Skip to content

The Ramen King and I
Stock Photo: Cover May Be Different

The Ramen King and I Hardback - 2009

by Raskin, Andy

For three days in January 2007, the most-emailed article in The New York Times was "Appreciations: Mr. Noodle," an editorial noting the passing, at age 96, of billionaire Momofuku Ando, the inventor of instant ramen. The very existence of the noodle inventor came as a shock to many, but not to Andy Raskin, who had spent nearly three years trying to meet Ando. Why?

To fix the problems that plagued his love life.

The Ramen King and I is Raskin's memoir about how despair-and a series of bizarre adventures at Japanese restaurants-led him to confront the truth of his romantic past, and how Ando became his unlikely spiritual guide. Through letters ostensibly penned to the culinary sage, Raskin reveals a relationship history plagued by infidelity, jealousy, and betrayal. After devouring Ando's essays (with titles such as "Peace Follows from a Full Stomach" and "Mankind is Noodlekind"), he sets out to meet the food pioneer-and to discover the secret to a committed relationship.


Summary

For three days in January 2007, the most e-mailed article in The New York Times was Appreciations: Mr. Noodle, an editorial noting the passing, at age ninety-six, of Momofuku Ando, the inventor of instant ramen. The very existence of the noodle inventor came as a shock to many, but not to Andy Raskin, who had spent nearly three years trying to meet Ando. Why? To fix the problems that plagued his love life. The Ramen King and I is the true story of Raskins colossal struggle to confront the truth of his dating life, and how Momofuku Ando served as his unlikely spiritual guide. Raskins quest leads him to some unexpected placesfrom the Wharton School and Kmart headquarters to the Instant Ramen Invention Museum and a funeral in a baseball stadium and he eats a lot of Japanese food. Along the way, hes spurred on by cinematic samurai warriors, manga-based chefs, and the author Haruki Murakami. Charting Raskins pursuit of the elusive Ando, The Ramen King and I unfolds partly through frank, revealing letters addressed to the culinary sage. After devouring Andos books and essays, with titles such as Peace Follows from a Full Stomach and Mankind Is Noodlekind, Raskin ultimately discovers that he has been suffering from what Ando identifiedjust before inventing instant ramenas the Fundamental Misunderstanding of Humanity. A unique memoir of hunger in its many forms, The Ramen King and I is about how we become slaves to our desires, and how to break free.

Details

  • Title The Ramen King and I
  • Author Raskin, Andy
  • Binding Hardback
  • Edition 1st/1st
  • Pages 304
  • Language EN
  • Publisher Gotham, New York, ET AL
  • Date 2009-05-07
  • ISBN 9781592404445

Media reviews

"To say The Ramen King and I is a wonderful, beautifully craftedmemoir about sex and fidelity and instant noodles only hints at thehumor and humanity of this book. I couldn't stop laughing, eventhough it was also sad, in that being-human-is-sometimes-a-sad-propositionkind of way. Andy Raskin has an insider's perspective onmale desire and Japanese culture, and a keen eye for the delicate,heartbreaking absurdities of both."
-Ruth Ozeki, author of My Year of Meats

"I ate this book in one sitting. Okay, three sittings. What I mean is Iloved it. It won me over from the start, and when it wasn't makingme hungry it made me think. Apparently I, too, battle against theFundamental Misunderstanding of Humanity."
-Po Bronson

"More raw than sushi... Raskin's journey is bizarre, enlightening, and delicious." -Pamela Drucker, author of Lust In Translation

Back to Top

More Copies for Sale

The Ramen King and I: How the Inventor of Instant Noodles Fixed My Love Life
Stock Photo: Cover May Be Different

The Ramen King and I: How the Inventor of Instant Noodles Fixed My Love Life

by Raskin, Andy

  • Used
Condition
UsedVeryGood
ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
9781592404445 / 1592404448
Quantity Available
1
Seller
Hillsboro, Ohio, United States
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 5 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
$2.99
$5.99 shipping to USA

Show Details

Description:
UsedVeryGood. Very good condition, but may have some minor wear to the cover or dust jacket, Pages are clean with little to no markings. May have name or inscription inside cover, Email with questions STOCK PHOTOS MAY VARY FROM THE ACTUAL ITEM. ACTUAL PHOTOS AVAIL. UPON REQUEST.
Item Price
$2.99
$5.99 shipping to USA
The Ramen King and I : How the Inventor of Instant Noodles Fixed My Love Life
Stock Photo: Cover May Be Different

The Ramen King and I : How the Inventor of Instant Noodles Fixed My Love Life

by Raskin, Andy

  • Used
Condition
Used - Very Good
ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
9781592404445 / 1592404448
Quantity Available
2
Seller
Mishawaka, Indiana, United States
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 5 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
$5.00
FREE shipping to USA

Show Details

Description:
Penguin Publishing Group. Used - Very Good. Former library book; may include library markings. Used book that is in excellent condition. May show signs of wear or have minor defects.
Item Price
$5.00
FREE shipping to USA
The Ramen King and I : How the Inventor of Instant Noodles Fixed My Love Life
Stock Photo: Cover May Be Different

The Ramen King and I : How the Inventor of Instant Noodles Fixed My Love Life

by Raskin, Andy

  • Used
Condition
Used - Very Good
ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
9781592404445 / 1592404448
Quantity Available
1
Seller
Reno, Nevada, United States
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 5 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
$5.00
FREE shipping to USA

