The Man Who Ate Too Much: The Life of James Beard

This book is a thorough history of James Beard and his rise to cooking fame.

I knew nothing of James Beard or why his name was attached to the award etc so when I was researching the man I saw a review for this book and it was really good. He and his life and legacy are complex and I enjoyed learning of him albeit belatedly.

I couldn’t wait to read this book. Beard is fascinating to me. However, the author tries way too hard at verbose prose introducing his subject. But then either I‘ve grown numb to the overacting in manuscript or Birdsall relaxed some, but in the end we’ve come to agreement and the book is worth your time.

The Man Who Ate Too Much is a well-written and well researched magnum opus: it is both a foodie book and a history chronicle: the recipes and the attention to Beard’s culinary talents combined with Beard’s role in gay history is unique. Particularly, the chef’s attachment to his mother, his promotion of American cookery, and his perpetual juggling of both the West Coast and the East Coast throughout his life held this reader’s attention. Most importantly, the author’s attention to Beard’s closeted persona in post-Second-World War America with its rampant homophobia is to be praised. In addition, the discussion of Beard’s ultimately convoluted fealty to Reed College in his native Portland is full of delicious irony! An historical biography full of the subject’s warts and all—that ultimately makes its subject all the greater.

Booked arrived timely & in great condition.

Beautiful prose: so informative and descriptive of the life of this man who had to keep so much about himself hidden from all but a few. The author does not shrink from revealing the unflattering traits of Mr. Beard, especially his frequent use of the ideas and skills of others who contributed to his own success, but did not receive. credit in print or in compensation for their work and ideas. Well researched and beautifully written.

Cooking has come a long way since Beard's time but he has to get credit for being one of the first celebrity chefs. I bought one of his cookbooks and it full of old time, predictable recipes.

Excellent food history entwined with gay history of the 20th century. And a most entertaining biography of James Beard, his magazine writing and TV career, his cookbooks and collaborations with the likes of Julia Child and Jeremiah Tower; Beard’s hidden personal life and household is fascinating.

Beard is a commanding presence on the American foodscape, but this book is not fully satisfying.The author is good on Beard's early life, both in Oregon and in New York, but gets distracted by Beard'sprivate life in later years and there is not enough on food, about which the author does not know as muchas he should, writing for a foodie audience.

As a former antiquarian and secondhand cook book seller, I read many thousands of cook books, but not all cookery writers deserve a biography. But Mr Beard does deserve one and Mr Birdsall does him proud! Terrifically well written, one of the best biographies I’ve read.