Unreasonable Hospitality by Will Guidara is a game-changing book that left me truly inspired and filled with fresh perspectives on running a business. This captivating read not only relates to the hospitality industry but also offers valuable insights that can be applied to any type of business.Guidara’s approach is refreshingly comprehensive. He urges readers to examine all aspects of their business with a critical eye, encouraging a shift in mindset that leads to exceptional results. The author’s ability to articulate complex ideas in a relatable manner is commendable, making this book accessible to both industry professionals and entrepreneurs from various fields.What sets Unreasonable Hospitality apart is its emphasis on the human element. Guidara understands that success in business is not solely about the bottom line but about the relationships we build with our customers, employees, and partners. By weaving together personal anecdotes and real-world examples, he demonstrates the immense impact of genuine hospitality on the overall success of a business.As part of a book study group, we embarked on this literary journey together, and the response was unanimous: we loved it! Each chapter presented us with thought-provoking ideas and practical strategies that we could immediately implement in our own businesses. It served as a catalyst for stimulating discussions and motivated us to push boundaries, exceed expectations, and create memorable experiences for our customers.Unreasonable Hospitality is an invaluable resource for anyone seeking to redefine their approach to business. Guidara’s insights go beyond the traditional concepts of customer service and delve into the art of creating meaningful connections and delivering extraordinary experiences. By embracing the principles outlined in this book, entrepreneurs and leaders can elevate their organizations to new heights of success.In conclusion, Unreasonable Hospitality is a must-read for individuals in any industry who strive for excellence in their businesses. Will Guidara’s profound wisdom, engaging storytelling, and practical advice make this book an indispensable tool for entrepreneurs and industry professionals alike. I highly recommend it to anyone looking to revolutionize their business and cultivate a culture of unparalleled hospitality.

Anyone in the restaurant business or customer relations should read this fun book with a progressive storyline. It’s an easy read, and demonstrates the power of a team that works creatively by watching and listening…and trying new ideas in an environment that is safe. Although this is really a managment book, anyone with a public face can appreciate the message.

I’ve read a lot of books on leadership and culture, but Unreasonable Hospitality by Will Guidara stands out as a refreshing and inspiring take. This isn’t just a book about running a restaurant—it’s a blueprint for how to lead, serve, and create experiences that transform relationships.Guidara takes us behind the scenes of Eleven Madison Park and shares how his relentless pursuit of excellence redefined hospitality. What I loved most is how he frames the idea of going above and beyond—not as a cost, but as an investment in creating unforgettable moments. His stories are vivid, his insights are practical, and his passion is contagious.The core takeaway for me? Unreasonable hospitality is a mindset, not just a practice. It’s about seeing people—whether customers, colleagues, or friends—and meeting them where they are with creativity, care, and heart.This book isn’t just for restaurateurs or business leaders. It’s for anyone who wants to elevate their interactions and leave a lasting impact. I’ve highlighted page after page and already started applying some of these lessons to my own work and relationships.Will Guidara reminds us that greatness isn’t about doing the ordinary well; it’s about making the ordinary extraordinary. This book will make you rethink how you approach service, leadership, and even life.Highly recommend! This is one of those books I’ll come back to again and again.

Was engaging, well written, inspiring, and thought-provoking. I have spent an equal amount of time in hospitality space, and having Will elucidate on the details that make the difference was an affirmation on my focus (short of a superpower). Would be interested in authors opinion on the current Foodie Culture and how restaurants are pivoting, when every dish is photographed and posted to social media

Spectacular! The best book I have read on leadership bar none. It is a fascinating read of Will’s process of evolution personally and in his career, and the key ingredients that made him able to take Eleven Madison Park to the best restaurant in the world. He brought his paradigm of unreasonable hospitality to the writing of this book, and it shows. Will, you have my deepest respect.

4.5/5So beautifully constructed, well paced and heartfelt.As the daughter of a mother, and the mother of a daughter, I could see both sides of the loving, spiky, tender relationship between Michelle and her lovely umma.The specificity of their clashes during a tumultuous adolescence and the true appreciation for each other as each woman individually became more defined and developed makes this life story more universal. The author unflinchingly lays herself bare, sharing her most vulnerable moments; it’s never too much, because it’s all too real.

