Unreasonable Hospitality

The Remarkable Power of Giving People More than They Expect

By: Will Guidara

Narrated by: Will Guidara

Length: 8 hrs and 37 mins

Publisher's summary

The must-listen New York Times bestseller that's redefining hospitality and inspiring people in every industry.

- Featured in FX's The Bear and Showtime's Billions
- JP Morgan NextList Pick

Will Guidara was twenty-six when he took the helm of Eleven Madison Park, a struggling two-star brasserie that had never quite lived up to its majestic room. Eleven years later, EMP was named the best restaurant in the world.

How did Guidara pull off this unprecedented transformation? Radical reinvention, a true partnership between the kitchen and the dining room—and memorable, over-the-top, bespoke hospitality. Guidara’s team surprised a family who had never seen snow with a magical sledding trip to Central Park after their dinner; they filled a private dining room with sand, complete with mai-tais and beach chairs, to console a couple with a cancelled vacation. And his hospitality extended beyond those dining at the restaurant to his own team, who learned to deliver praise and criticism with intention; why the answer to some of the most pernicious business dilemmas is to give more—not less; and the magic that can happen when a busser starts thinking like an owner.

Today, every business can choose to be a hospitality business—and we can all transform ordinary transactions into extraordinary experiences. Featuring sparkling stories of his journey through restaurants, with the industry’s most famous players like Daniel Boulud and Danny Meyer, Guidara urges us all to find the magic in what we do—for ourselves, the people we work with, and the people we serve.

©2022 Will Guidara (P)2022 Penguin Audio

Critic reviews

“Guidara makes his nonfiction debut with an enthusiastic guide for leaders [and asserts] sage advice about leadership.”–Kirkus Review

"Will Guidara is one of the very best in the hospitality business, but this book is for everyone. His insights on how to be a great entrepreneur cut through the noise."–David Chang, chef and founder of Momofuku, and host of Ugly Delicious

“Working alongside Will Guidara is the ultimate masterclass in how to thoughtfully improve the lives of those around you. He is now sharing his truly remarkable gift with the world in this keenly observant and heartfelt must-read, for anyone looking to stand out from the pack.”–Dan Levy, Emmy® award winning writer, actor, director, and producer of Schitt's Creek

Human connection

There were quite a lot of references of people and restaurants, especially in the beginning, which didn’t click for me because I’m not in the food industry and I don’t live in NYC nor the USA.

But once past this I enjoyed the book immensely, it has a lot of meaningful insight and advice on how to connect with your customers as well as on running a business.

Very inspirational, thank you Mr. Guidara!

One of the best books of 2022

This book contains so many compelling examples, and such a good story of the author’s growth and maturity in the area of hospitality. These principles apply to any field, certainly not just the restaurant business. The author has a great reading voice and his reading performance is top notch. Well worth the time investment!

Unreasonable Hospitality is an epiphany!

Like many of you I read (or listen to) a lot of leadership/business books. I started listening to "Unreasonable Hospitality" on Friday morning and finished it in a weekend. It's now Monday evening and I have purchased over 30 copies (and counting) to share with members of my team,.. my colleagues... my family and friends.

Will Guidara shares important leadership concepts that are lessons for everyone. And by delivering them through the lens of hospitality (the ACT of hospitality, not just the hospitality industry) he delivers something truly thought provoking. How many leadership/business books have ever moved you to tears? This one just might. Guidara picks up where books like Danny Meyer's "Setting The Table" and Simon Sinek's "Start With Why" left off and raises the bar to new heights. This is not just a good read... it is an important read for leaders in any industry.

There are a handful of books that I own multiple copies of because I never want to be too far away from them - whether I am at the office at home or on the road... this is now one of those books!

Yeah, I kinda liked it.

Unreasonable Hospitality is Wonderfully Audacious!

Will Guidara masterfully and eloquently articulates the beautiful concept of Unreasonable Hospitality and it resonates not only in business, but in all aspects of life. Guidara is witty, charming, and honest as he brings the reader along on his climb to the top- in the world of restauranteurs. His candidness is refreshing and you will feel yourself not only cheering him on throughout the book, but also being cheered on as you attempt to see the world through this wonderfully audacious lens of Unreasonable Hospitality. This is an absolute must read/listen! ... Just be sure to listen until the very very end!

Unreasonably good graduate course on making my architectural services business better.

Will shares the ups and downs of seeking to a little bit better with each iteration. Remarkable journey recorded to anyone who must work with others to make life better for their each other and their customers and clients.
Enjoy the journey, Don’t forget the goal is warmth and meaningful service to and with others.

Excellent

As a business owner, this is on my top 5 best books ever! I’m recommending it to all my peers.

Love authors reading their own work

This is like sitting down with a super smart guy who ACTUALLY did the work - he's not a a reporter sharing what he thinks of someone else's story - he's sharing his insights from his personal experience and it is written and performed as if he spent a career in journalism. Bravo. A very fine meal for the mind.

Most Books are Black and White, this one, color!

Hospitality, the creative side of guest experience! This book was fun, challenging, thought provoking and a beautifully told and delivered story from a world class storyteller. Will Guidara, thank you! I did listen all the way to the end and was still hoping for more!

LOVED this book!

This book was so inspiring, it makes me want to be the best in my field. Will you are a genius!

A great listen

I don't work in the hospitality industry, so for me, this was an enlightening listen. Will's love and passion for the customer experience was so evident throughout the book, and his message can be applied across other industries. Very enjoyable