Anthony Bourdain is a world traveler who has had successful careers as a chef, TV host, and author.
He's also an adventurer who's done everything from mastering martial arts in Hong Kong to eating fermented shark in Iceland.
But where does he find inspiration?
We asked Bourdain, who currently hosts travel show Parts Unknown on CNN, to share some of his favorite books with us.
He kindly obliged, and shared some comments on why he loves these books so much.
The Friends Of Eddie Coyle by George V. Higgins
"The best, most realistic crime novel ever. Best dialogue in a crime novel ever," Bourdain said.
This classic crime novel by George V. Higgins tells the tale of bank heists, mobsters, and cops in Boston during the 1960s. Higgins uses sharp dialogue and suspense techniques to keep readers on edge.
"The Quiet American" by Graham Greene
"Drama, romance, tragic history in SE Asia? I'm there! I re-read it frequently. Particularly when visiting Vietnam," Bourdain said.
The most controversial novel of Graham Greene's career, "The Quiet American" is an anti-war novel that takes place in Southeast Asia (present-day Vietnam) during the First Indochina War.
"The White Album: Essays" by Joan Didion
"I wish I could write like Joan Didion," Bourdain said.
This compilation of essays by Joan Didion focuses on the trends and movements of the 1960s, touching on everything from the Black Panthers to the advent of the shopping mall.
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