Philip Roth opens his memoir Patrimony: A True Story with a long and detailed description of his father’s health that sets the stage for what is about to come: “My father had lost most of the sight in his right eye by the time he’d reached eighty-six, but otherwise he seemed in phenomenal health for a man of his age when he came down with what the Florida doctor diagnosed, incorrectly, as Bell’s palsy, a viral infection that causes paralysis, usually temporary, to one side of the face.” Michelle Zauner does the same, but in a much more concise way: “Ever since my mom died, I cry in H Mart.” They are different, but they are the same: they are sparked by pain and suffering, they pay their respects to the ones who have gone and are missed, and they intensely connect with their roots, Jewish and Korean, respectively. And through them, Philip Roth and Michelle Zauner strive to heal their pain, using writing as therapy, no matter how different their success in that endeavor may have been.Michelle Zauner’s writing may not be as ornamented as Philip Roth’s, but her book is a treat all the same. Crying in H Mart is like listening to a candid confession from a close friend late at night, when everybody else has already left and you stay with her, a glass of wine and many stories. It is intimate, sincere, funny and sad, bittersweet, generously emotional. At the same time, it is also a gastronomic trip: Michelle meticulously uses traditional Korean food to connect and reconnect with her mother and her mother’s relatives in Korea, and some descriptions of dishes, ingredients and dish preparations are as detailed as in a recipe book with mouth-watering pictures. There is even an almost literal transcription of one of Maangchi’s tutorial videos, specifically the one where she prepares soothing jatjuk. By doing that, I think Michelle also tried to find roots in Asian references: take the Studio Ghibli movies with their beautiful scenes of food preparation, the importance of food in Haruki Murakami’s novels or Bong Joon-Ho’s movies. From my part, I am now a Maangchi fan.The text is extremely fluid, moving from the main plot involving Michelle’s mother to flashbacks of her childhood and adolescence in a very logical and well-connected way. Up to mid-book (when the main plot sort of resolves itself), the text is so thought-of that it even sounds excessively edited–it is like a perfectly engineered, scientifically-paced Hollywood story: there is the punchline at the end of each chapter making reference to an idea cited before and causing a shiver to run up your spine, there’s the perfect pacing from funny and comfy moments to describing delicious Korean food and then back to dramatic scenes, there is suspense and plot twists, all smooth and seamless. The last half of the book loses some of its stamina (except for a poignant scene at her parents-in-law’s house in Bucks County, all Cinema Paradiso-like), but it is still charming, lyrical and beautiful.Philip Roth concludes his memoir concisely and in a rather bitter tone, with a short and dry sentence: “You must not forget anything.” Michele grants us with a fluid, energetic and dreamlike last scene in a karaoke (noraebang), whose atmosphere made me think of Bill Murray and Scarlett Johanson in the karaoke scene in Lost in Translation, a strange simultaneous state of happiness and sadness. Indeed, this book is a testimony of Michelle’s own “finding herself in translation”, a funny feeling of being awkwardly out of context but even so pertaining, which is why this book seems to have resonated so much with many mixed-race children. Michelle trying her best to sing along Pearl Sister’s Coffee Hanjan with her aunt Nami is indeed a beautiful image to conclude and summarize her search for her own identity by not denying but strengthening her Korean roots.

This is hard to explain. I am also Half Korean and Half White raised by my Korean Mother. I thought this book was a niche audience book but it touches and connects people through memory, love, loss and grief for their loved ones. The commonality of struggles of youth, untamed ambition and independence, the yearning for return of fond happier memories as we become older and realize our losses. The difference here for me as part of the niche audience is the specific cultural and ethnic aspects of being a second generation mixed race Korean Amerasian. I shared much of her problems with identity as a mixed race Korean. Many people with immigrant parents can relate to this story but this story was so specific for me. Certain aspects of the Korean Culture, some language involved but most of all……the food. The food is extremely important to any child of a mother born and raised in Korea. We are raised with it and bond with our families and Korean friends with it. Korean Food is extremely important socially. Her analogies with it and use of it in her grief to connect with better memories to recover from trauma were a genius part of her writing but also rang true for me. Where was this author for me 20 years ago? I NEVER had a book impact my life like this one has. I had a falling out with my Korean Mother and my sister and stopped communicating with them for two years until just this past year before I read the book. After reading the book it made all my grievances seem so petty in the grand scheme of things in life and had so many deep regrets. I had to call my mom and sister and tell them how much I loved and appreciated them. I sent them the book and now they understand and we’re so much closer because of it. I spent 8 years in the Army, 1 tour as an Army ER Nurse in Iraq, 2,5 years in Oncology and over 20 in ER and I thought I was tough…….but I cried like a baby through this book. I have sent this book to numerous friends. I couldn’t stop talking about this book and her music as well it was so good. Give the book to someone who may appreciate the book as a gift. A mother and daughter having trouble with eachother? Give the daughter the book first and see if anything changes. Friend’s mother passed of a terminal illness? This book can be very cathartic and comforting in the sharing of grief and memories. This book hit me like no other in my life.

