The Man Who Ate Too Much: The Life of James Beard
SKU: 76344948371

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

Sale price$26.78 Regular price$29.75
Save 10%

Shipping Estimate
USA
  • USA
  • CAN

Ships within 48 hours · Estimated delivery Jul 6 - Jul 11

Promo Codes Available:

For Your Every Summer RSVP, with Code: SUMMER15

Description

The Man Who Ate Too Much: The Life of James BeardIn the first portrait of James Beard in twenty five years, John Birdsall accomplishes what no prior telling of Beard's life and work has done: He looks beyond the public image of the "Dean of American Cookery" to give voice to the gourmet's complex, queer life and, in the process, illuminates the history of American food in the twentieth century. At a time when stuffy French restaurants and soulless Continental cuisine prevailed, Beard invented

In the first portrait of James Beard in twenty-five years, John Birdsall accomplishes what no prior telling of Beard's life and work has done: He looks beyond the public image of the "Dean of American Cookery" to give voice to the gourmet's complex, queer life and, in the process, illuminates the history of American food in the twentieth century. At a time when stuffy French restaurants and soulless Continental cuisine prevailed, Beard invented something strange and new: the notion of an American cuisine.

Informed by previously overlooked correspondence, years of archival research, and a close reading of everything Beard wrote, this majestic biography traces the emergence of personality in American food while reckoning with the outwardly gregarious Beard's own need for love and connection, arguing that Beard turned an unapologetic pursuit of pleasure into a new model for food authors and experts.

Born in Portland, Oregon, in 1903, Beard would journey from the pristine Pacific Coast to New York's Greenwich Village by way of gay undergrounds in London and Paris of the 1920s. The failed actor-turned-Manhattan canap hawker-turned-author and cooking teacher was the jovial bachelor uncle presiding over America's kitchens for nearly four decades. In the 1940s he hosted one of the first television cooking shows, and by flouting the rules of publishing would end up crafting some of the most expressive cookbooks of the twentieth century, with recipes and stories that laid the groundwork for how we cook and eat today.

In stirring, novelistic detail, The Man Who Ate Too Much brings to life a towering figure, a man who still represents the best in eating and yet has never been fully understood--until now. This is biography of the highest order, a book about the rise of America's food written by the celebrated writer who fills in Beard's life with the color and meaning earlier generations were afraid to examine.



Binding Type: Hardcover
Publisher: W. W. Norton & Company
Published: 10/06/2020
ISBN: 9780393635713
Pages: 464
Weight: 1.85lbs
Size: 9.20h x 6.50w x 1.30d
Shipping Notes
  • Free Standard Shipping on $100+ Orders to the USA.
  • Except Preorder products are shipped in 48 hours.
  • Delivery to the USA:
  1. Standard Shipping : 3-10 business days
  • If time is of the essence, please consider selecting expedited delivery for faster service.
Exchange/Return Notes
  • We offer a 30-day return/exchange service after receiving.
  • Final sale items are not eligible for returns or exchanges.
  • To process your return/exchange, please contact us at [email protected]
  • Please click here for more details>>> Return & Exchange Policy
SKU: 76344948371

Discover Niche Categories That Outsell

Top-Converting Item to Boost Your Average Order

4.3 ★★★★★
Based on 1700 reviews
Sort
Highest Rating
Newest First
Oldest First
Product Reviews
N
Verified Purchase
nanny america
Belleville, US
★★★★★ 3
Disappointed
Color: S6-muti-color
These were great for about 20 minutes then they stopped squeaking...we have 2 left that I have saved but the other 4 do not squeak anymore...disappointed as my dog loves to squeak things...would not buy these again...My dog is only an 8lb dog too...but he can still play with the balls without the squeak...
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on April 26, 2026
J
Verified Purchase
joymom
New York, US
★★★★★ 5
Great Value for a ball my dog loves!
Color: S6-muti-color
I wish these ball were in the subscription program! My dog gets sooo excited by the new ball, but her interest in things lasts for a few days. She kills the squeak within 11minutes, but the squeaker stays in place rather than becoming a chocking or swallow hazard, and she still loves to chew it. Next, we must throw the ball approximately 723 times the first day, possibly 496 times on day 2, and just 3- 4 on day 3, at which point she will chase the ball before hollering "it's over here if you need it," while she checks on the chipmunk den. We currently have 17 of these balls in our yard (because we have given several leftovers to a less discriminating doodle next door). These balls hold up really well, get her extremely active for the first couple of days, and are a much cheaper than doggie daycare (after an active morning with a new ball, she is happy to chew on it and sleep much of the day). I always have these on hand!
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on November 22, 2025
M
Verified Purchase
Michelle
Charlottesville, US
★★★★★ 4
Pieces chewed off
Color: white & green
My Aussiedoodle loves it. I throw it down the hallway, it bounces crazy, and he chases it. The only complaint is that he can't chew much of the ball part. So now I have to have it put away and brought out for special playtime.
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on April 9, 2026
J
Verified Purchase
JohnMichael Rodriguez
Massapequa, US
★★★★★ 5
Finally, a toy my dog hasn’t murdered
If your dog destroys toys like it’s their full-time job, this stick is the boss-level challenge they didn’t see coming. I gave it to my power-chewer (a pit mix with jaws of steel), and after a week of gnawing, tossing, and dramatic tug-of-war battles, it’s still intact. Not even a dent. I think it might be made of space-grade rubber or the same stuff they use in black boxes. It’s got a good weight to it — heavy enough to feel solid, light enough to toss without pulling a shoulder. No squeaker, no fluff, no sad stuffing guts all over the living room. Just pure chewable glory. Pros: • Actually indestructible (or close enough) • Great for aggressive chewers • No squeaker = peace and quiet • Easy to clean and doesn’t smell weird • Doubles as a fetch toy and chew stick Minor feedback: It’s a bit heavy for small dogs, and it doesn’t bounce or squeak — but if your dog’s into serious chewing, they won’t care. Also, don’t drop it on your foot. Trust me. Final thoughts: This toy is the Chuck Norris of dog sticks. If your pup has shredded everything else, give this a shot. It might just survive — and so might your sanity.
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on November 7, 2025
M
Verified Purchase
Matt
Pawtucket, US
★★★★★ 5
Durable
If you have an aggressive chewer this will hold up for about a month. After about a month of daily use my police k9 will get the ends off. Is it completely indestructible no, does it hold up better then any other toy he’s had absolutely. When you have a dog with super high toy drive you understand nothing is indestructible but I will say a month for a toy to last with my dog is great and I accept the fact I just have to buy new toys monthly. For reference my dog will destroy a Kong in about half the time.
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on April 25, 2026

recommand products