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26th out of 216 books
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136 voters
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Waiting: The True Confessions of a Waitress
A veteran waitress dishes up a spicy and robust account of life as it really exists behind kitchen doors.
Part memoir, part social commentary, part guide to how to behave when dining out, Debra Ginsberg's book takes readers on her twentyyear journey as a waitress at a soap-operatic Italian restaurant, an exclusive five-star dining club, the dingiest of diners, and more. Wh
...morePaperback, 298 pages
Published
August 1st 2001
by Harper Perennial
(first published 2000)
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Simply, utterly, brilliant.
Anyone who's worked in any kind of customer service industry will read this book and nod your head along with it. Anyone who's been a customer will read it and come away with an appreciation for what people in the customer service industry do.
Ginsberg is not only an excellent writer with clever, dry wit, but she's got some genuinely funny stories to tell. She paints the pictures of her colleagues and places of employment vividly, until you feel ...more
Anyone who's worked in any kind of customer service industry will read this book and nod your head along with it. Anyone who's been a customer will read it and come away with an appreciation for what people in the customer service industry do.
Ginsberg is not only an excellent writer with clever, dry wit, but she's got some genuinely funny stories to tell. She paints the pictures of her colleagues and places of employment vividly, until you feel ...more
This book came at a point in my life when I wanted to justify what I did for a living. I never really enjoyed waiting tables and don't I think the author does either but she made vaild points about the business.
It is grueling work, practically running all day on your feet, the organizational skills required, the psychology of every customer (and their personality profile), and how ultimately no one is ever just a waitress or a cook, or a manager owner, everyone gets into the business for ...more
It is grueling work, practically running all day on your feet, the organizational skills required, the psychology of every customer (and their personality profile), and how ultimately no one is ever just a waitress or a cook, or a manager owner, everyone gets into the business for ...more
I picked this up because I wanted to be a waitress for the longest time. I will never be a waitress. I don't have the nerve and I know I'd get fired for spilling hot soup on old people. Reading this book is as close as I'll ever get.
It's a good thing I read this because I stopped dreaming of waitressing as my dream job. It sounds so good when you're at a nice restaurant and the wait staff is dressed so nicely and obviously getting exercise and getting paid for it.
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It's a good thing I read this because I stopped dreaming of waitressing as my dream job. It sounds so good when you're at a nice restaurant and the wait staff is dressed so nicely and obviously getting exercise and getting paid for it.
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The author, a Reed grad who’s been waiting tables for 20 years (“and I’m still waiting,” she adds), describes the life of a waitress in general, the trials and tribulations of wait staff at various restaurants, and the public perception of waitresses. It’s also a memoir of her own life, which is of course less interesting.
Ginsberg has a good eye for the amusing story, and she relates her customers’ foibles as wryly as she exposes what can happen behind the scenes of every dining establ...more
Ginsberg has a good eye for the amusing story, and she relates her customers’ foibles as wryly as she exposes what can happen behind the scenes of every dining establ...more
My four-sentence or less take on the plot: Debra was a server for most of her life, working in everything from a family-run pizza place to a five-star dining club. She experiences extreme highs (good money, great tips, dating a Chef, the trill of working a perfect shift) and lows (a shift where everything goes wrong, restaurants that just can't get traffic, and, above all,being treated as absolute dirt by your customers). If you ever waited tables or wanted to do so, this is the book for you.
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REbecca Darling
is currently reading it
So far, this is a really good book! This is one of those that I picked up off my bookshelf and thought, why not? It's like her memoirs, and a lot of stories and the truth about waitressing and whatnot. Each chapter seems to be like a different time in her life, and just general knowledge thrown in there. She talks about how waiters/waitresses can tell what kind of customers people will be just by their appearance and where they're from. She noted that New Yorkers are good tippers (Stored that aw...more
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Very quick, easy read. Less than a day in fact... Having been in the food industry as both an employee and an owner for most of my life. And having been a server of some sort or another for 20 years, like the author of this book, I was interested to see what more I could learn.
