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Down and Out in Paradise: The Life of Anthony Bourdain Hardcover – October 11, 2022

by Charles Leerhsen (Author)

4.0 923 ratings

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The bestselling, “unvarnished” (The New York Times), “engrossing” (The Guardian), “gritty, well-researched” (The Economist)—and definitely unauthorized—biography of the celebrity chef and TV star Anthony Bourdain, based on extensive interviews with those who knew the real story.

Anthony Bourdain’s death by suicide in June 2018 shocked people around the world. Bourdain seemed to have it all: an irresistible personality, a dream job, a beautiful family, and international fame. The reality, though, was more complicated than it seemed.

Bourdain became a celebrity with his bestselling book Kitchen Confidential. He parlayed it into a series of hit television shows, including the Food Channel’s Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations and CNN’s Parts Unknown. But his bad boy charisma belied a troubled spirit. Addiction and an obsession with perfection and personal integrity ruined two marriages and turned him into a boss from hell, even as millions of fans became enamored of the quick-witted and genuinely empathetic traveler they saw on TV. At the height of his success Bourdain was already running out of steam, physically and emotionally, when he fell hard for an Italian actress who could be even colder to him than he sometimes was to others, and who effectively drove a wedge between him and his young daughter.

Down and Out in Paradise is the first book to tell the full Bourdain story, and to show how Bourdain’s never-before-reported childhood traumas fueled both the creativity and insecurities that would lead him to a place of despair. “Filled with fresh, intimate details” (The New York Times), this is the real story behind an extraordinary life.

Print length

320 pages
Language

English
Publisher

Simon & Schuster
Publication date

October 11, 2022
Dimensions

6 x 1.1 x 9 inches
ISBN-10

1982140445
ISBN-13

978-1982140441
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From the Publisher

Editorial Reviews

Review

"A candid new book explores Anthony Bourdain’s trials. . . . [A] gritty, well-researched new biography." ― The Economist

"An unvarnished account of a turbulent life. . . . Grittier than anything we've read about him before. . . . [Leerhsen] is not here, though, to discredit or dismiss his subject. His admiration for Bourdain is nearly always apparent. . . .[Bourdain] would have admired the author’s guts." -- Dwight Garner ― The New York Times

"This isn’t an official Bourdain product or a hagiography. . . . This one is thoroughly researched and painstakingly detailed." -- Kara Baskin ― Boston Globe

"Seeing what the chef, writer and TV host saw on his last day alive in 2018 is only part of Leerhsen’s exhaustive research for the book. . . . The impressionistic portrait that emerges is of a complex man who combined swagger and spiky cool with deep insecurity, neediness and image-consciousness. . . . [An] unvarnished biography." -- Mark Kennedy ― Associated Press

“Filled with fresh, intimate details, including raw, anguished texts from the days before Mr. Bourdain’s death. . . . Drawing on more than 80 interviews, and files, texts and emails from Mr. Bourdain’s phone and laptop, the journalist Charles Leerhsen traces Mr. Bourdain’s metamorphosis from a sullen teenager in a New Jersey suburb . . . [to] a uniquely talented interpreter of the world through his travels.” -- Kim Severson ― The New York Times

“Peels back the veneer of the Bourdain brand. . . . Leerhsen shares salacious details, but with an air of respect toward his much-beloved subject. . . . Bourdain’s life reads like a cautionary tale of a man who wished for something—and got it. . . . The world is better for his work, but at such a devastating price." ― Booklist

"With zesty verve and material from more than 80 interviews, the author dramatically unfolds an entertaining, ultimately tragic tale. . . A chatty, quick-witted portrait of a complicated, tormented man." ― Kirkus Reviews

"[A] well-researched, thoughtful examination of the late Bourdain. . . . Leerhsen’s page-turner provides a well-rounded portrait of Bourdain, acknowledging his many faults as well as his empathy, work ethic, and creativity." ― Library Journal

"A three-dimensional view of a man who cultivated authenticity while he was alive, relayed with similarly frank humor." ― Publishers Weekly