Anthony Bourdain recently made headlines because he hung himself despite appearing to have it all. It seems to me that he had become what he made fun of — a man at the end of his run who was now cashing in on his success because he could no longer run with the big dogs in NYC’s high end kitchens.It’s a fascinating, entertaining book – he mocks the life of a kitchen crew and restaurant owner but his love for the life oozes through. He details his own vices, shortcuts and laziness in an attempt to explain why he never achieved the greatness he aspired to. Yet he also is quite proud of his ability to roll with the punches, endure abuse and remain empathetic to his crew and their concerns. He has a huge ego but there’s always room for his crew.Every interview I’ve seen brings up “why you shouldn’t order fish on Mondays” as the defining section of the book. It is one of two sections where he offers practical and invaluable insight into cooking and eating. The rest of the book is either: look how I screwed up but survived and prospered, look at what I have to put up with, or look at what I could have become. He has an opinion on everything and everyone; most of them aren’t flattering.Fast moving copy, funny yet real stories, and an authentic take on life in the restaurant world make this worth reading.

Title: Kitchen ConfidentialAuthor: Anthony Bourdain⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️This book was so intriguing. As soon as I started it, I wanted to buy it for my culinary inclined spouse and his best cooking buddy.Bourdain explains the restaurant world like an overly excited new friend at a bar. It felt both factual and embellished enough to keep you wanting more.It was unpolished in language/tone and perfectly polished in format and composition. It was delightful.I didn’t realize this was written before his shows started, and that was a pro and a con. While he always left me wanting more, his POV was purely chef focused.He was relatable. He was so so incredibly interesting. He was done far too soon.I highly recommend this to anyone with interest in the cooking world. Kitchen Confidential is ready to grab your hand and thrust you into the thick of it.⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

If this were only a tell all of the restaurant trade, it would have worn thin after a chapter or two of disgusting practices (I’m still cringing from the description of seafood on Mondays, well done anything, certain sauces that smack of “preservation” of foul meat or fish)in the world’s kitchens. But, much like his personality,he jumps between biography (both auto and of interesting people he’s worked with) expose, how-to, rants, etc…. That’s what makes it interesting. I don’t know how people could say he’s conceited. I’ve never read any writer which such a good grasp of who he is. Bourdain is brutally honest about his fancy upbringing (and contrasts it sharply with that of the mostly South and Central American men who are the staple of the entire food industry), his desolate years, his drug habits, his puerile forays into better kitchens than his current level — he will keep you in stitches while at the same time giving a no-holds barred view of what it’s like to be a chef. It’s definitely not for most normal people, and he explains why truly there are very few fine chefs. He’ll make you appreciate the line cook who really does all the prep work and major cooking — you want that person to be boring and regular, not an innovator at all! You’ll learn why. After reading “a day in the life,” you’ll realize just what a sinecure your 100 hour a week investment bank job is — you’d never believe the skills and organizational ability necessary to run a busy kitchen.This turned out to be one of my favorite reads of the year. I stayed up until almost 2am to finish it. It may have been irregular (the writing) in places, but that’s fine in the context of this book which jumps around a lot. He’s a fine writer and a great storyteller. His chapter on how people like us should cook is eye-opening to say the least. Anytime your friends tell you than they have to have a fancy set of Henkels knives, refer them to this chapter. Definitely worthwhile reading and a good break from heavier fiction.

Fell in love with Ina reading this. Inspiring to see how she always trusted herself even if that meant going against what other people think— it’s a lesson we all need reminders of as I certainly did. Fun, authentic, an inspiring read!

I have followed Ina since around 2004. We had the privilege of meeting her at a book signing in 2009. I knew that she was special when (despite signs that said no photographs) Ina reached for my then-9-year-old son Sam and pulled Sam in for a photo behind the table. Ina was as engaging in real life as she is every time I have ever seen her on television. We have used her cookbooks for decades to make special and every day meals that delight, my family and our friends and guests. I found it touching how she opened up about her background in this book and I’m delighted to think of her as one of my very favorite people. I cannot recommend this book highly enough. Ina deserves every bit of success that she has earned.

The reviews are mixed regarding the book with some people struggling to connect with it and feeling Ina Garten is out of touch with regular life and others adoring the book. I certainly see the argument for it being out of touch, but realized that this book is important to take as a whole package. The ending matters. I was a little critical until the last page or two and then thought hmm maybe I need to go back and read this again!While I do think she was pretty lucky I also realized that Ina is full of pluck. She is a dive in and ask later person who has the luck of being married to a balancing and patient person. Together I think they made life work. I closed the book and felt inspired to examine my own life and question myself honestly, “Do I let luck pass me by?” And “what can I do to be ready to grab a hold of luck when the moment hits?”I found it easy reading, almost like kitchen table conversation as well as interesting, and thought provoking. I completely enjoyed the read and while a bit lucky and possibly out of touch, taken with a grain of salt it works.

