that he can learn from this. It will certainly be easier to remember these strange characters based on real people than read about those people form a boring textbook. My recommendation.
1692099
This book is funny, irreverent, well-researched, and thoroughly engaging. Florence Williams does her research. She takes us on a tour de boob from its evolutionary history to the EPA, from a plastic surgeon's office to breasts' susceptibility to environmental exposures, using her own body as guinea pig.  She dives into 18th century anatomical texts, and follows the latest research on early puberty and its link to breast cancer.  Williams' prose is clear and eloquent, and at times hilarious. She strikes the perfect balance between informing, educating and entertaining the reader.  This book is a page-turner, and the information in it could not be more timely.  Put this book on your Must Read list and share it with everyone you know.
1114803
read this book and laugh while you actually learn something at the same time !! it's a very funny treatment of all the things that make people laugh in all sorts of areas --  philosophy, science, anthropology (i was surprised) history, mythology, etc interspersed with stuff about comedy in all sorts of media -- literature, tv, movies, standup, etc written by a veteran comedy writer on some of my favorite shows (police squad, mork and mindy) who knows what he's talking about.  greg
2001881
I must confess, that even though she's an established comedic actress, I was not familiar with the author's work prior to listening to the audio edition of this book.  Suffice it to say, I immediately looked her up after having finished it in one sitting. The title, wit and subject matter all appealed to me enough to make me take a chance and invest, but I had no idea it would be THIS good.  Not only were there laugh-out-loud observations, but there were also moments so poignant that I was moved to tears. I absolutely love the fact that Ms. Gurwitch is able to face life's challenges head-on with such wit and genuine class.  While I do agree that the humor would be more likely to resonate with female readers in their forties and fifties, I think it's entertaining enough to the hold the attention of most readers, and I personally thought that it had plenty of depth and insight. I won't call it a "hidden gem," as it may not have been hidden at all from most people, but I will absolutely call it a "delightful surprise." I will be be purchasing the author's other works as well. I'm a fan.
2727995
This is a goofy, fun-loving book but it also manages to teach you something about history in the process. I was impressed with the amount of detail and historical information this book manages to convey. It's a very well thought-out humor book, chock-full of a surprising amount of American history divided into clear sections, including timelines, fun facts about the presi(dogs) and the actual, real life (non presidog) dog breeds. Very adorable. The whole thing is made complete with its utterly bizarre, cute and sometimes downright ridiculous illustrations and photos. Great looking, glossy pages/artwork, too. You can read it back to front of flip around and explore.

Given it has so many "personalities" and layers to it, I think it would be a great gift for so many: Any dog lover, history buff, hipsters who can say it's ironic, young kids who can genuinely learn about history and language in a fun way, that person in your life who can't stop making corny puns, fans of The Onion or those who enjoy absurd and witty humor, dogs who can read... you name it!

It's just plain aDOGable! Hyuck hyuck.
3090506
This colorful, funny book tells the story of the backwards growth of Pluto the one-time planet. It is told with wit and sensitivity by the perpetrator of Pluto's downsizing, astrophysicist Neil Degrasse Tyson. It is a terrific read, full of history, culture, politics, hurt feelings and of course science. There is even a happy ending of sorts.

The book itself surprised the heck out of me. I was expecting an interesting story, probably presented in a dry, text-only way. The riveting plot is certainly there, but The Pluto Files is also full of color, jokes, cartoons, illustrations and photos both historical and current.

It starts at the beginning, when the planet Pluto was discovered in 1930 and named by an 11-year-old girl for the god of the underworld. Not long after, a press release issued by Mickey Mouse announces: "Walt decided that I should have a pet and we decided on a dog. All the writers at Disney tried to come up with a name. We tried the `Rovers' and the `Pals' but none seemed to fit. Then one day, Walt came by and said, how about Pluto the Pup? And that's what it's been ever since."

Full disclosure: Pluto is my paws-down favorite Disney character, and I have always associated the planet with the pup. I picture it romping and galumphing out there, at the far end of its leash.

Apparently I was not the only Pluto-lover dismayed when Tyson demoted Pluto the planet to Pluto the icy rock. The Pluto Files chronicles the uproar that followed the downgrade, including everything from media reports to actual letters written by third-grade students to cartoons. My favorite shows&nbsp;<a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/Star-Wars/dp/B001EN71DG/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">Star Wars</a>&nbsp;Yoda declaring: "If landing a spaceship on it you can, a planet in my books it is."

It all ends well in 2006 when Pluto was officially granted "Dwarf Planet" status.

What a fun book!

