Book Review: The Ins-N-Outs of In-N-Out Burger

When Lynsi Snyder's grandparents founded In-N-Out Burger in 1948, they built it with a passion for quality and service that Lynsi embraced at a young age. After starting as a store associate at age seventeen, she then worked in other departments, gaining first-hand experience with almost every aspect of the family business until she became president in 2010. She has led the company through explosive growth––today, there are three-hundred and eighty stores and counting––and is deeply committed to the well-being of the In-N-Out Burger family.

In-N-Out Burger has drawn fiercely loyal fans––from professional chefs and burger aficionados to celebrities and scores of everyday customers––who not only crave the burgers, fries, and milkshakes but also come back again and again for the community.

The Ins-N-Outs of In-N-Out Burger will be published on October 17, 2023. Nelson Books provided an early galley for review.

I spent a week for several summers around the turn of the century visiting my friends in San Diego, California, to go to Comic-Con. Inevitably, we would have at least one run to In-N-Out Burger (sometimes more). That is how I had my first taste of their fantastic food. I am a big fan of burgers and a fan of their burgers as well. So, I was eager to read this book to find out the story behind the business.

Lysni's passion and pride in her family's business gives this book a welcoming tone. You don't have to be a fan of the food to appreciate the story of dedicated work ethics and the desire to put out a quality product with a quality staff of associates. She is also very upfront about faith and how that contributed to the foundation upon which the successful business was built. Finally, she does not shy away from difficult topics and problems that the family encountered over the decades. That makes this a very fair representation of the facts.

I enjoyed hearing about the origins of the secret menu items as well as the connection a certain comedy classic film from 1963 that happens to be an all-time favorite of mine too. The insider's guide sections at the end were also very informative.