Worried about the economy? Concerned about your love life? I never would have guessed, but it turns out that Momofuko Ando, inventor of such hi-sodium, low-cost, easy-to-make treats as Chikin Ramen and Cup Noodles, can help with everything you need.

Cure your hunger for humor and hope with The Ramen King and I: How the Inventor of Instant Noodles Fixed My Love Life by Andy Raskin. The book is easy to read but hard to forget. It's a memoir, a self-help book, an ode to Japanese culture, a celebration of determination, and a funny, funny quest all rolled into one. In it, Raskin writes about his fascination with "Mr. Noodle," Momofuko Ando. How does this fascination help his love life? Fate, self-discipline, risk-taking, and commitment all play a part, as do Ando's books (including gems such as "Magic Noodles" and "Mankind is Noodlekind"). There's plenty of Japanese food, trombone playing, culinary manga-reading, travel to Japan, and musings on life and love in there, too. I thoroughly enjoyed it, and I can't wait to meet the author. ~Tegan