"Since Anthony Bourdain’s death in 2018, there have been a handful of books by and about him. . . . But there has yet to be a true biography of the late chef. The first one, carefully researched but 'definitely unauthorized,' [comes] from Leerhsen. . . . Based on interviews with those who knew Bourdain best, Leerhsen will contextualize Bourdain’s on-screen charisma and off-screen despair by revealing childhood traumas that shaped the man who was revered by some, feared by others and loved by all." ― BookPage

About the Author

Charles Leerhsen is a former executive editor at Sports Illustrated. He has written for Rolling Stone, Esquire, and The New York Times. His books include Ty Cobb: A Terrible Beauty; Crazy Good: The Story of Dan Patch, the Most Famous Horse in America; Blood and Smoke: A True Tale of Mystery, Mayhem, and the Birth of the Indy 500; and Butch Cassidy: The True Story of an American Outlaw. He lives in Brooklyn with his wife, Sarah Saffian. Visit him at Leerhsen.com.

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Simon & Schuster (October 11, 2022)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 320 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1982140445
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1982140441
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.21 pounds
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6 x 1.1 x 9 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #53,122 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #9 in Mid Atlantic U.S. Biographies
- #78 in Culinary Biographies & Memoirs
- #576 in Actor & Entertainer Biographies

Customer Reviews:
4.0 923 ratings

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Charles Leerhsen

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Charles Leerhsen, the author of Butch Cassidy: The True Story of an American Outlaw and the New York Times bestseller Ty Cobb: A Terrible Beauty, has written articles for Sports Illustrated, Esquire, Rolling Stone, The New York Times Magazine, Air Mail, Money, People, Yahoo News and TV Guide. He has been an editor at SI, People and Us Weekly, and spent 11 years at Newsweek, where as a senior writer he covered sports (including several Olympic Games), entertainment, family stories and breaking news. At Newsweek he won the National Mental Health Association award for a cover story on alcohol and the family. He has also co-written three best-selling biographies: Trump: Surviving at the Top, with Donald Trump; Press On! Adventures in the Good Life, with pioneer aviator Chuck Yeager; and The Last Great Ride, with entertainment mogul Brandon Tartikoff. Leerhsen's previous books were the award-winning Crazy Good: The True Story of Dan Patch, the Most Famous Horse in America and the highly acclaimed Blood and Smoke: A True Tale of Mystery, Mayhem and the Birth of the Indy 500. He is currently working on his fifth book for Simon & Schuster.

Leerhsen has three daughters: Erica, Deborah and Nora. He and his wife, the writer and psychotherapist Sarah Saffian (www.saffian.com), live in Brooklyn.

See more about the author and his books at Leerhsen.com.

Customer reviews

4 out of 5

923 global ratings

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IBALON 35

EXCELLENT BIO

Reviewed in the United States on December 24, 2022

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I read this well-researched, well-written book almost non-stop. It answered many questions I had in mind
after learning of AB's suicide. After reading it, I was left with a lingering feeling of disappointment and sadness. AB is revealed to be a talent who never grew up past a selfish and adolescent world outlook. Coupled with years of addiction to hard drugs and alcohol, the final ending does not come as a shock,
not even as a surprise. A tragic waste.

10 people found this helpful

Helpful

Michael Riebman

interesting and introspective

Reviewed in the United States on February 25, 2024

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To me the story of Bourdain’s demise is believable. Sadly, here is a man who at the same time wants and despises everything he has. Worth reading as a human interest story even if you’re not interested in Bourdain.