What an amazing story! So many things I didn’t know. what an incredible woman. So inspiring don’t miss it you’ll be sorry.

I have admired Ina from afar and have learned from her regarding cooking and entertaining. I just LOVED reading this book and found it hard to put it down.

Ina Garten’s memoir, Be Ready When the Luck Happens, is a delightful and candid exploration of her personal and professional journey. Known as the Barefoot Contessa, Garten opens up about her life with a mix of humor, wit, and vulnerability that fans will appreciate. The book chronicles her evolution from a nuclear energy analyst in Washington, D.C., to an iconic culinary figure, detailing the pivotal moments that shaped her career and personal life.One of the memoir’s strengths is Garten’s ability to balance self-reflection with storytelling. She shares intimate details about her childhood, which was marked by strict expectations and emotional challenges and fueled by her desire for independence and creativity.Her bold decision to leave a stable government job and venture into a completely new field, buying a specialty food store in the Hamptons, despite having no culinary experience, is a testament to her audacious spirit and willingness to embrace change. Through anecdotes about her marriage to Jeffrey, their brief separation in the 1970s, and their enduring partnership, Garten paints a picture of mutual support and growth that adds depth to her narrative.The memoir also portrays Garten’s passion for food as an expression of love and connection. Her philosophy of simplicity and quality in cooking resonates throughout the book, emphasizing how food can bring people together.Fans will enjoy her behind-the-scenes insights into creating cookbooks, hosting television shows, and even decorating her Paris apartment—a testament to her meticulous attention to detail.However, the memoir does leave some gaps. While Garten touches on personal challenges such as her childhood struggles and marital dynamics, she does not delve deeply into topics like hormonal changes or how they may have impacted her quality of life. This omission feels like a missed opportunity to address an issue many professional women face but rarely discuss openly. Exploring how such personal factors influenced her career could have added another layer of relatability and depth to her story.Overall, Be Ready When the Luck Happens is an engaging and inspiring read that captivates the reader with Ina Garten’s charm, resilience, and ability to turn challenges into opportunities. While it may leave readers wanting more on specific topics, it remains a testament to Garten’s mantra: “Do what you love because if you love it, you’ll be really good at it.”

McNally is one of the legendary restaurateurs, and raconteurs, of all time. We are lucky that he lives in ours.If you’re a Manhattanite, chances are you’ve bellied up to the bar at Pastis or Minetta or Balthazar et al, ordered a spectacular burger and a dry martini (Vesper for me please!), and experienced the magic that is a great restaurant. You may follow McNally on what we call in shorthand “social”, and have a sense of his particular dry wit (drier even than that martini). His memoir is really extraordinary and a thoroughly enjoyable read.It is no spoiler (because it’s in the first two pages) to say that McNally leads off with – not just one or the other – but a suicide attempt AND a crippling stroke; that he’s both matter-of-fact, heartbreakingly open, and *hilarious* with this lead-in will give you some sense of the book. McNally pulls no punches: business partners, wives, friends, customers, he tells it all. It’s clear that McNally’s not an easy man; he is redeemed in his utter curmudgeonliness and regular bad acting by the fact that he pulls no punches on himself, either. He is self-aware, something that has clearly not come easily, but the book is the better for it.The business of restaurants, in the end, is to provide patrons a great and memorable night out – something McNally has thought deeply about and, perhaps, even perfected – and this book is like that great night out. Above all, the man knows how to tell a story, and he does it with great élan, a sardonic sense of humor, and the understanding that the devil is most definitely in the details. It’s rare to read a memoir that is at once so rawly confessional and so utterly fun and entertaining.

Especially for anyone who’s enjoyed meals in Balthazar or Pastis. Also for those who have lived between two places and tried to find their footing in either or both! McNally was successful in building restaurants in Manhattan, far from his childhood home or indeed his upbringing. He has a fantastic aesthetic that comes through in the book with his love of art and literature and life. Inspiring for dreamers out there looking to develop and grow their business. Only wish he had shared more of how the restaurants developed over time and became the favorites they are today. Think he should write a business development book with all the tricks of the trade! Reckon he has a lot more he could share.

What a wonderful, thoroughly satisfying, engaging book! Even if you aren’t into restaurants, you’llbe easily able to enjoy this very human book, covering so many facets of life. It’s the best book I’ve read in ages, a well written literary adventure. Yes, buy it!

