I enjoyed reading this collection of catastrophes from famous chefs. It not so much that the titans of cooking are reduced to our humble level as it is the shear joy of cooking that seeps through these pages. All of us have had those train wreck moments that make us question why we bother. The stories in this book remind us of the fun to be had in the kitchen even when the stakes are at their highest.

My personal favorites were the stories by Geiffrey Zakarian and his Michelin Man travels through Europe, Mary Sue Milliken & Susan Feniger talking about the perils of catering, Anthony Bourdin’s inside tell all about a spectacular New Year’s Meltdown, and Dan Barber’s humble lesson learned when he was fired by David Bouley.

Although not every essay will grab your attention, you can’t help but become a happier cook after reading this little gem and absorbing the passion of the titans.