World Travel: An Irreverent Guide
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World Travel: An Irreverent Guide Audible Audiobook – Unabridged

Anthony Bourdain (Author), Laurie Woolever (Author, Narrator), Shep Gordon (Narrator),
4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 4,915 ratings
Editors' pick Best Cookbooks, Food & Wine
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A guide to some of the world’s most fascinating places, as seen and experienced by writer, television host, and relentlessly curious traveler Anthony Bourdain

Anthony Bourdain saw more of the world than nearly anyone. His travels took him from the hidden pockets of his hometown of New York to a tribal longhouse in Borneo, from cosmopolitan Buenos Aires, Paris, and Shanghai to Tanzania’s utter beauty and the stunning desert solitude of Oman’s Empty Quarter - and many places beyond.

In World Travel, a life of experience is collected into an entertaining, practical, fun and frank travel guide that gives listeners an introduction to some of his favorite places - in his own words. Featuring essential advice on how to get there, what to eat, where to stay and, in some cases, what to avoid, World Travel provides essential context that will help listeners further appreciate the reasons why Bourdain found a place enchanting and memorable.

Supplementing Bourdain’s words are a handful of essays by friends, colleagues, and family that tell even deeper stories about a place, including sardonic accounts of traveling with Bourdain by his brother, Christopher; a guide to Chicago’s best cheap eats by legendary music producer Steve Albini.

For veteran travelers, armchair enthusiasts, and those in between, World Travel offers a chance to experience the world like Anthony Bourdain.

The audiobook is read by Laurie Woolever, Shep Gordon, Christopher Bourdain, Jen Agg, Matt Walsh, Bill Buford, Claude Tayag, Nari Kye, Vidya Balachander, and Steve Albini.

Supplemental enhancement PDF accompanies the audiobook.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

Previous page
  1. Listening Length
    12 hours and 12 minutes
  2. Author
    Anthony Bourdain, see all
  3. Narrator
    Laurie Woolever, see all
  4. Audible release date
    April 20, 2021
  5. Language
    English
  6. Publisher
    HarperAudio
  7. ASIN
    B0872F1N4F
  8. Version
    Unabridged
  9. Program Type
    Audiobook
  10. See all details
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Product details

Listening Length 12 hours and 12 minutes
Author Anthony Bourdain, Laurie Woolever
Narrator Laurie Woolever, Shep Gordon, Christopher Bourdain, Jen Agg, Matt Walsh, Bill Buford, Claude Tayag, Nari Kye, Vidya Balachander, Steve Albini
Audible.com Release Date April 20, 2021
Publisher HarperAudio
Program Type Audiobook
Version Unabridged
Language English
ASIN B0872F1N4F
Best Sellers Rank #12,555 in Audible Books & Originals (See Top 100 in Audible Books & Originals)
#10 in Biographies of Culinary Professionals
#18 in Travel Writing & Commentary
#48 in Culinary Biographies & Memoirs

Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars
4.5 out of 5
4,915 global ratings
A Return to Travel
5 Stars
A Return to Travel
A lot of people have said they missed Bourdain’s voice especially in the pandemic, but bits of it were there all along, being smithed into this new travel book by his longtime co-writer Laurie Woolever. With his commentary and riffs printed in blue to make them stand out on the page and Woolever’s words doing the rest of the heavy lifting, it’s an unusual act of co-writing. But it works as both inspiration and information and seriously, the timing couldn’t be better. Also, it pairs well with a Moscow mule.
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Top reviews from the United States

Dwayne H.
5.0 out of 5 stars Travel changes you
Reviewed in the United States on April 18, 2023
Verified Purchase
As Anthony Bourdain once famously said, "Travel changes you. As you move through this life and this world you change things slightly, you leave marks behind, however small. And in return, life—and travel—leaves marks on you."

Bourdain's "World Travel: An Irreverent Guide" is a fascinating and inspiring read that takes readers on a culinary and cultural journey around the world. It's a testament to Bourdain's love of adventure, his passion for food, and his insatiable curiosity about the world.

The book is divided into sections that focus on different regions of the world, each containing stories, tips, and recommendations for travelers. From the neon-lit streets of Tokyo to the bustling markets of Mexico City, Bourdain offers readers a unique perspective on the world's most exciting destinations.

