Man on Fire - by Steven Raichlen (Hardcover)

Known for his popular PBS TV shows and internationally bestselling books, Raichlen is the man who re-invented modern barbecue--a passion that led him to 75 countries on 6 continents, earning 5 James Beard Awards and an induction into the Barbecue Hall of Fame. Long before that, though, he was a French literature scholar, medievalist, translator at a renowned Parisian cooking school, restaurant critic, wine and spirits writer, and novelist.

With candor and passion, Man on Fire shares the formative moments that shaped Raichlen's career, including the early struggles as a freelance writer, his breakout success with The Barbecue! Bible, and how an awkward first appearance on The Today Show kicked off a television career spanning more than two decades in English, French, and Italian. From friendship with Julia Child to his first multi-million copy bestseller, from a private grill session with Howard Stern to a battle with the Iron Chef in Tokyo, Raichlen reveals how he overcame childhood tragedy to become "America's Master Griller" (Esquire.)

Readers will gain insider insights into live fire cooking (Raichlen is the founder of Barbecue University(R)), and the life lessons that helped shape his extraordinary career--plus 25 recipes including authentic Baltimore crab cakes, medieval mulled wine, mango-spacho from his adopted Miami, maple sriracha chicken wings from Quebec, and the barbecued ribs that beat the Iron Chef in Tokyo.

This book is a love song to the evolution of food and its impact on community and culture, and it will make you very hungry. Man on Fire is the perfect book not just for foodies and barbecue buffs, but travelers, history lovers, entrepreneurs, and anyone who wants to be their own boss.

Review Quotes

"Raichlen takes readers on a rich and engaging journey from curious food lover to world-renowned grilling expert, sharing personal memories, travels, and decades of culinary wisdom along the way. Filled with heart, flavor, and insight, Man on Fire is an inspiring and deeply enjoyable read for anyone who appreciates the everyday joys that food and shared experiences can offer."
--Emeril Lagasse

"Steven is a master who makes fire feel both ancient and new, teaching that barbecue is not just technique but a culture, a journey, and a joy."
--Francis Mallmann

"Man on Fire is a masterclass in living boldly from one of the true pioneers of live-fire cooking. It's honest, heartfelt, and packed with the kind of stories only a life spent chasing flavor and purpose can deliver. Steven Raichlen is a true legend."
--Derek Wolf, Over the Fire Cooking

"In Man on Fire, you find out how a French literature scholar from Baltimore ended up traveling to 75 countries, winning five James Beard Awards, and landing in the Barbecue Hall of Fame right alongside the rest of us. That's one hell of a journey, and Steven tells it the way he does everything--with class, with honesty, and with a deep respect for the craft."
--Myron Mixon, five-time World Barbecue Champion and New York Times bestselling author

"Steven's heart and spirit come through in this fine-tuned memoir. From his birth in Japan to his Iron Chef battle in Tokyo, from his literary adventures on Chappaquiddick to an awesome streak of recipes, Raichlen never misses!"
--Amy Ephron, novelist, screenwriter, film producer, and author of Unseasonably Cold

"Baseball has Babe Ruth, basketball Michael Jordan, hockey Wayne Gretzky, and BBQ, Steven Raichlen . . . With lots of entrepreneurial advice, inside wisdom about barbecue, and 25 previously unpublished recipes, Man on Fire has something for every reader, from barbecue buffs to literature lovers, history geeks, armchair travelers, and anyone who wants to be his or her own boss."
--Larry Olmsted, award-winning journalist, New York Times bestselling author of Real Food, Fake Food, and senior columnist for Forbes.com

About the Author

Also an award-winning journalist, Raichlen has written for The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Esquire, GQ, and all the major food magazines. He has appeared on numerous major TV and radio shows in the US and abroad, from Oprah and The Today Show to Fresh Air with Terry Gross and Howard Stern. He also battled--and defeated--the Iron Chef in a Battle of the Barbecue Gods on Japanese television.