One person found this helpful

Helpful

Peter Gleekel

Ignore the criticism; exactly the clear-eyed, no BS bio Bourdain would have wanted

Reviewed in the United States on October 13, 2022

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I perplexed by complaints about a bio whose author approaches its topic exactly as Bourdain approached his--clear-eyed, truth-seeking, empathetic, and even funny while still single-minded in his desire to understand what the hell happened to Bourdain. Like millions of other fans, I was shocked by his suicide, and like everyone else wanted to know what could push this guy with everything to end his life. With exhaustive reporting, Leerhsen managed to untie the knots of Bourdain's story (as well as one can from outside Bourdain's head) including the gritty painful parts, the tortured human connections that feel so cliché and dumb no one wants to admit how bad they hurt. Some of the last texts are so intimate it does feel voyeuristic to read them, but they are presented with enough consideration and empathy to feel important, exactly the kind of no BS truth telling that was Bourdain's brand. I am glad I read the book. Guys like him are built not to admit they need help--such a cliché to be depressed, right?--but this book does help understand how he got to that senseless despair. Leerhsen did exactly what a biographer is supposed to do, exactly the way Bourdain would have done it himself. Highly recommend.

81 people found this helpful

Helpful

evanascent

The last part is best, but overall not the most readable

Reviewed in the United States on October 29, 2022

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Like many people, I have wondered what could have driven Anthony Bourdain to commit suicide. While it's impossible for us to get a definitive answer to this, the author did a good job of sketching Tony's state of mind during the last part of his life and all the stressors he was dealing with. So for that, I would give 5 stars to this book. On the other hand, the writing style is overly flowery and not the most readable. I see that the author has written for magazines, and that style of writing just doesn't translate well to a longer text (and frankly, I'm not a big fan of it in magazines either). I also felt that the sections of the book on Tony's early and middle years, before he reached fame, should have been shortened by about half. My overall take: the last part of the book is worth reading, but avoid paying full price for it like I did.

11 people found this helpful

Helpful

Alexander G. Murray

An Outstanding Effort to Help Us Understand the Man Behind the Legend

Reviewed in the United States on November 9, 2022

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I suspect like many Bourdain fans, I wanted to better understand how a man I very much admired, a man who seemed to have it all, could have taken his own life. This book is a very serious treatment of Bourdain's life, rigorously researched, that gave me insights into his complex character, how he changed through the years, and how he met the fate that he ultimately did. In a man as complex, gifted and prone to battling his demons as Bourdain was, there will always be multiple ways of viewing his life, as well as questions that are difficult to answer. The author did as good a job as I could have ever hoped for in grappling with the many questions about Bourdain's life and death. If you are a fan of Bourdain's work and want to better understand who he was, I cannot recommend this book highly enough.

18 people found this helpful

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stingray

I thought the author had very little empathy for someone who was obviously flawed.

Reviewed in the United States on June 23, 2023

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If it’s true, Bourdain became more a-hole as his fame grew. And he was a depressed and lonely man who had no chance with Argento , she supposedly is bipolar, promiscuous , smart and independent. AB became more possessive as she became independent. I agree with many who called him selfish and cowardly as he left a young daughter without a dad. Again, if you believe the author, he was considered an absent dad.
My takeaway is the old cliche, don’t meet your heroes because you will be disappointed. Bourdain became successful, he was lucky with his mom connections to get his book published and hitting the best seller list. With the fame, he meets a producer who wants to do a travel show. He becomes famous and more unhappy. He gets to hate his fame, his show and his fans. And meets his dream girl and she is the final nail in his coffin. How sad.

13 people found this helpful

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Top reviews from other countries

D. L.

book came to my post office address which is very handy .

Reviewed in Canada on July 22, 2023

Verified Purchase

book came in less time than was quoted which was great as it was a birthday gift . it was in excellent condition.

SER

Bit grubby

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 22, 2022

Verified Purchase

First 2/3 of the book are not very interesting. Generally a bit grubby. Not sure I needed to know the details of his private text messages.

One person found this helpful

Jack Burton - Pork Chop Express

Poorly written, sensationalistic

Reviewed in Australia on November 20, 2022

Verified Purchase

Do yourself a favour and buy In the Weeds instead. It’s a much better book and will tell you more than you need to know.

This is poorly constructed and dull

Maude Duval

Great reading

Reviewed in Canada on October 25, 2023

Verified Purchase

Highly recommended

Dalby

2

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 3, 2023

Verified Purchase

Not a very good book about the Chef

One person found this helpful

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