What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedAnthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown
Series · 2013
If you loved Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown, start with World Travel (Anthony Bourdain, Laurie Woolever, 2020) — a book on the same thread. Below: 4 books, 4 films and 2 podcasts, each matched to Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown across media.
What hooked you in Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown was the way global curiosity transforms into a deeply personal, human connection with strangers.
Books on the same thread
Kitchen Confidential Updated Edition: Adventures in the Culinary Underbelly (P.S.)
Anthony Bourdain · Book · 2018
Explores: Restaurant Culture, Drug Use, Hedonism.
If the raw, behind-the-scenes honesty of Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown moved you, this memoir offers the same acerbic wit and unfiltered look at the grueling reality of professional kitchens.
World Travel
Anthony Bourdain, Laurie Woolever · Book · 2020
Explores: global curiosity, gastronomy, human connection.
This guide mirrors the global curiosity found in Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown, inviting you to revisit the world through the same lens of gastronomy and genuine human connection.
Kitchen Confidential Updated Ed
Anthony Bourdain · Book · 2007
Explores: counterculture, professional obsession, grit.
Fans of the professional obsession seen in Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown will appreciate this look at the grit and subculture that defined his early career before his global travels.
Down and Out in Paradise
Charles Leerhsen · Book
Explores: mental health struggles, public vs private persona, complex legacy.
This biography provides a deeper look at the public persona and complex legacy of the man who invited you into his life through Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown.
Films on the same thread
Ratatouille
Brad Bird · Film · 2007
Explores: Underdog Success, Following Your Dreams, Unlikely Partnerships.
The artistic expression and culinary passion that drives the characters here will resonate with anyone who appreciated the celebration of food culture in Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown.
Paris Is Burning
Jennie Livingston · Film · 1991
Explores: Found family, Intersectionality, Performative identity.
Like Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown, this documentary explores marginalized subcultures with a vérité approach, offering an intimate window into the lives of people often overlooked by mainstream society.
Nanook of the North
Robert Flaherty · Film · 1922
Explores: Survival in extreme environments, Indigenous cultural practices, Man versus nature.
This pioneering film captures the same spirit of cultural immersion and observation of indigenous resilience that made Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown a window into diverse, remote lifestyles.
The Gleaners and I
Agnès Varda · Film · 2000
Explores: Waste and consumerism, Marginalized communities, Social activism.
Varda’s focus on marginalized communities and social activism mirrors the investigative spirit of Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown, finding profound humanity in the overlooked corners of our modern world.
Podcasts on the same thread
The MashtagBrady Show!
Podcast
Explores: cultural exploration, world travel, experiential travel.
For those who craved the off-the-beaten-path adventures of Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown, this podcast delivers the same immersive, experiential travel stories from the most remote corners of earth.
Peter Santenello
Podcast
Explores: cultural exploration, travel, global perspectives.
This podcast captures the authentic, unpolarized interactions with locals that made Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown feel so vital, prioritizing human connection over the standard tourist path.
Keep exploring
Common questions
What is the primary focus of Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown?
Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown focuses on global travel to uncover lesser-known regions. The show celebrates diverse cultures by exploring local food and dining rituals while providing a window into the lifestyles of citizens living in various locations, including some areas that are considered war-torn.
How does Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown approach travel destinations?
Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown takes viewers off the beaten path by avoiding standard tourist destinations. Instead, the series prioritizes curiosity and candor, highlighting unique areas of the world and engaging with local citizens to explore their specific customs and daily lives.
Is Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown only about food?
While food and dining rituals are central to Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown, the show uses these experiences to explore broader cultural contexts. The series examines diverse lifestyles and human experiences, utilizing Bourdain's acerbic wit to provide deeper insights into the regions he visits.
Does Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown visit dangerous locations?
Yes, Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown includes travel to various locations around the globe, specifically venturing into some war-torn parts of the world. The show aims to offer a window into these areas by meeting with local citizens to understand their lives beyond the typical tourist experience.