Questions/Ideas for Discussion

Thanks to Sudha P. for helping create these questions. If you'd like Andy to participate in your book club gathering by phone, Internet chat, or in person, email him at andy@andyraskin.com.

  • In The Ramen King and I, Andy transcribes the "voice" in his head. Do you have a voice in your head? If so, what is it telling you?
  • Say "I wanna ___!" three times, loudly. Each time, fill in the blank with the first thing that pops into your head. If you feel like it, try to do one of the things you screamed about (without making an appointment).
  • If you were to write letters to God (or a stand-in of your choosing) about your past relationships, what patterns (good or bad) do you think would emerge?
  • What, in your opinion, did Momofuku Ando mean by the "Fundamental Misunderstanding of Humanity?"
  • If a sushi chef told you that you were "not ready yet" for his best fatty tuna, would you stay or go?
  • How did reading The Ramen King and I affect your understanding of your own desires (romantic or otherwise)?
  • Reviewers have commented on the book's unusual structure. One praised it as "a tangle of threads, but one that succeeds." Did the structure work for you? Why or why not?
  • At its core, what is this book about?