Me Talk Pretty One Day by David Sedaris
Sedaris understands dysfunction like nobody else, but he does it while operating in a cruelty-free zone. He's hilarious and ironic, but he's also genuinely benevolent.
— Lisa Kogan, writer at large




Garlic and Sapphires by Ruth Reichl
In this voyeuristic journey into the restaurant world, Reichl, the former New York Times food columnist, describes how she wore disguises so servers wouldn't know that she was a famous critic.
— Doro Hunter, assistant editor




Julie & Julia by Julie Powell
A girl with a tiny kitchen cooks her way through Julia Child's classic Mastering the Art of French Cooking. Child relied heavily on butter, but Powell's main ingredient is humor.
— Farah Miller, senior Web editor
 
Update: Julie & Julia is now a major motion picture. Read O's review, plus find out which other films we love about food.





A Walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson
All of Bryson's travelogues crack me up, but they're not just comedic; he teaches you so much about the place he's traveling through.
— Carolyn Wilsey, art assistant
 
Next: 5 happy books to lift your spirits