I have loved Odeon since the early 80’s. It’s still my favorite restaurant in NYC. But I didn;t know anything about Keith McNally except that he and his brother and his ex wife were exceptionally skilled at coming up with sexy, wonderful restaurants. I caught up with more recent Keith on Instagram, recommended by a Keith-Restaurants friend. He was kind of insane on instagram, spouting off on every topic, arguing with people, posting reports from his staff about how the night went, who tipped well (or badly)==it felt cringy, so I stopped following him. But the same friend kept asking if I’d read this book, and after saying no, then reading the endless great reviews—-I read the book. I inhaled the book. McNally is a remarkable man, well read, interested in everything, openly passionate and curious about everything in a way that makes him eternally cool…the honesty in this book is astounding. It’s interesting to me to see how he treats his own aging, which included a serious stroke at a not that old age. It became a book about the end of his life, all the strands of his life (family, friends, work, nature, art) coming back after the stroke, of him making sense of his younger self (and mistakes). Really good, really haunting in the best way.

Keith McNally’s memoir is a candid depiction of his life that is riddled with adventure, wit, self doubt, candor and a detailed description of the many facets of his character that so many of can relate to but are hesitant to admit. His journey is interesting, spontaneous and depicts McNally’s vast contribution to a very a special time in downtown New York that began with the Odeon that continues to this day. His writing is beautiful and now being an acclaimed author is yet another achievement on his rather long list. His epiphany at the end of the book is an especially triumphant and poignant way to come full circle with his true sense of self and all that he has achieved .

I am the same age as this author, and therefore can look back over a similar lifespan. McNally tells his own story with a somewhat strange mixture of self-deprecation and self glorification. But the thing that most stands out to me is his apparent blindness to the fact that his life illustrates a perfect and relentless embodiment of ADHD. Somehow, in all of his self analysis and psychiatric treatment, the subject apparently never came up. Go figure.

Entertaining and truthful biography from an interesting man. My favorite book of 2025!

I read a lot of memoirs. Keith has clearly led an unusual and interesting life filled with lots of contradictions. First there was a lot of jumping around. Did he want the reader to like him, pity him, admire him or does he just not care? I have more questions than answers after finishing the book.

Trainers, training books, dog behavior theorists… I talked to tons of trainers and read tons of books and websites searching for something that would help my dog. But, there was a serious disconnect between what the dog-pros thought and my experience and observations about the whats and whys that energize a dog – my dog. And then I discovered Kevin Behan…My dog, who came to me off the streets, was a barking, shrieking, chasing, biting mess:a danger to himself and others. Your Dog is Your Mirror arrived just in time; I was getting desperate. Behan “gets” dogs. In the book, he explained exactly why my dog acted like he did – what’s going on in his head, heart and body AND also what I can do with myself and with him so that we are both relaxed, calm and steady.This isn’t about avoidance, submission, obediance, clickers, treats, rules, socializing, or *insert current training gimmick here*. Behan’s method (or maybe even non-method) goes deep into the canine heart to set the dog free from fears, traumas, obsessions, over-stimulations, and behaviors that don’t work in the human world. He also sets the owner free from guilt and fear that you don’t try hard enough, care enough, train long enough, aren’t alpha enough, smart enough…Your Dog is Your Mirror is a great book for people who long to live happily *with* their dogs in lieu of lording over them. It is a *MUST READ* for people at their wits end whose dog is aggressive, annoying, snappy, unpredictable, obsessive, hyper, or downright scary.My dog *is* my mirror… and, thanks to Kevin Behan, that truth set us both free.

Good book took a while to get going once they

Pure love..I want another!

I was so excited to get this and read it. I’m normally a voracious reader and LOVE all things canine BUT, am having a really hard time getting into this. Thought maybe it was just a dry and somewhat confusing introduction but no, that carries thru the book as well. Rather like reading the same paragraph re-written and slightly changed with a different human/canine team each time. Largely anecdotal which is fine, but it’s not even interesting anecdotal. Not sure I’ll be able to finish it. I keep on trying, looking for something interesting to save this book, but so far (on ch. 3) nothing. Very disappointing.

After getting past the style of the writing, which can be a bit off-putting at times because it is very autobiographical (“I want to read about dogs, so quit talking about yourself!”), this book really did challenge my way of thinking about my dog and our relationship.Don’t read this if you want quick-fixes (which never work, just like quick-diets)Don’t read this if you want a step-by-step guide on how to get your dog to stop doing some specific problem (hire a trainer for that!).Don’t read this if you’re going to criticize every use of funny terminology you come across.There was a guy in my senior thesis review class (english lit) during college who would use big, fancy words just to use them. That guy annoyed the crap out of me. “We’re discussing walking across campus. You really have to use the word “meander”? Really? ugh.” You might get annoyed, as I did, with Behan’s use of phrases such as “networked consciousness,” “the energetic essence that all things have in common,” The problem is, you sort of get what’s being implied, but he’s using the phrases as if they’re common usage. They’re not. I get the IDEA of an “energetic essence,” but … Huh?That being said, I do love the way that some of the material is presented. I was constantly surprised by this book. “How we respond to [the way in which] unresolved emotion makes us feel determines … how we fit ourselves into society at large.” It’s such a “yeah, Duh, of course!” moment, and yet, it’s so much more. Behan’s not saying that “Our unresolved emotions determine how we fit into society.” He’s suggesting that the important thing is How We Respond to feeling that emotion. It’s a pretty neat way of looking at things, and forces us to take more responsibility for our reactions to feeling X or feeling Y.Pretty cool.Do read this book if you are interested in making yourself a better owner to your dog!Do read this book if you think that you think that you’re the cause of your dog’s problems. :)Hint: we all are!

