Product Description

Everyone thinks they know the real Gordon Ramsay: rude, loud, pathologically driven, stubborn as hell. But this is his bestselling real story! Humble Pie tells the full story of how he became the world's most famous and infamous chef: his difficult childhood, his brother's heroin addiction and his failed first career as a footballer: all of these things have made him the celebrated culinary talent and media powerhouse that he is today. Gordon talks frankly about: / his tough childhood: his father's alcoholism and violence and the effects on his relationships with his mother and siblings, / his first career as a footballer: how the whole family moved to Scotland when he was signed by Glasgow Rangers at the age of fifteen, and how he coped when his career was over due to injury just three years later, / his brother's heroin addiction. / Gordon's early career: learning his trade in Paris and London; how his career developed from there: his time in Paris under Albert Roux and his seven Michelin-starred restaurants. / Kitchen life: Gordon spills the beans about life behind the kitchen door, and how a restaurant kitchen is run in Anthony Bourdain-style. / How he copes with the impact of fame on himself and his family: his television career, the rapacious tabloids, and his own drive for success.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #6317 in Books
• Published on: 2007-05-01
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 336 pages

Review
'Gordon Ramsay's Humble Pie -- so exuberantly angry boastful, cliche-ridden, expletive-laden and touchingly sincere that I can't believe that a single sentence has been written by anyone but the failed footballer, great cook, telly star and businessman himself. He's the genuine bollocks, as he's so fond of saying, and this is the tale of his personal class struggle.' -- The Observer 'Inspirational stuff.' Heat 'I cannot recommend strongly enough that every BII member reads it. It's so refreshing and energising -- and oddly the fact that every fifth word begins with 'F' adds to its charm, its passion and its delight!The book is an inspiration. Anybody running any kind of business will benefit from reading this.' BII Business magazine

Irish Examiner
`A mesmerising tale. It reads like a conversation and exudes
personality. Ramsay finds it hard to dodge the f-word, but despite the
defensiveness that comes accross, the book is an inspiration.'

From the Back Cover
"When I think about myself, I still see a little boy who is
desperate to escape, and desperate to please. The fact that I've long since
escaped, and long since been pleasing people, has little or no impact. I
just keep going, moving as far away from where I began as possible."

Customer Reviews

Engrossing life of a true genius
I read Humble Pie as a pre-runner to reading Playing With Fire...I found it totally engrossing. Gordon Ramsay writes from the heart in describing his early difficult childhood with an overbearing, selfish and violent father to his curtailed football career and then to finding a career in the Kitchen almost by accident. Ramsay really earned his stripes in gathering cooking experience, especially in France and via his old Mentor Marco Pierre White and that is why he is the most respected Chef in the world today. The guy is already a culinary genius and his natural persona shines through as a genuine celebrity (even if he hates the concept of 'Celebrity Chef'). The insight into behind the scenes at Hell's Kitchen really shows that he is totally his own man. A must for all Ramsay fans

No wonder he's thick skinned
I have just finished reading Humble Pie within two days of buying it and was horrified and entertained in equal measure. You may see the volcanic Ramsay on television but compared to some of the chefs he has worked under, he is fair and rational. He emerges as a likeable and decent bloke- giving honest hard workers the chance to better themselves. He is also unspoilt and appreciative of how far he has brought himself-for example, he may be a multi millionaire but he doesn't want to spoil his children and only gives them one present for Christmas. I completely see his point. His lack of luxury as a child has made him work hard and appreciate what he has earned and he wants the same for his children. However, my favourite juicy bits of this book were the gasp-aloud scenes of almost comedy violence perpetrated by the chefs he has worked for. His old adversary Marco Pierre White emerges as totally unpredictable and irrational. The chefs he worked for in Paris fare little better and emerge as monsters. Gordon Ramsay may yell and swear in the kitchen but he, to my knowledge, has never thrown a boiling pot of stock at anyone. He has made mistakes and openly admits to them. His honesty is disarming, whether you agree with him or not. There are also incidnetal snippets of celebrity gossip hither and thither, and his background story of his relationship with his father and his brother nearly had me in tears, and yet lacks self pity. All in all, there's pretty much every emotion in this tale of triumph over adversity (Even a bit of romance in the chapter about women). A thumping good read whether you like him or not. Personally I don't see how anyone can fail to at least repect anyone who has worked as hard as him.

Take a bite of humble pie
I read this book from cover to cover in an evening and an afternoon. Within the first few pages I was sucked into the life of celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay. Not pleasant at times but I was hardly expecting this to be a soothing book for bed time.
All I have ever know of this man is what has been portrayed in the tabloids, glossy mags and on TV. A seemingly arrogant, mouthy, bully? Wrong, in Humble Pie we get a glimpse of the other side of Ramsay and how he got to where he is today through hard work and determination.
Well written and with touches of humour as well as the sadness, sweat and tears. I really enjoyed this book. Honestly written and nothing fancy to make it more amusing, he tells it as it is. From the dark days of childhood to the fascinating life he has built for himself on his own merits...the kid from the council estate on free school meals...
I won't say rush out and read this book because I know it won't be everyones cup of tea, what I will say is speaking for myself and in my view this is one book I will remember long after it's been put away on the bookshelf.
Excellent.