Show Details

Description:
Penguin Publishing Group. Used - Very Good. Used book that is in excellent condition. May show signs of wear or have minor defects.
Item Price
$5.00
FREE shipping to USA
The Ramen King and I: How the Inventor of Instant Noodles Fixed My Love Life
Stock Photo: Cover May Be Different

The Ramen King and I: How the Inventor of Instant Noodles Fixed My Love Life

by Raskin, Andy

  • Used
  • very good
  • Hardcover
Condition
Used - Very Good
Binding
Hardcover
ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
9781592404445 / 1592404448
Quantity Available
1
Seller
St. Cloud, Minnesota, United States
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 4 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
$7.98
$3.50 shipping to USA

Show Details

Description:
Avery, 2009-05-07. Hardcover. Very Good. very good paperback.
Item Price
$7.98
$3.50 shipping to USA
The Ramen King and I : How the Inventor of Instant Noodles Fixed My Love Life

The Ramen King and I : How the Inventor of Instant Noodles Fixed My Love Life

by Andy Raskin

  • Used
  • very good
  • Hardcover
Condition
Used - Very Good
Binding
Hardcover
ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
9781592404445 / 1592404448
Quantity Available
2
Seller
Seattle, Washington, United States
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 4 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
$7.98
FREE shipping to USA

Show Details

Description:
Penguin Publishing Group, 2009. Hardcover. Very Good. May have limited writing in cover pages. Pages are unmarked. ~ ThriftBooks: Read More, Spend Less.Dust jacket quality is not guaranteed.
Item Price
$7.98
FREE shipping to USA
The Ramen King and I : How the Inventor of Instant Noodles Fixed My Love Life

The Ramen King and I : How the Inventor of Instant Noodles Fixed My Love Life

by Andy Raskin

  • Used
  • good
  • Hardcover
Condition
Used - Good
Binding
Hardcover
ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
9781592404445 / 1592404448
Quantity Available
1
Seller
Seattle, Washington, United States
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 4 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
$7.98
FREE shipping to USA

Show Details

Description:
Penguin Publishing Group, 2009. Hardcover. Good. Disclaimer:A copy that has been read, but remains in clean condition. All pages are intact, and the cover is intact. The spine may show signs of wear. Pages can include limited notes and highlighting, and the copy can include previous owner inscriptions. At ThriftBooks, our motto is: Read More, Spend Less.Dust jacket quality is not guaranteed.
Item Price
$7.98
FREE shipping to USA
The Ramen King and I : How the Inventor of Instant Noodles Fixed My Love Life

The Ramen King and I : How the Inventor of Instant Noodles Fixed My Love Life

by Andy Raskin

  • Used
  • very good
  • Hardcover
Condition
Used - Very Good
Binding
Hardcover
ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
9781592404445 / 1592404448
Quantity Available
2
Seller
Seattle, Washington, United States
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 4 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
$7.98
FREE shipping to USA

Show Details

Description:
Penguin Publishing Group, 2009. Hardcover. Very Good. Former library book; May have limited writing in cover pages. Pages are unmarked. ~ ThriftBooks: Read More, Spend Less.Dust jacket quality is not guaranteed.
Item Price
$7.98
FREE shipping to USA
The Ramen King and I: How the Inventor of Instant Noodles Fixed My Love Life

The Ramen King and I: How the Inventor of Instant Noodles Fixed My Love Life

by Raskin, Andy

  • Used
  • good
  • Hardcover
Condition
Used - Good
Binding
Hardcover
ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
9781592404445 / 1592404448
Quantity Available
1
Seller
Seattle, Washington, United States
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 4 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
$7.98
FREE shipping to USA

Show Details

Description:
Avery, 2009. Hardcover. Good. Missing dust jacket; Pages can have notes/highlighting. Spine may show signs of wear. ~ ThriftBooks: Read More, Spend Less.Dust jacket quality is not guaranteed.
Item Price
$7.98
FREE shipping to USA
The Ramen King And I How The Inventor Of Instant Noodles Fixed My Love  Life A Memoir
Stock Photo: Cover May Be Different

The Ramen King And I How The Inventor Of Instant Noodles Fixed My Love Life A Memoir

by Raskin, Andy

  • Used
  • Hardcover
  • first
Condition
Used - Very Good in Very Good dust jacket
Edition
First Printing
Binding
Hardcover
ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
9781592404445 / 1592404448
Quantity Available
1
Seller
Cooperstown, New York, United States
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 5 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
$10.00
$7.50 shipping to USA

Show Details

Description:
New York, ET AL: Gotham Books. Very Good in Very Good dust jacket. 2009. First Printing. Hardcover. 1592404448 .
Item Price
$10.00
$7.50 shipping to USA
The Ramen King and I: How the Inventor of Instant Noodles Fixed My Love Life
Stock Photo: Cover May Be Different

The Ramen King and I: How the Inventor of Instant Noodles Fixed My Love Life

by Andy Raskin

  • Used
  • Hardcover
Condition
Used: Good
Binding
Hardcover
ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
9781592404445 / 1592404448
Quantity Available
1
Seller
HOUSTON, Texas, United States
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 4 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
$10.37
FREE shipping to USA

Show Details

Description:
Gotham, 2009-05-07. Hardcover. Used: Good.
Item Price
$10.37
FREE shipping to USA