Emory grad Adam Richman promotes 'America the Edible' at the MJCAA Book Festival 11/6

The book is all Richman. It's more cerebral. But not a drag.

"It's deeply personal," he said. "I didn't want it to be a textbook or deeply academic. While there are moments where it's a little thicker, it's meant to be fun.... I think my fans are not necessarily the ones who fall into the category of snooty foodies. If one of those people reads this and says, 'Gosh, pineapples, ham and coconuts are not indigenous to Hawaii. I thought those were distinctly Hawaiian!' Even if that's the only takeaway and they get a couple of laughs, that's great."

Richman's memories of Emory as an international studies major were warm and fuzzy. Then, he kept a journal and only years later did he realize how important food was. After a break-up with a girlfriend, he remembers spending time at a now-closed eatery called Virginia's. "The people were warm," he said. "The food was good. Even the music was good. I realize I was writing about the eating experience. As much if not more so than the food itself, the eating experience is shaped by so much more than what was on your plate."

Later, as he began watching food shows and reading food books, he got hooked on culinary anthropology, which became the core of his book.

He loves to write and wanted to give readers a chance to look at food in a deeper way.

Richman waxed romantic about his time as a broadcast liaison during the 1996 Atlanta Olympics. "It was a great learning tool," he said. "It was awesome to actually be there, to be part of something so much larger than myself. And in my own backyard! I got to go back to my Toco Hills apartment each day after seeing Kerri Strug do that valut on a ug leg. To see Muhammad Ali lighting that torch. I don't have a Woodstock. I don't have a moment necessarily that big. But that's certainly pretty big. I still have the uniform-issued polo shirt they gave us!"

He also had good memories his time here from 1996 to 1998 while acting. He did plays at Theater in the Square in Marietta, the 14th Street Playhouse and a  Shakespeare tour all over Georgia. "I was one of those guys drinking at Manuel's going to open calls," he said.

As for "Man v. Food," a fourth season is set to start taping early next year. He said there will be "tweaks" but won't say specifically how they will play out.

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