This book is challenging, intelligent, heartbreaking, shocking, hope-giving. There is so much implication with very real world application!Some of it is hard to wrap your mind around, some of it perfectly explains things you may have seen or sensed but could not express.I purchased the book on kindle initially but I’m going back to order a hard copy so that I can keep it on hand to refer to. I wish that the author continued the book as a series sharing stories about humans and their dogs. It’s absolutely fantastic work and definitely easily 1 of my favorite books of the year.

I bought this for a gift for my friend. He said he liked it.

Woo-woo quantum physics feel. For example, dogs that are trained to detect the chemical components of cancer are actually just detecting the “owner leaking energy” and dogs don’t think they can only feel your unresolved emotions and put on a dramatic scene for you like submitting to the dog of the neighbor who talks down to you because they make you feel inferior.

Fun quick read with practical advice on getting rid of stuff and what you can do to not get more stuff. Fun motivating ideas.

I LOVE this book! ( Although you might not if you clasp your hands to your chest and gasp, “ oh, Mercy me I saw some naughty words!” when you open its amazing pages!) It is part very-serious but clever and practical ideas for decluttering, and part very-serious therapy session! And I find its honest but compassionate approach to de-cluttering priceless. Not only am I a child who arrived not long after The Great Depression, I am also ADHD! Those two things have made Getting Rid Of Stuff a huge challenge for me—“ I better keep this widget, someday I may need it,” says The Depression Child in me. “ Now where did I put that widget I thought I might need some day?” wonders the ADHD-unfocused Me. JIf you were blessed with a plain-spoken best friend who cares about you through all your craziness, and who understands, but knows you can do better, and be happier, and says so bluntly while providing specific advice, you would have this author! Yes, there is humor and there are light-hearted touches, but the psychology is totally dead-on and , for me at least, priceless! I have a nice big house which I cannot totally enjoy because most of the space in my closets and cabinets ( and bins) has become cluttered with “ stuff.” And because I’m no young chick, I now am facing the usual expectedly-limited life-span—still with nooks and crannies full of stuff I don’t really need anymore and which my kids will curse me for when I am gone, even as I curse myself today for keeping things I no longer need and in many cases, no longer enjoy. Our local Womens’ Shelter and Habitat will soon be receiving boxes of Good Stuff I am now packing, and the land-fill and recycling center have both already grown a bit as a result of this author’s wisdom.I understand this book may not be for everyone, but for me, the purchaser of every de-cluttering and organizing book as well as all the ADHD Help Books in print, it has been a gold mine of clear, practical ideas and comfort. The best of its kind! And yes, I have just ordered one as a gift for a friend who also struggles with Over-Abundance Of Stuff!( P.S. And—TA-DA—I’m just about to deliver a whole box of really good organizing and de-cluttering books to Friends Of The Library—this one is my ONLY Keeper! )

If you’ve read Marie Kondo’s book on this same subject, you’ll see a lot of similarities… And a lot more foul language. This isn’t a bad thing. This book is written in the way that a lot of people talk. The information is useful and well organized. The book is different enough from the Kondo’s book that even if you’ve read her’s, this one is still with a read. If you haven’t, there’s no benefit to doing so. This book will give you what you need.

This is a fantastic deal, much cheaper than therapy and–if you’re ready to change your habits–resulting in the prize of a better living space. I enjoyed the heck out of the writer’s prose and specifically her ability to condense down how to tidy into small but informative bites. I was already doing most of this, but I ended up doing more tidying while reading, because I was inspired. I don’t know what more a reader could ask of a self-help book.I also find it hilarious that apparently a few people were put off by the f*s even though it’s right there in the title. I’m not sure how that content could’ve been more clearly foreshadowed.

Although I am not a fan of the language in this book, it certainly wasn’t a surprise given the title. The book is easy to read and packed full of common-sense advice. Plus, the author is hilarious and asks some very thought-provoking questions. Do YOU want to be 70 years old sorting through a lifetime of concert T-shirts?

My husband requested this book and he has begun reading it.

