Unreasonable Hospitality
What it's about
Will Guidara was 26 when he took over Eleven Madison Park, a struggling two-star New York brasserie. Eleven years later, it was named the best restaurant in the world. Here he explains how: a true partnership between the kitchen and the dining room, and a philosophy of over-the-top, personal hospitality that he argues can transform any business.
Why it's worth reading
It has spent more than 120 weeks on the New York Times bestseller lists and became a favorite after appearing on the TV series The Bear. It's full of memorable stories about making people feel cared for.
You'll love it if you liked
Kitchen Confidential: Adventures in the Culinary Underbelly, Shoe Dog or How to Win Friends and Influence People
Good to know
It's part memoir and part business book, light and easy to read. You don't need to work in a restaurant to get something from it.
Quick answers
Is Unreasonable Hospitality worth reading?
Yes. It has spent more than 120 weeks on the New York Times bestseller lists and became a favorite after appearing on the TV series The Bear. It ranks #213 of the 2,819 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 83.3 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is Unreasonable Hospitality about?
Will Guidara was 26 when he took over Eleven Madison Park, a struggling two-star New York brasserie. Eleven years later, it was named the best restaurant in the world. Here he explains how: a true partnership between the kitchen and the dining room, and a philosophy of over-the-top, personal hospitality that he argues can transform any business.
How long does it take to read Unreasonable Hospitality?
About 6 hours (257 pages), or about 2 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after Unreasonable Hospitality?
If you liked it, try Kitchen Confidential: Adventures in the Culinary Underbelly by Anthony Bourdain, Shoe Dog by Phil Knight or How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie.
By the numbers
- Readers85 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics0 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Bestseller54 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Buzz100 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
120 weeks on the New York Times bestseller lists since 2024.
Where it ranks
- #10 of the 85 self-help and business books we rank
- #37 of the 481 new books we rank
- #213 of the 2,819 books we rank
Bestseller
- 120 weeks on the New York Times bestseller lists since 2024
Reads as
Practical
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