How to Feed a Dictator

Saddam Hussein, Idi Amin, Enver Hoxha, Fidel Castro, and Pol Pot Through the Eyes of Their Cooks

By: Witold Szablowski, Antonia Lloyd-Jones - translator

Narrated by: Michael Crouch, Peter Francis James, Maggi-Meg Reed

Length: 8 hrs and 13 mins

Publisher's summary

“Amazing stories.... Intimate portraits of how [these five ruthless leaders] were at home and at the table.” (Lulu Garcia-Navarro, NPR’s Weekend Edition Sunday)

Anthony Bourdain meets Kapuściński in this chilling look from within the kitchen at the appetites of five of the 20th century's most infamous dictators, by the acclaimed author of Dancing Bears and What’s Cooking in the Kremlin.

What was Pol Pot eating while two million Cambodians were dying of hunger? Did Idi Amin really eat human flesh? And why was Fidel Castro obsessed with one particular cow?

Traveling across four continents, from the ruins of Iraq to the savannahs of Kenya, Witold Szabłowski tracked down the personal chefs of five dictators known for the oppression and massacre of their own citizens—Iraq’s Saddam Hussein, Uganda’s Idi Amin, Albania’s Enver Hoxha, Cuba’s Fidel Castro, and Cambodia’s Pol Pot—and listened to their stories over sweet-and-sour soup, goat-meat pilaf, bottles of rum, and games of gin rummy. Dishy, deliciously listenable, and dead serious, How to Feed a Dictator provides a knife’s-edge view of life under tyranny.

©2020 Witold Szablowski; Antonia Lloyd-Jones - translation (P)2020 Penguin Audio

Critic reviews

Winner, Gourmand World Cookbook Awards

“A very accomplished piece of historical journalism and brilliant story-telling . . . Just an outright pleasure to read.”—Bill Buford, bestselling author of Heat and Dirt

“Fascinating . . . Moving . . . Reveal[s] the complicated web of feelings (and morals) involved in cooking for a despot . . . A chilling read.”—The Washington Post

“Lively . . . Szabłowski . . . devoted three years to tracking down and personally interviewing the cooks . . . [and] provide[s] historical context for the worlds in which these tyrants operated and makes sure we remember how evil they were, even as we read about their fondness for grilled cheese with honey or refusal to eat dried elephant meat.”—The Wall Street Journal

Masterpiece

Excellent idea, beautifully executed. I have enjoyed every word of this story. And, as a native Pole, living in the United States of America, I can appreciate such a very thorough translation.

A culinary journey through dictatorship

“How to Feed a Dictator" offers a captivating and enlightening exploration into the culinary world of dictatorships. From lavish banquets to secret midnight snacks, the book delves into the intriguing realm of how cooks served those in power.

One of the most captivating aspects of the book is its ability to seamlessly blend knowledge with entertainment. Through vivid storytelling and meticulous research, the author sheds light on the often-overlooked role of chefs and cooks in shaping the lives of dictators. Each anecdote serves as a window into the complex personalities and quirks of these authoritarian figures.

The narrative not only educates readers about historical events but also invites them to indulge in the culinary delights of bygone eras. From extravagant feasts to clandestine meals, the book paints a rich tapestry of flavors that tantalize the senses and ignite the imagination.

What truly sets "How to Feed a Dictator" apart is its ability to humanize these larger-than-life figures through their relationship with food. Despite their ruthless reigns, the book reveals moments of vulnerability and humanity, as dictators indulge in their culinary pleasures.

In conclusion, "How to Feed a Dictator" is a must-read for history enthusiasts, food connoisseurs, and anyone fascinated by the intersection of power and gastronomy. With its wealth of knowledge and engaging storytelling, this book offers a unique perspective on some of the most notorious figures in history.

MMMM, food.

A great story combining cooking tidbits with mini bios. Cool stuff here. One of the narrators is one I've heard of, the others, no. Still, a great effort by all of them. 10/10.

Utterly Fascinating!

The most fascinating book I’ve read that should be required reading for international poly sci and international affairs. It is a work of daring and bold journalistic achievement. Szablowski obtained the oral testimonies of the chefs who served dictators and asked these culinarians the hard questions we’d all want to ask. The chef’s answers are a revelation of how to survive, and more importantly, how to manipulate, a tyrant. And the insights into the daily lives, the tastes and proclivities, of these evil men, their lavish generosities juxtaposed against their capricious cruelty, render these twentieth century tyrants more inscrutable ever. How could someone capable of such wanton cruelty have such a fondness for ice cream? But also, why shouldn’t he? Ice cream is delicious and a dictator is only human after all, just another animal with needs, wants, and a reward center.