The Inspiration of Anthony Bourdain

Ebert knew his time on this planet was short, and he wanted to share everything he could in the time he had left. “Mr. Ebert writes as if it were a matter of life and death,” wrote journalist Janet Maslin, “because it is.” Ebert was blogging because he had to blog—because it was a matter of being heard, or not being heard. A matter of existing or n

Without that moment of inspiration, Child would never have changed from independent-minded socialite and wife doing government work to chef, best-selling writer of a definitive guide to French cuisine, and global television celebrity, who worked tirelessly from her midlife transformation until her death.

I've been writing this stuff for much the same reasons behind my frenetic traveling: Because I can. Because there's so little time. Because there's been so much to see and remember. Because I always think for sure the next book or the next show will tank, and I better make some fucking money while I can.