Here's the chapter list:

1. Pluto in Culture
2. Pluto in History
3. Pluto in Science
4. Pluto's Fall from Grace
5. Pluto Divides the Nation
6. Pluto's Judgment Day
7. Pluto the Dwarf Planet
8. Pluto in the Elementary School Classroom: A personal recommendation for educators
9. Plutologue

For kicks, and a reminder of just how great Disney's Pluto really is, check out&nbsp;<a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/Walt-Disney-Treasures-The-Complete-Pluto-Volume-One/dp/B0002S64UU/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">Walt Disney Treasures - The Complete Pluto, Volume One</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/Walt-Disney-Treasures-The-Complete-Pluto-Volume-Two/dp/B000ICM5QM/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">Walt Disney Treasures - The Complete Pluto, Volume Two</a>.
256803
Author E Ballz has apparently dissected life very carefully. He has some wonderfully amusing insights, as well as some pretty harsh criticisms. This book almost seems to defy genre classification. It's a rare blend of psychological advice, social inquiry, and the like. I'm happy to have read something so fresh and so unrelenting. Although I wonder if the average person will 'get it'...
1910106
This book is funny as hell and surprisingly useful! I got it as a gift and I expected it to be preachy and trite with advice like "get your cholesterol checked" and "spend time volunteering at a local senior citizens' facility" but instead the author talks about dying your hair and orgasms and food and bras, all in a completely down-to-earth, girl-to-girl, snarky way. The little chapters are perfect for little bite-sized bits of reading, in fact they're kind of addictive. Definitely a good subway read, or gift for your sister if she's cool. You just gotta love this part:

"DEFY GRAVITY: The gravitational pull that keeps the Earth in orbit is an awesome, amazing thing. Unless, of course, you have breasts. Then, the scientific wonder isn't so much about the invisible forces that keep you grounded, but how they contribute to the unmistakable downward drag of your once-perky assets. The migration downward is slow but inevitable, and there's only one surgery-free way to fight the natural process: a righteous bra."

ROCK! An excuse to buy an expensive bra.
2325418
I would highly suggest this book for anyone interested in behavioral economics, neuroeconomics, or just how certain instances trigger the same 'irrationality' gene that runs through us all. Though it deals with economic principals, it's very basic and well explained, so anyone can follow. Plus, it's pretty funny at times, so at the danger of sounding like an afterschool special - it's entertaining as well as educational! But it really is.
3587066
Not only did I enjoy your humorous, well-written book, I learned a lot as well.  It kept me amused during a very stressful time.  Learning to think like a male dear was especially interesting.  I can understand your knowledge about chicken plants since you once worked at one, but I chuckled at how well you knew about running a beauty parlor!  ;  )
The characters are memorable, some very likable and others not so much...but all are believable.  I imagine it was a blast writing
this very funny book.... tongue in cheek all the way.  I especially liked the accents and the happy ending!
1557346
Well written Craig. Light hearted... yet, deep.
Funny and educational.
It is fantastic when a book allows you to giggle out loud, so people ask what you are reading, then also makes you go... Hmmm.... I didn't know that !!!
I would recommend the read to everyone.
3192698
I really enjoyed this book mainly because I enjoy Jacobs' writing. He has a sense of humor that I just find funny--the kind that makes you giggle, and at times, laugh out loud (which is a feat when half way through he had to stop being snarky). But what made me really appreciate this book is that he is a self-proclaimed agnostic researching a very emotionally-sensitive subject (especially in this country). His approach was not only surprisingly open-minded, but also, quite compassionate. And like his last book (The Know-It-All--which I highly recommend), I walked away learning more than I could have ever expected.

Whether or not you're religious, this is a book that can satisfy all readers who are looking to experience vicariously one man's attempt to live "old school" for one year. Be it the Bible or vegetarianism or putting on a fat suit, putting yourself in someone else's shoes is always a learning experience. And Jacobs wrote about his in a satisfyingly good book.
189370
In the past I have read books of a similar nature to Langley's; books which explain to the reader an accepted cultural idea and do so in a humorous manner. Sometimes these are hit or miss, and offend the reader rather than amuse. "The Geek Handbook" does a terrific job of being hilarious and not stepping on too many toes (so to speak). I picked up the book on a whim, and was amazed at the quality of the writing, as well as the overall message the book gives. It explains the types of geeks, giving a fairly sarcastic description of each, and tells the reader not to be afraid to brand themselves as a geek. The book details a lot in the ways of geekdom, I was incredibly impressed when the section on Geek Girls was surprisingly progressive. To be more specific, it banished some stereo-types, called for equality, and gave credit where credit is due. The book occasionally gives off the vibe that being geeky is "cool" or can be played off as cool, rather than crediting geeks with the ability of not needing societal affirmation to be genuinely interesting, but overall that message is not played up too much (and should be a little understood considering the book has Sheldon from Big Bang Theory on the cover). The range of the book's appeal is one that I feel will reach out to incoming geeks and long established geeks alike, and I wholeheartedly suggest it.