Cover Anthony Bourdain knew how to tell a good story—but what was he reading when he wasn’t writing one? From gritty fiction to unconventional biographies, these books reveal some of the ideas, voices and obsessions that helped shape the man behind the chef’s coat (Photo: Isaac Brekken/WireImage)
Anthony Bourdain knew how to tell a good story—but what was he reading when he wasn’t writing one? From gritty fiction to unconventional biographies, these books reveal some of the ideas, voices and obsessions that helped shape the man behind the chef’s coat (Photo: Isaac Brekken/WireImage)
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Discover the books that shaped Anthony Bourdain’s sharp, curious and unapologetically honest view of the world
If you’ve ever watched Anthony Bourdain eat his way through a city, talk to strangers at a bar or dismantle the romanticised version of a destination, you already know he was never interested in the polished story. That same instinct shaped what he read.
Long before he became a household name, Bourdain was an obsessive reader drawn to spare prose, dark humour, moral ambiguity and writers who weren’t afraid to look closely at the less glamorous sides of life. His literary tastes ranged from noir fiction and classic journalism to biographies of complicated, often deeply flawed figures. What connected them was a refusal to tidy up reality for the reader. These were books that dealt in grit, contradiction and uncomfortable truths—the same qualities that made Bourdain’s own writing and television work so compelling.
Looking at the books he loved offers a glimpse into the influences behind his famously sharp, curious and unapologetically clear-eyed view of the world.
Read more: 9 narrative non-fiction books people are reading in 2026
Anthony Bourdain’s 10 favourite books at a glance
‘Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas’ by Hunter S. Thompson
‘Junky’ by William S. Burroughs
‘The Quiet American’ by Graham Greene
‘Essays’ by George Orwell
‘Between Meals: An Appetite For Paris’ by A.J. Liebling
‘How to Live, Or, A Life of Montaigne in One Question and Twenty Attempts at an Answer’ by Sarah Bakewell
‘The White Album’ by Joan Didion
‘True Grit’ by Charles Portis
‘The Friends of Eddie Coyle’ by George V. Higgins
‘Crash’ by J.G. Ballard
1. ‘Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas’ by Hunter S. Thompson
Above ‘Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas’ by Hunter S. Thompson (Photo: Harper Perennial)
‘Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas’ by Hunter S. Thompson (Photo: Harper Perennial)
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Hunter S. Thompson’s 1971 classic documents a drug-fuelled trip across the Nevada desert under the guise of covering a motorcycle race. The text pioneered Gonzo journalism, blending subjective experience with cultural critique to chart the decline of 1960s counterculture. Its influence appears directly in the rhythmic, kinetic prose style adopted by Anthony Bourdain.
2. ‘Junky’ by William S. Burroughs
Above ‘Junky’ by William S. Burroughs (Photo: Penguin Classics)
‘Junky’ by William S. Burroughs (Photo: Penguin Classics)
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Published in 1953, this semi-autobiographical novel presents an unvarnished account of heroin addiction in mid-century America and Mexico. Burroughs avoids moralising, choosing instead to catalogue the daily logistics, slang and underground economies of addiction. The clinical detachment and subject matter resonated with Bourdain's own early career experiences.
3. ‘The Quiet American’ by Graham Greene
Above ‘The Quiet American’ by Graham Greene (Photo: Vintage Classics)
‘The Quiet American’ by Graham Greene (Photo: Vintage Classics)
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Set in 1950s Vietnam during the First Indochina War, Greene’s novel contrasts a cynical British journalist with an idealistic American intelligence officer. The narrative critiques foreign intervention and the unintended consequences of misplaced political idealism. It remained a touchstone text for Bourdain during his frequent travels through Southeast Asia.
4. ‘Essays’ by George Orwell
Above ‘Essays’ by George Orwell (Photo: Penguin Classics)
‘Essays’ by George Orwell (Photo: Penguin Classics)
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This collection gathers Orwell’s finest non-fiction writing, including pieces on politics, language and social conditions. Orwell’s insistence on plain language, direct observation and structural honesty served as a primary model for Bourdain’s non-fiction.
5. ‘Between Meals: An Appetite For Paris’ by A.J. Liebling
Above ‘Between Meals: An Appetite For Paris’ by A.J. Liebling (Photo: Penguin Classics)
‘Between Meals: An Appetite For Paris’ by A.J. Liebling (Photo: Penguin Classics)
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Liebling’s memoir details his time as a student in 1920s Paris, focusing entirely on the art of eating, drinking and observing city life. The prose captures French culinary traditions without pretension, making it a foundational influence on modern food writing.
Don’t miss: From Tudor courts to White House kitchens: 8 food books that explore kitchens of the powerful
6. ‘How to Live, Or, A Life of Montaigne in One Question and Twenty Attempts at an Answer’ by Sarah Bakewell
Above ‘How to Live, Or, A Life of Montaigne in One Question and Twenty Attempts at an Answer’ by Sarah Bakewell (Photo: Vintage)
‘How to Live, Or, A Life of Montaigne in One Question and Twenty Attempts at an Answer’ by Sarah Bakewell (Photo: Vintage)
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Bakewell’s biography explores the life and essays of 16th-century philosopher Michel de Montaigne. Structured around practical questions regarding existence, the book examines Montaigne’s humanist approach to daily life, curiosity and skepticism.
7. ‘The White Album’ by Joan Didion
Above ‘The White Album’ by Joan Didion (Photo: Fourth Estate)
‘The White Album’ by Joan Didion (Photo: Fourth Estate)
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Didion’s 1979 essay collection captures the fragmentation and paranoia of California in the late 1960s. Her spare, precise reportage covers events like the Manson family trials and the Black Panther movement, serving as a masterclass in cultural observation.
8. ‘True Grit’ by Charles Portis
Above ‘True Grit’ by Charles Portis (Photo: Bloomsbury)
‘True Grit’ by Charles Portis (Photo: Bloomsbury)
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Portis’s 1968 novel follows Mattie Ross as she seeks vengeance for her father’s murder with the help of U.S. Marshal Rooster Cogburn. Notable for its authentic 19th-century dialogue and dry humour, the book stands as a pristine piece of American storytelling.
9. ‘The Friends of Eddie Coyle’ by George V. Higgins
Above ‘The Friends of Eddie Coyle’ by George V. Higgins (Photo: Orion)
‘The Friends of Eddie Coyle’ by George V. Higgins (Photo: Orion)
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Higgins’s debut crime novel depicts the bleak reality of small-time Boston criminals. Written almost entirely in gritty, phonetically accurate dialogue, it strips away the romanticism often associated with organized crime fiction.
10. ‘Crash’ by J.G. Ballard
Above ‘Crash’ by J.G. Ballard (Photo: Harper Perennial)
‘Crash’ by J.G. Ballard (Photo: Harper Perennial)
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Ballard’s controversial 1973 novel investigates the erotic obsession with car crashes. The narrative serves as an extreme exploration of how technology alters human psychology and physical desire.
Chonx Tibajia is a senior editor at Tatler Asia’s T-Labs team, where she writes widely on lifestyle subjects including beauty, style, entertainment and travel. She has a long career in journalism, including roles as a columnist at The Philippine Star, and is the founder of the creative platform Pineappleversed. Beyond Tatler, her bylines appear in regional lifestyle and business publications, showcasing a broad portfolio that spans beauty trends, travel guides and culture pieces.
