“The Anthony Bourdain Reader” is a new collection featuring essays, fiction, and fragments from the late Anthony Bourdain. Known for his TV shows like “Parts Unknown” and “No Reservations,” Bourdain also considered himself a writer. His mother was an editor at the New York Times, and his influences included famous writers like Jack Kerouac, William Burroughs, and Hunter S Thompson. Despite his successful TV career, Bourdain’s early writing attempts in the form of two crime novels received decent reviews but didn’t sell well. This collection offers an uneven but captivating glimpse into Bourdain’s restless mind.