Life, on the Line: A Chef's Story of Chasing Greatness, Facing Death, and Redefining the Way We Eat by Grant Achatz and Nick Kokonas. "This book is one of the best auto-biographies I’ve ever read, and definitely the best cooking biography. Grant Achatz, a James Beard award winning chef is the uber-creative force behind Alinea, named the best restaurant in North America by Gourmet. The book covers his childhood working in his parents’ restaurant, his work through the ranks at The French Laundry in his 20s and his close relationship with Thomas Keller, through his creation of his ultra modern and ground-breaking Alinea. Soon after opening Alinea and winning accolades, Achatz was diagnosed with Stage 4 tongue cancer at age 33 and subsequently lost the ability to taste, eat and swallow. Chef Achatz writes so honestly about his life, dreams and his fight against the cancer that I really felt like I knew him while reading. I cried and laughed throughout. Interspersed with Achatz’s writing are chapters and bits from Nick Kokonas, who began as a regular customer and became Achatz’s business partner and support system."