Nice book with many good ideas. However I do disagree about storage containers. I do crafts. I have found air tight storage containers are awesome for limiting the amount I keep, being able to locate specific items, and keeping bugs out. I live in a tiny house after downsizing twice.

Funny, yet great organizing suggestions and how to’s. Definitely will purchase for gifts

Great book. Perfect quality. Love the illustrations and 5 stars for the netflix series that shortens this book.Every chef and home cook can benefit from the information in here.

Only 100 pages in but learning so much. Can’t wait to see all ill learn from her book.

Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat is an incredible guide for anyone looking to truly understand the fundamentals of cooking. Samin Nosrat breaks down the four elements in a clear, approachable way, with practical tips that you can apply immediately in the kitchen. The illustrations are charming and make complex concepts easy to grasp. This book doesn’t just give recipes—it teaches you how to think like a cook, making it invaluable for both beginners and experienced cooks alike. Highly recommend!

Very well written

Amazon Review: Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat by Samin Nosrat is a Game-Changer for Every Home Cook and ChefAs a professional chef and food science educator, I’ve read countless cookbooks, but very few have fundamentally reshaped my approach to cooking like Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat by Samin Nosrat. This book isn’t just a collection of recipes. It’s an essential culinary guide that breaks cooking down into its four foundational elements, making it easy for anyone to cook intuitively.Why This Book is RevolutionaryNosrat doesn’t just tell you how to cook—she teaches you why things work in the kitchen. She simplifies complex concepts with clear, engaging explanations, stunning illustrations, and a warmth that makes you feel like she’s guiding you personally.I’ve always believed that understanding the “why” behind cooking techniques is what separates a great cook from an average one, and this book delivers that knowledge in a way that’s both accessible and profoundly educational.Key Takeaways That Changed My Cooking Forever✅ Salt Enhances Everything – This book deepened my appreciation for how different salts (kosher, flaky, fine) impact flavor and texture.✅ Fat is Flavor – From olive oil to butter, Nosrat explains how fats carry flavor and influence mouthfeel.✅ Acid Balances Dishes – One of my biggest takeaways was how acid (vinegars, citrus, fermented foods) brings food to life.✅ Heat is the Final Key – Understanding the science of heat helped me refine my roasting, searing, and braising techniques.Perfect for Beginners and Experts AlikeWhether you’re a home cook just starting out or a seasoned chef looking to refine your skills, Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat belongs in your kitchen. The techniques in this book have helped me train culinary students, teach home cooks, and even improve my own plating and recipe development.Final Thoughts: A Must-Have Culinary GuideThis book has changed the way I cook and teach food science, making it one of my most recommended reads. If you’ve ever struggled with seasoning, balancing flavors, or perfecting textures, this book will give you the confidence and knowledge to cook instinctively.⭐ 5 out of 5 stars! Essential for anyone who loves food.- Chef Rebecca Raffle

I was really, really looking forward to reading this and got it on sale. Unfortunately, it got lost in the mail and I didn’t receive it. The sale has ended so I didn’t reorder.

I really enjoyed this book! I learned a lot. The info on here is great. Some of the recipes look amazing!

I bought it a long time ago but never got around to reading or listening to it until a few weeks ago. I am just stunned by how amazing the book is. I am in Love with this book. It’s the perfect balance of knowledge, tips, passion, stories, and anecdotes. Fun, yet also meaningful and impactful – a very rare mix indeed. This is easily one of the top ten cookbooks ever in my mind. It’s a pleasure to read and listen to. Samin is like a great college professor, not the ones who read from the Textbook, but ones who engage you and share their joy of what they love, full of stories and anecdotes. They spark you to think for yourself, and they actually have more knowledge than any dry textbook could ever have.Reading/listening to this book is like spending a long weekend with a really good friend who has ADHD but is a master chef with world-class cooking experience. They just dump all their knowledge and love of cooking over the weekend, cooking dishes with you. At times, it can be overwhelming with all the knowledge and hot tidbits she provides, but Samin is so warm, humble, and unpretentious, her tone is so calming, you just go with the flow. But I am going to have to go back and listen and read the book multiple times and take notes, so that I can fully absorb the immense knowledge she has so generously shared with us. Thank youShe really wants you to understand the concepts and empower you to make better food with the knowledge she is sharing. It’s not about “I am an amazing Chef so copy me”. It’s “I love food and cooking great food, and here are the secrets I used to understand the how and why to create great food, so can you too.I look forward to watching the Netflix series.

Love this book. I’ve watched his show on TV PBS and enjoy his stories. The book is as inspiring. Definitely recommend.

Very insightful and encouraging way to look at your possession. It made me think of all the junk Ive moved from one place to the next. And it helped me to see how to let go of items I no longer need.