While I very much enjoyed the walk down my own memory lane through the stories contained in Ms. Ginsberg's memoir, I was not very impressed by the lack of a moral to the story. As a hero's journey this was an i...more
While I very much enjoyed the walk down my own memory lane through the stories contained in Ms. Ginsberg's memoir, I was not very impressed by the lack of a moral to the story. As a hero's journey this was an i...more
I love reading memoirs. I bought this books because I used to be a waitress. While this book was very entertaining to read, I found, at times, that she was repeating herself over and over. Through the book, you will find her saying things such as "for example" a lot. after reading that phrase soooo many times, I started to lose interest in reading the book. Being that I was half way done, however, I stuck it through to the end. The ending didnt finish as strong as I had hoped it to, bu...more
Debra Ginsberg’s “Waiting- True Confessions of a Waitress” is a memoir about the life she made for herself out of waiting tables for over 20 years. As a teenager, serving tables was simply a way to gain independence from her parents, then as she got older, merely a way to put herself through college, and finally, as a way to make ends meet as a single mother.Debra Ginsberg inspired me and taught me that instead of cowering from the ugly, nasty and unfortunate, to face it, embrace it and write ab...more
I really wanted to like this book. I wanted to read about inside info. and details about waitressing. I was hoping to get a behind the scenes understanding of waitressing life. The book is sort of autobiographical as it relates to the author's work life in the food service industry.
The problem is simply that it's just not that interesting. I didn’t feel like I really learned anything new or helpful as it relates to my personal experiences in restaurants. I kept expecting to le...more
The problem is simply that it's just not that interesting. I didn’t feel like I really learned anything new or helpful as it relates to my personal experiences in restaurants. I kept expecting to le...more
This sounded like it had potential to be very interesting when I found it at a library book sale. Maybe 1/8 of the way in, I'm beginning to lose steam. Hopefully she's got better insight going forward and not just well documented instances of server-customer interaction.
Update: 03/23/2009
Ok this book is picking up as the author explores her first experience in a fine dining restaurant and its subtleties both in terms of service and staff politics. I think I chose this book b...more
Update: 03/23/2009
Ok this book is picking up as the author explores her first experience in a fine dining restaurant and its subtleties both in terms of service and staff politics. I think I chose this book b...more
Debra Ginsberg's WAITING is, in many ways, a companion book to Steve Dublanica's WAITER RANT. Both are books written by people who have been waiting tables for years and years, both writers have the insights into their industry and the people they serve to make their books entertaining and insightful.
Ginsberg's book, however, is part family affair (she first waited tables in a family-run summer restaurant; her family members help her with child-rearing duties) and part female perspe...more
Ginsberg's book, however, is part family affair (she first waited tables in a family-run summer restaurant; her family members help her with child-rearing duties) and part female perspe...more
My 8 years working in the restaurant business encouraged me to pick this up when I found it on my local B&N's buy 2, get 1 table. It was a super quick read, had many funny quips that I could relate to, and encouraged me to start looking for a quick exit from the business before I end up a "lifer." Written in the same spirit as Waiter Rant, Debra Ginsberg follows her path through many restaurants around the country, independent and chain alike, telling stories of the people she's met,...more
I was looking for a light and entertaining read and this tales-from-the-waitressing-front sort of fit the bill. The author did a good job of joining together her experiences working in different restaurants into a cohesive narrative interwoven with her non-work life and some of her restaurant anecdotes were quite amusing. But I couldn't help but feel that there was an anti-customer undertone that made me uncomfortable. Also, the book was an interesting counterpoint to Barbara Ehrenreich's Nicke...more
I read this book in the middle of my 10-year waitressing gig & I laughed the whole way through it! I felt like I was reading about my own life & experiences waiting tables & working in the restaurant. Every character she encountered I could put a face to - someone I've met who was JUST like that! Brilliant.
