From the Bookshelf of Book Riot's Read Harder Challenge…

Yes, Chef

Marcus Samuelsson,

Veronica Chambers

Discussion: 2016 Read Harder Challenge

Why we're reading this: great read not only about food, but the moving up the "food chain" in the restaurant industry by an incre…more
[close] great read not only about food, but the moving up the "food chain" in the restaurant industry by an incredible person

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2016 Read Harder Challenge

* Read Harder Challenge Plans: 2016
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What Members Thought

Mar 31, 2015 Akilah rated it it was ok · review of another edition

Shelves: books-for-grownups, 2016, global-majority, dos-poc-2016, diversity-on-the-shelf-2016, read-harder-2016

2.5 stars, rounding down

So. Here's the thing. Marcus Samuelsson has led a fascinating life, and I enjoyed reading about it. But at one point, he reveals that he has a daughter, and he decides to be an absentee father while he pursues his dreams. Which, you know, is fine if that's the choice he wanted to make. But all I could think as he was talking about his time gallivanting around the world as a chef is "Yeah, but what about Zoe?"

WHAT ABOUT ZOE, MARCUS?

So that tempered my enjoyment quite a bi ...more

4 likes · Like · see review

Aug 30, 2019 Sarah rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: black-history-and-culture, american-nonfiction, nonfiction, audiobooks, sweden, foodbooks, memoir, ethiopia

I really liked this. I listened to it, as I do most memoirs, and fell into Samuelsson's story. It's not just his rags-to-riches background - Ethiopian orphan sent, with his sister, to live with Swedish adoptive parents, then rises to become world-famous chef. It's his voice itself (literally - he reads the audio himself) that I appreciate so much: incredibly confident but very humble (which is a pretty weird combination, if we are to be honest), and very, very thoughtful and intentional about ev ...more

1 like · Like · see review

Oct 20, 2015 Abby Johnson rated it liked it

Shelves: audio, grownup_books

I have been on a big chef memoir kick recently and Samuelsson has had a remarkable life, Ethiopian born and adopted at a young age by a Swedish family and then traveling the world for his career as a chef. The book's a little long and repetitive and the audiobook, read by the author, is slow and sometimes stilted (understandable since English is not Samuelsson's first language, but I found it a little grating by the end). BUT it still fit the bill and I'd suggest it to anyone who enjoys reading ...more

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Jan 04, 2013 Anne rated it liked it

I like chef memoirs, and although this one tells a good story, it's not as well written as some. I recommend it if you're interested in Marcus Samuelsson's multi-continent life or in the difficulties of navigating the mostly white world of European high cuisine kitchens. ...more

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Oct 12, 2012 Mary rated it it was amazing

Made me appreciate life more fully.

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Jun 18, 2012 Katie rated it liked it

Shelves: memoirs-biography, won-in-a-giveaway

An interesting story, but not told in interesting ways. Despite the boring and often repetitive writing, I was left with admiration for the author/chef's honesty and hard work. ...more

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