Gordon Ramsay

On Top of the World

By: Neil Simpson

Narrated by: Richard Aspel

Best known as the host of Fox's Hell's Kitchen and Kitchen Nightmares, Gordon Ramsay is one of the most driven, successful, and irate chefs around. He has thrown Hollywood actresses out of his restaurants and is notorious for his anger, but his food has been served to numerous heads of state, and he is one of only three chefs in England whose restaurant is rated at three Michelin stars.

In this illuminating work, Ramsay discusses the violent, alcoholic, absent father who died just days after the pair had been reconciled as adults; the best friend and protégé whose bizarre suicide came hours after the two had shared a final meal; the decade-long battle to save his younger brother from heroin addiction and crime; and the real reason why he has not attended the births of any of his four children.

Sometimes hilarious and frequently heartbreaking, this is Gordon Ramsay’s full life, from tenements and poverty to top-notch restaurants and fame.

©2009 Neil Simpson (P)2012 Bolinda Publishing

Good read

I really enjoyed it- both entertaining and heartfelt. It gives a glimpse of the chef that is more sincere and friendly than what you find submitted by the media and on edited tv appearances.

Went slow. Narrator spoke very slowly.

The book was very long but would've been better had the narrator not paused so long between paragraphs. It was annoying.

A couple of question decisions on the authors part but over all a fantastic book.

The audio in the beginning was a bit rough but cleared up about a quarter of the way through. It was odd when the author would compare Gordon to top tier chefs but then also say he made his “Oliver move” implying that somehow Jamie oliver had surpassed him. Ending the book with an unconfirmed or concluded scandal seemed a bit tasteless and offhandedly insulting too Gordon but that’s just from my perspective and find 98% of Gordon firebrand rants to be providing a lot of valid points which is more telling about my tolerance for perceived insults and wrong doings than anything. Over all a fantastic telling and will definitely be a repeat listen for me.

I’d prefer a different narrator

I know Americans and British are worlds apart, but the way this is narrated I can’t take it seriously. This Aspel geek sounds like the mad professor on the Simpsons cartoon. It sounds even more ridiculous when he has to cuss, which if we all know Gordon Ramsay mannerisms, is quite often. I like the book because it’s more in depth and somewhat more objective than Humble Pie, not to mention more recently written, but I just can’t get over this narrator.

Inspiring!

Just loved it! He’s made so much of his life - all through hard work! Super inspiring!!