Recommend for everyone! It's great insight for those who have never worked in the restaurant but dine out a lot, and it's hilarious for those of us who have spent many long hours ...more
Recommend for everyone! It's great insight for those who have never worked in the restaurant but dine out a lot, and it's hilarious for those of us who have spent many long hours ...more
This wasn't nearly as fun as I had hoped. While funny at times to anyone who has waited tables, this memoir read more as a justification of an aging Reedie as to why, despite her quasi-Ivy League Liberal Arts education, she as yet to do anything worthwhile with her life. Rather than amusing antedotes, we are treated to sophmoronic attempts to intellectualize a profession in which on is paid to set a plate on a table. She fails to bring any commonality of the human experiece her memoir and, in fa...more
The writing in this book is very well done, and not worthy of 3 stars, however, the story in this book is not as compelling as some of the author food stories I have read. This follows a woman who literally grows up in the waiting profession, as does her son. She experiences all the crazy back of house situations, not as much juicy issues with customers and provides a lot of detail into her life. I feel as though I know this author much better, but still missed out on the scandalous customer ...more
The author describes in detail the twenty+ years of her life spent as a waitress, first in her parents diner and then in many and varied establishments. She is a single mom with a college degree and the desire to become a writer. Considering the constant negative accounts of co-workers, customers, working conditions, and tips received, one wonders why she remains a waitress. The answer is revealed in the final chapters and epilogue when she realigns her priorities and manages to fulfill the nee...more
It took me a while to get through this book. I'm not sure whether it was Ginsberg's writing style or lack of interest on my part. It felt like I was reading a bunch of short stories about serving, which was interesting, yet I felt was perhaps lacking something. I am an ex-server, so i did relate to a lot of her experiences, some of which made me nostalgic about waiting tables, and others reminded me of why I vowed to never work in the food industry again. It felt like the story lacked any reason...more
WAITING is more than the chronicle some other reviewers make it out to be; more than a mere narrative of twenty years spent waiting tables. It's a coming-of-age story set against the backdrop of the restaurant business, from the perspective of the floor, of the people who come into direct contact with restaurant patrons.
In keeping with the backdrop, it does contain anecdotes about the business, insights into the personalities who bring food to the table, and even tips on how to be a...more
In keeping with the backdrop, it does contain anecdotes about the business, insights into the personalities who bring food to the table, and even tips on how to be a...more
This memoir about life as a waitress was not as exciting as I would have imagined. I'm not sure why Debra Ginsberg's story warranted a memoir as her life is pretty ordinary. Maybe I'm not the right audience for this type of book, seeing that I've never waitressed before, but a good memoir should make people feel like they are part of the narrative, keeping readers involved and interested. Also, there was something off about her writing - she's not a bad writer, but her writing almost reads lik...more
John Wiswell
rated it
Recommends it for:
People who eat out, social criticism readers, general non-fiction readers
Recommended to John by:
Nicholas Sabin
“ I stormed into the kitchen and threw a handful of tickets over the line at Sonny.
“What’s the order?” he asked, baffled.
“You are such an asshole,” I spat at him.
“So, will that be rare or medium rare?” he asked. “
Every few dozen pages there was an exchange like this that I desperately wanted to share with someone, though I never made it back to the computer in time to do so. I don’t know how other people read this, but I found it to be the perfect bathroom book....more
“What’s the order?” he asked, baffled.
“You are such an asshole,” I spat at him.
“So, will that be rare or medium rare?” he asked. “
Every few dozen pages there was an exchange like this that I desperately wanted to share with someone, though I never made it back to the computer in time to do so. I don’t know how other people read this, but I found it to be the perfect bathroom book....more
A pass-along from crankyasanoldman after I saw her mention the book in her LJ.
