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Roasting in Hell's Kitchen - Temper Tantrums, F-Words, and the Pursuit of Perfection
by Gordon Ramsay
HarperEntertainment
ISBN 0-06-119175-2
Published November 2006 - Hardcover - 288 pages - $25.95

We've come to know this foul-mouthed (or should I say fowl-mouthed) chef from his television reality show, Hell's Kitchen.  Not only does he have a short fuse when it comes to getting things done in his kitchen (can you imagine working for this man under such conditions?), but he has an ample amount of contempt which he generously doles out willy nilly.  Now, this man grew up with an alcoholic father who couldn't keep a job which meant that they were always moving.  His father also regularly beat up Ramsay's mother.  None of this could have been good for a young lad growing up, and Ramsay admits he tried to please most of the time, and was on a quest to be the best.  Born in Scotland, the young Gordon Ramsay was all over the country all the time while growing up, and he started playing soccer at a young age and became extremely good at it.  His involvement with food all started when he took a catering course which he followed through with after seriously injuring his knee which put paid to any soccer career he envisioned.  So, he went to work in kitchens, and after a while, landed up at Harvey's in London.  It would seem as though he modelled himself after his outrageous boss, Chef Marco (sans the physical stuff)!  What a tyrant.  Ramsay claims it did him good though - I don't however, think it's necessary to yell and scream and belittle people - you set the example as a "boss" - we don't need youngsters thinking it's okay to curse and scream at others to achieve something.  Wrong.  Wrong.  Wrong.  I do however, fully believe in keeping staff motivated, and it must be incredibly difficult if there is a timeline and even more so a quality issue, as with top restaurants.  So, a certain amount of yelling is to be expected but I think Ramsay takes the cake.  I have to say I admire the way he says he's bringing up his children - I dig all that discipline and making them realize the worth of money.  I also agree with him about drug addicts.  I found the book interesting but rather punishing with all the cursing which I found distracting, coarse, and completely unnecessary.  I would very much like to eat at one of Ramsay's Michelin star restaurants, to judge for myself. 
Conclusion - A great insight into this busy and talented man's life.