Anthony Bourdain.Photo: Robin Marchant/Getty
Bourdain: The Definitive Oral Biographyfeatures almost a hundred interviews with people from the chef’s world, including colleagues and dear friends such as Eric Ripert, José Andrés, Nigella Lawson and W. Kamau Bell. Woolever also spoke with Bourdain’s 14-year-old daughter, Ariane, his brother, Christopher, and his late mother, Gladys.
“Bourdain: The Definitive Oral Biographytells the full story of the man who seemed to have the greatest job, and the greatest life, in the world,” Woolever tells PEOPLE in a statement. “The stories, memories and insights shared within it, from Tony’s immediate family, childhood friends, college classmates, kitchen colleagues, television partners, and friends he picked up on his journey, will answer questions about who he really was, what motivated him, and how he chose to live his fascinating life.”
Ecco
The book includes a number of personal photos and promises to reveal “the many sides of Tony—his motivations, his ambivalence, his vulnerability, his blind spots, and his brilliance,” according to the press release.
He gave up narcotics in the early ’90s and released hisNew Yorkeressay"Don’t Eat Before Reading This"in 1999, which led to a book deal and fame. Bourdain became even more of a household name after starring in shows likeA Cook’s Tour,No ReservationsandParts Unknownin which he traveled the world and celebrated indigenous food.
“I have the best job in the world,” Bourdain toldPEOPLE. “I decide where we go. If I’m not having a good time, it’s nobody’s fault, it’s a failure of the imagination.”
“Tony’s thoughts connected with people,” David Holloway, Bourdain’s longtime photographer, told PEOPLE shortly after the chef’s death. “Everyone has a picture and a story. These are real moments, because Tony was honest. People feel an honest loss.”
Woolever is ensuring her mentor and friend’s legacy continues. Last month, Ecco published the travel guideWorld Travel: An Irreverent Guide, which Bourdain and Woolever had been writing before his death.
“I was lucky to work closely with Tony for nearly a decade, and I’m so pleased to be able to share his reflections and insights about the world, as he saw it, in this guide,” said Woolever in the travel book’s press release.
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In October 2018, four months after Bourdain’s passing, Woolever reflected back on another book she co-authored with him,Appetites: A Cookbook.
“Two years ago today, this beautiful book was published. I miss@anthonybourdainmore and more each day,” shecaptioned a photo of the book on Instagram. “He wasn’t perfect but he was the absolute best, and he gave so much to me, and to the people who worked for and with him, and the people who loved his work.”
Bourdain: The Definitive Oral Biographyhits bookstores this fall.
If you or someone you know is considering suicide, please contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255), text “STRENGTH” to the Crisis Text Line at 741-741 or go tosuicidepreventionlifeline.org.
source: people.com