Ginsberg has worked as a waitress for over twenty years, working in a diner at a summer resort as well as a fine dining establishment in the big city. Her stories range from the amusing, to the amazing to the heartbreaking. The frenetic pace of most of her days is astounding to those who have never worked in the business. To Debra, waitressing is a form of acting, as she becomes whatever persona her custom...more
Ginsberg has worked as a waitress for over twenty years, working in a diner at a summer resort as well as a fine dining establishment in the big city. Her stories range from the amusing, to the amazing to the heartbreaking. The frenetic pace of most of her days is astounding to those who have never worked in the business. To Debra, waitressing is a form of acting, as she becomes whatever persona her custom...more
When I originally read this book, I was waiting tables and starting to think I'd be a lifer. I loved how Ginsberg was able to describe the thin line between loving the rush and the experience for the sake of a story, and feeling like a second-class citizen coated in mayonnaise.
Now that I have a "real job," and am re-reading the book, I am less effected by her stories. But I still appreciate how she tells just enough to make them interesting without sliding completely into gossi...more
Now that I have a "real job," and am re-reading the book, I am less effected by her stories. But I still appreciate how she tells just enough to make them interesting without sliding completely into gossi...more
While I found it very interesting to learn about waiting in restaurants since we eat out a lot, I just didn't get drawn into this story enough to keep me up late reading. My favorite parts involved stories from Ginsberg's experiences while actually waiting. My least favorite part was the chapter that investigated the portrayal of wait staff in film and TV. It felt like a college research paper and seemed really out of place in this book. I expected to like this book more than I did.
I have been a waitress for 35 years and was interested in this book for obvious reasons. It was definitely a walk down memory lane as to the times when I was younger and worked non-stop, all the time, two jobs, two shifts, too crazy. There weren't as many restaurants then so we were busy all the time and most of the staff were friends as well. Alas, things have changed dramatically in the restaurant business but reading the book brought back those harried, crazy times.
I work in high-volume retail. This book completely speaks to me as a "self-seller." People expect an act. They expect YOU. For it to work, you need to meet them there, but to meet them there, as frequently as one needs to to make a paycheck, it completely drains you. I get it. I like it. I'm also reading it rather quickly. Pleasant and anecdotal. She uses some good facts, but the book is 4 years old. If I felt I had time, I'd follow up on some of her figures, crunch some numbers, and p...more
I completely identified with the author- it reminded me of my time as a server. I found myself nodding at the typical serving mentality that flowed through the books. I was unaware that several situations are ubiquitous throughout the wild world of waiting.
My husband even picked it up and read several pages while I was reading it. I think everyone should read this book- it might just change the way you approach the person placing your food on the table!
My husband even picked it up and read several pages while I was reading it. I think everyone should read this book- it might just change the way you approach the person placing your food on the table!
A memoir written by a 20 year waitress that really gives you the inside scoop on the restaurant business. I wasn't sure if this book was going to be very interesting or not since I read a previous book about restaurants and it was pretty dull. This really gives you the scoop in her life along with the day to day rigors of "waiting." I look forward to reading her next book about raising her son who is a special needs student.
Jim
rated it
Recommends it for:
people, hungry people, people that like people
Shelves:
general-reading
A nice fun read that lets you look behind the scenes when choosing to eat out. Must be why I prefer to cook & eat at home I don't have to pay to play games when I just want good food plain, simple & fresh food.
I enjoyed the book for the insights on what you need to handle all the dramas both in the kitchen & with customers anyone that eats will enjoy this book.
I enjoyed the book for the insights on what you need to handle all the dramas both in the kitchen & with customers anyone that eats will enjoy this book.
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Debra M. Ginsberg is a London born, American author. She is the author of three memoirs as well as two novels. Her first memoir Waiting: The True Confessions of a Waitress was published by HarperCollins Publishers in 2000, followed by Raising Blaze: A Mother and Son's Long, Strange Journey Into Autism, which chronicled her longtime struggle to get her son the education he was entitled to.
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