This is a good book for people who have been living in the same house for 20+ years and have collected a LOT of stuff over the years. It’s especially great for retirees who are looking to downsize. There are many real-life examples of seniors working through their feelings about giving up their unnecessary possessions. There are also great suggestions for how to donate items or have them hauled away. These resources mentioned are easily found online, but for folks who aren’t tech savvy, this could be a great help.However, if you don’t have many years of possessions and you’re just looking for tips to minimize the junk in your closets, this isn’t the book for you. There aren’t really any organization tips or anything like that. It’s all about clearing out a lifetime of stuff.

My sister is so sentimental that, at age 70+, she still has the sheets Mom bought for her college bed. Her husband passed away and she really needs to clean out, so I sent her this book. She says it was written just for her–including a category on sheets! If you have trouble letting things go because you are afraid you will lose the memories they hold, this book is for you.

I had been looking forward to reading Matt Paxton’s book. It did not disappoint! I like the idea of recording the stories of the things so you can release it. Thanks Matt!

The summary is the “stuff” is not the memory. You don’t need the stuff to remember the memory. A little too extreme in his view of getting rid of some things. Maybe take pictures of items that bring back specific memories you’re afraid of forgetting. A lot of good resources listed in the back but the whole book and his opinion is not worth $15

This book is a must read. Understanding the emotions behind downsizing is paramount. At some point in your life, you need to cleanse and purge to make space in your life. It’s better to do it now than wait until there is a pending deadline. Matt does a great job teaching older people how to downsize. His workshops and seminars are so helpful.

Good book for decluttering.

This book is very Interesting and informative and is good for any cat lover (we have 5). Even though it is factual & scientific, it has its humorous moments. It is not, however, light reading. We read to each other out loud for awhile very night after dinner & this book is perfect for that: read a little and then discuss or contemplate what you just learned.

The author clearly explains the mechanisms of evolution in a readable and entertaining manner. The information is detailed but can be appreciated by both the layman and the scientist. It is rare to find this combination in scientific writing. Highly recommended for all cat lovers!

I was thrilled to see this book coming out after scouring the Internet for months trying to find at least one documentary about the African wildcat and coming up empty-handed, an absolutely astounding gap given the great popularity of domestic cats and how close they are behaviorally and genetically to their ancestors, as Dr. Losos details in the first third of his book. The book also provides a very useful overview of the latest science regarding issues of great practical concern to cat owners, most crucially how owners might go about balancing cats’ hunter instincts and need for exploration/play (and therefore their psychological well-being) with the ecological impact they can have in modern environments.Sadly, these topics were relegated to the book’s final pages; I do wish that they had occupied an earlier and larger portion of the book, whose middle section was devoted largely to an overly long survey of various breeds of cats and some fairly scattered vignettes about cat shows (or “fancies”) that I found very dull, despite the obvious need to cover these topics in addressing the main question posed by the book. And while the notion of actively breeding animals for desirable (to humans) traits generally repels me (hence my lack of interest in the cat fancies), I can’t argue against the possible utility of genetically modulating hunter instincts to make domestic cats happier in modern environments, but as before wish that this and several other interesting proposals had been brought up earlier in the book so they could have been discussed at greater length.Now that he’s covered the sometimes-boring basics of the mechanics of how domestic cats emerged as a species, I’m hopeful that there is more to come from Dr. Losos, at greater length and in more detail, regarding the science underlying these and other behavioral questions. In the meantime, all the best to Lord Nelson 😉

A must purchase!Do not let the cute cover deter you. This book is extremely well researched and fascinating to read. It is head and shoulders above the usual fluff books written to entertain cat lovers. I learned more about cats in the firsst ten pages tan I had known up to that point.

It is a very interesting and personal book on CATS. Drawings but not photos. A better book about cats is (In Italics) 2020. THE CAT — A Natural and Cultural History, by Sarah Brown, Princeton University Press. This book has comprehensive information and numerous color illustrations. I read that one first and made a lecture out of it, and Losos’ book provided some corollaries.

Excellent book about cats, their evolution, and their behavior. The author conveys difficult concepts clearly. It was a really fun and informative read.

The book reads like a great novel but is full of science — biology, genetics, evolution. Fun, entertaining and very informative. I just had to look up the cat species and then different breeds. And I don’t even like cats.

Very mixed emotions about this book. I originally expected to enjoy it more and rate it a lot higher.The author has a very enjoyable conversaitonal style, and this book is full of fascinating (and sometimes funny) information about cats today and in history, like the practice in ancient Egypt of family members shaving their eyebrows to mourn their cat’s death.Unfortunately, he REALLY likes his subject, and there is MUCH too much detail in many areas, wordy and often repetitive, especially in how studies were conducted and the science of the genetics. Several times I was tempted to quit.