What sets "World Travel" apart is Bourdain's writing style. His prose is direct, honest, and unapologetic, which only adds to the book's charm. He pulls no punches in his opinions, and his sense of humor is always close at hand.

One of the most compelling aspects of the book is Bourdain's passion for food. He's always on the lookout for the best local cuisine, and his descriptions of meals are mouth-watering. Whether he's digging into street food in Singapore or indulging in a lavish feast in Paris, Bourdain's love of food is contagious.

In conclusion, "World Travel: An Irreverent Guide" is an excellent book for anyone who loves to travel, eat, or simply enjoys a good story. Bourdain's unique perspective, his witty humor, and his infectious passion for life make this a must-read for anyone looking to explore the world and leave their own mark on it.
7 people found this helpful
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Travis Hendrickson
5.0 out of 5 stars Great gift
Reviewed in the United States on February 22, 2024
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Bought this as a gift. My bf loved it, he’s a huge Anthony Bourdain fan.
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Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars For anyone who loves travel!
Reviewed in the United States on April 27, 2021
Verified Purchase
I told my family this was their Mother’s Day gift to me, and I am loving every single page. I have to admit I bought this book simply because of the Bourdain name without knowing anything about it.. but I am getting so much more out of it than I thought! The book is divided by countries that Tony visited, and includes what he thought of each location, places he went and how many times he had been there, things he did, etc. Then there are behind the scenes stories from the people around him that reveal things about Tony and his lifestyle, and perhaps my favorite stories are from the restaurant owners who got “Tony’d” etc. It’s probably not meant to be read cover to cover but I am doing so, and this book is satisfying my need to get out of the country without being able to get out of the country. I wouldn’t consider myself a “book reader”.. I just love travel and would recommend this to anyone who has a travel bucket list.
8 people found this helpful
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P. J. Owen
4.0 out of 5 stars A reminder of his greatness that we all needed
Reviewed in the United States on May 9, 2021
Verified Purchase
When Anthony Bourdain died in June 2018, he joined the ever-expanding list of artists and personalities (Prince, Bowie, Petty) whose recent deaths have hit me particularly hard, thrusting me into a mode of deep reflection about life, death, and everything in between. The difference between Bourdain and those others though is that the others were all associated with my youth. With them, there was the element of nostalgia, of aligning their mortality with my own because they’d been with me the majority of my life. Bourdain was different though. I had been a fan of his for at least a decade by the time he died, but his presence in my life was relatively short-lived. More importantly, what he represented to me was different, not a reminder of my youthful idealism, but one of what I desire and idealize in the present, as a middle-aged man, and what I want to be now and in the future. He didn’t just present a show about world travel, which is one the things I love most in my life, but he also lived the tough idealism of it, the way real in-depth travel can make you and the world better and teach us to be more tolerant of each other. And then throw in the food. Throw in the opinionated, irreverent approach to politics and life in general. Yeah, I miss him. I miss him a lot.

So of course I was excited to receive this book in the post and crack it open.

The co-author Laurie Woolever, who was Bourdain’s assistant explains the evolution of this book in the introduction. She had only one conversation with Bourdain about it, in which he sketched his vision for the book, but with lots of gaps and ambiguous thinking that they intended to get back to after Woolever put together a few sample chapters. The purpose was clear though: it was intended to be “an atlas of the world through his eyes”. He left her with a “blueprint” and a recording of their conversation. But, sadly, they never had a follow-up meeting. That means much of the decisions about the book’s form and how to bring to life Bourdain’s vision rested on Woolever’s shoulders, with just these general concepts and hours of video from his shows to guide her. So what do we get here?

This is not a guide in the purest sense; perhaps that is why it’s called an “irreverent” guide. This is not a book you’ll be lugging with you on your next trip, exploring with it in your hands. Its form is simple: chapter after chapter about the countries he’s traveled to, appearing in alphabetical order. Each country chapter includes the primary cities and some practical information upon arrival in those cities (airport, how to get into town and get around once you’re there) just like any other guidebook. Besides the selection of countries, Bourdain’s presence is added through the handful of hotels, restaurants, and other establishments that were chosen to be included. His comments about these places, culled by Woolever from Bourdain’s own words on his various TV shows, are liberally spread throughout, and serve as the primary vehicle for Bourdain’s voice itself. All this information is certainly interesting if you’re a fan of Bourdain, but it’s of very little use in helping to plan a trip, other than to maybe help you select one or more of the places he recommends. The practical information at the beginning of each chapter can be obtained from any other guidebook, one of which you will have to purchase anyway since this book doesn’t have enough info to serve as a primary guidebook. So it effectively lacks a real purpose save one: to experience Bourdain’s words again.

