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243rd out of 270 books
—
119 voters
Eat This Book: A Year of Gorging and Glory on the Competitive Eating Circuit
by
Alfred Ryan Nerz (Goodreads Author)
Journalist Ryan Nerz spent a year penetrating the highest echelons of international competitive eating and Eat This Book is the fascinating and gut-bustingly hilarious account of his journey.
Nerz gives us all the facts about the history of the IFOCE (Independent Federation of Competitive Eating)--from the story of a clever Nathan's promotion that began in 1916 on the corne
...more
Nerz gives us all the facts about the history of the IFOCE (Independent Federation of Competitive Eating)--from the story of a clever Nathan's promotion that began in 1916 on the corne
Paperback, 320 pages
Published
April 4th 2006
by St. Martin's Griffin
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Read this book! I found Nerz's book about the competitive eating subculture to be completely facinating. You will be both amazed and disgusted. Simply a very compelling book.
I would also like to point out that I read this book on the 4th of July, the day of the annual Nathan's Hot Dog eating contest and this year Joey Chestnut broke the record!
I would also like to point out that I read this book on the 4th of July, the day of the annual Nathan's Hot Dog eating contest and this year Joey Chestnut broke the record!
The author recounts his introduction to the world of “gurgitation:” he becomes a part-time MC, and even tries, pathetically, to compete in an IFOCE-sanctioned event. Along the way he meets a lot of very colorful characters, discusses why smaller, fit people such as Sonya Thomas and Takeru Kobayashi beat out huge guys with enormous stomachs (“The Belt of Fat Theory”), and evaluates competitive eating as a sport. He’s a pretty good writer when it comes to profiling the larger-than-life stars of th...more
I'll say it: this book is cheesy. However,the competitive eating circuit is a crazy world and any look into it is entertaining. I liked learning that one of the most formidable figures is a tiny woman. The description of the fourth of july hotdog eating contest ruined the purity of the event for me. I can't believe that some people add chemicals for that added kick to make their food spicier.
I wanted to read an Anthony Bourdain book but as the library was out, I ended up with this. Though the author was rather repetitive and left out info I would have liked to have learned, overall I thought the book and the insight it offered into the world of competitive eating quite interesting.
A quick read. I learned the motivation of competitive eaters-not just to "pig out"(or not at all) but for the camaderie and the love of competition
Do not read if you have a weak stomach. (Or just be prepared to skip over a few parts. You can usually see the few big Moments of Ew! coming in time to scoot your eyeballs ahead.) This book was lots of fun! Again, always good to learn more about the cultures that you kinda think are crazy, be they rock stars or competetive eaters! Very interesting real life characters that are a pleasure to meet and spend time with! I had a significantly better time immersing myself in this culture than I did wi...more
It wasn't worth finishing. The tone of the narrative is all over the place. I wanted a history of this topic, not some guy's attempt to be funny while also masquerading as an insider to The Sport. The introductory chapter implied a promise that the author was unable to keep in the next 7 (or so) chapters that i endured. Reading this book was the intellectual equivalent of overeating--any enjoyment i should've felt quickly turned to nausea. (The author's glibness seems to've infected my normal "r...more
Entertaining and informative. I enjoy it when these two qualities combine.
Perhaps my fascination with competitive eating has faded or maybe it is just the tone of this book, but I didn't enjoy it as much as Horsemen of the Esophagus. Interesting reading, but certainly not compelling.
Don't read this book after a meal, especially not when you are feeling very full. Its pretty sickening but in a good way. Really America is the land of eccentrics, but I mean that in a good way!
competitive eating is so amazing. it's a few years old now, a few of the major players have changed, but many are in this book. the art, the science, the gorging....
Nerz shines a long-needed bright beam of light into the dark (and copious) underbelly of the competitive eating circuit. Bravo, Sir; bravo.
It was entertaining in the way that Maxim and GQ are entertaining and made me wonder about my competative eating abilities.
Amazing, people will turn anything into a competition. I guess everyone is striving for their 15 minutes.
An interesting look at the sport of competitive eating... if you can call it a sport.
Interesting & gross. The world record in mayonaise eating is 8 lbs in 8 minutes...
oh yes, another compet. eating book.
Hilarious, gripping, disgusting and amazing.
book junk food - good.
a masterpiece of the genre!
Apr 29, 2013
Michelle Adams
marked it as to-read
Apr 21, 2013
Seven
marked it as to-read
Apr 04, 2013
Lorraine
marked it as to-read
Mar 18, 2013
Lauren
added it
Jan 26, 2013
Gina
marked it as to-read
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Alfred Ryan Nerz is a freelance journalist who has written for NPR, Esquire, and the History Channel. He is the author of Eat This Book: A Year of Gorging and Glory on the Competitive Eating Circuit and MARIJUANAMERICA: One Man's Quest to Understand America's Dysfunctional Love Affair with Weed (released 4/2/13). To support his writing habit, he has modeled for teen romance novels (including "Fall...more
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