Reading before bedtime is a great way to unwind, so you sleep better. This month's book recommendations take you on a culinary world tour without having to leave the comfort of your bed.

Like getting a rush of heat from a Sichuan hot pot or inhaling the rich aroma of an Ethiopian coffee ceremony, reading about the authentic cuisine of a foreign culture can envelop you in a sensory experience that you don't want to end. 

In vivid detail, these adventurous authors bring you along for the ride as they travel to far-off locales, diving headfirst into vibrant cultures through their taste buds. 

From the comfort of your own bed, let these books introduce you to new and exciting people, places and, most importantly, meals.

A Cook's Tour: Global Adventures in Extreme Cuisines

With unabashed and honest prose, the late-Anthony Bourdain takes readers to 10 different countries to both taste and discover. This book was made as an accompaniment to Bourdain's former television series of the same name and features some of the most extreme and bizarre foods eaten around the world (iguana or haggis, anyone?).

While some of the meals highlighted are not for the faint of heart, Bourdain's real skill lies not in shocking his audience, but in his distinctive storytelling. Readers are swept up into the down-to-earth descriptions of the deeply authentic dishes he tries — and his accompanying cultural experiences.

A Fork in the Road: Tales of Food, Pleasure and Discovery on the Road

Editor James Oseland brings together a series of short stories from food writers and chefs, dishing up tales of delicacies from around the globe — from Sri Lankan egg hoppers and Finnish moose mousse to Peruvian pisco sours and Japanese pufferfish. 

Each of the meals featured is tied to immersive anecdotes that celebrate not just the food but the memorable people met along the way. The stories are thoughtful, witty, original and sometimes life-changing as they dig into 34 of the world's most interesting and tasty dishes.

Shark's Fin and Sichuan Pepper: A Sweet-Sour Memoir of Eating in China

Describing 15 years of visiting, living in and revisiting China, food writer and chef Fuchsia Dunlop reminisces on her multifaceted experiences and observations in this reflective memoir. 

After falling in love with the cuisine as a student abroad, she trained at a Sichuanese culinary school and spent years exploring the rich and varied world of Chinese food, meeting a number of remarkable characters on her journeys. Engaging and well-written, this book is a wonderfully informative look at China through the lens of its cuisines.

The right foods can actually help you snooze better, but there are some foods you should avoid before sleep — learn what those are and what you can replace them with when a late-night craving strikes.

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