And that could be enough for some of us. Woolever knows this is targeted at fans of Bourdain and tries to inject as much of him as possible. Interspersed throughout the book are essays written by friends of Bourdain’s who write about what he meant to them. Many of them are good, and some very touching; however, once I read in the introduction that it was originally intended for Bourdain himself to write these essays about the many people and places that moved him, the knowledge that we missed out on those made me feel less for the ones we got.

But it’s probably unfair to judge this book based on the disappointment that it’s not exactly as it would have been. I began to imagine all the different ways this book could have been better if he had just lived to publish it (for example, I think the chapters would have been better designed if they had been informed more by the “Perfect Day” pieces they have on the Parts Unknown website…of course I have no idea he would have wanted to present them that way if he had lived). But that’s of no use. The book we have here is still a valuable look into his views on the many different places in the world that he wanted us to know about. This probably isn’t a book we’ll want to bring on trips with us, but there is enough here to inspire us to travel, and to guide us a little in Bourdain’s voice—a crude facsimile of what we had, but unfortunately, the best version we’re going to get. For those days when we don’t have time to stream one of his shows, this can serve as a resource to dip into now and again when we want or need that inspiration. This will never replace what could have been, but if you loved the guy, you may still think this is something great.
53 people found this helpful
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Dee
5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful Journey
Reviewed in the United States on April 22, 2021
Verified Purchase
I’m not sure if the authors of the negative reviews listed here read the intro? Laurie specifically explains exactly what is about to happen throughout the book...we can’t bring Tony back, and I highly doubt there’s some lair of hidden Tony stories lying around. The book is commemorative; a reminder of his greatness and legacy. And it ABSOLUTELY is not a, by-definition, “Travel Guide”, as mentioned by Laurie in the intro. Are we really this naive people?!

That all being said this book is a beautiful, encapsulated journey to and through some of Tony’s favorite places as described through his own quotes.

While we all wish he was still with us and could take us on new travels, we need to keep his legacy alive by retelling his stories-past.

If you’re a TRUE Tony fan—buy this book and enjoy!
11 people found this helpful
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Amazon customer
3.0 out of 5 stars I wish only Bourdain wrote this
Reviewed in the United States on February 17, 2024
Verified Purchase
I do and don't like this book. I didn't notice a second author. (My fault for not paying attention.) I prefer Bourdain's writing. I'm keeping it, though. I'll be more vigilant next time I order a book.
2 people found this helpful
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Ryan D'souza
5.0 out of 5 stars Great book
Reviewed in the United States on July 21, 2023
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Love Anthony Bourdain and this is one of my favorite books of his
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Top reviews from other countries

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Jurandir Clemente
5.0 out of 5 stars Show
Reviewed in Brazil on April 4, 2023
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Nota 1.000
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Domenic Rossi
5.0 out of 5 stars If you love Anthony you'll love this book!
Reviewed in Canada on December 18, 2022
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Well written and a must for any anthony bourdain fan or just want to read a great story!
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Creeko
3.0 out of 5 stars Zitatesammlung eines genialen Reiseführers.
Reviewed in Germany on August 18, 2021
Verified Purchase
Anthony Bourdain ist einer meiner Helden. Er hat die Welt bereist und alles was lecker ist probiert und geliebt. Dieses postmortale Buch ist leider eine kleine Enttäuschung. Es ist eine Zitatensammlung aus seine verschiedenen TV Ausstrahlungen. Und wenige Kommentare dazu. Dann lieber die serie kaufen und von ihm gesprochen hören!
One person found this helpful
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Raoul Vernet
1.0 out of 5 stars A scam
Reviewed in Spain on July 27, 2021
Verified Purchase
This book is a scam. It has hardly anything written by Bourdain. Instead it has some quotes cribbed from the numerous TV series. It has a lot of filler such as airport information for each city and description of public transport. Do we really care? This is a shameless attempt to profit from a peripheral relationship with Bourdain and the tragedy of his death. A disgrace
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Sam
5.0 out of 5 stars Great book
Reviewed in India on June 13, 2021
Verified Purchase
Loved AB travels and am enjoying reading this book.
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