Summaries and Customer Reviews are supplied by Amazon.com

Praise for How to Cook Everything by Mark Bittman:

"In his introduction to How to Cook Everything, Mark Bittman says, 'Anyone can cook, and most everyone should.' Now, hopefully everyone will -- this work is a rare achievement. Mark is in that pantheon of a few gifted cook/writers who make very, very good food simple and accessible. I read his recipes and my mouth waters. I read his directions and head for the kitchen. Bravo, Mark, for taking us away from take-out and back to the fun of food."
-- Lynne Rossetto Kasper, host of the international public radio show "The Splendid Table with Lynne Rossetto Kasper"

"Mark Bittman is the best home cook I know, and How to Cook Everything is the best basic cookbook I've seen."
-- Jean-Georges Vongerichten, award-winning chef/owner of Jean-Georges

"Useful to the novice cook or the professional chef, How to Cook Everything is a tour de force cookbook by Mark Bittman. Mark lends his considerable knowledge and clear, concise writing style to explanations of techniques and quick, classic recipes. This is a complete, reliable cookbook."
-- Jacques Pepin, chef, cookbook author, and host of his own PBS television series

"Sometimes all the things that a particular person does best come together in a burst of synergy, and the result is truly marvelous. This book is just such an instance. Mark Bittman is not only the best home cook we know, he is also a born teacher, a gifted writer, and a canny kitchen tactician who combines great taste with eminent practicality. Put it all together and you have How to Cook Everything, a cookbook that will inspire American home cooks not only today but for years to come."
-- John Willoughby and Chris Schlesinger, coauthors of License to Grill

Average Customer Rating:

The Minimalist writes a minimalist cookbook.

Customer Rating:

This is an excellent cookbook for a starting cook, and it is the first one I turn to when I have a pile of one type of vegetable. The recipes are very easy to follow, and it has clear and useful techniques. That being said, quite a few recipes (especially baking) are very bland. Oatmeal cookies turn out with excellent color and texture, but almost no taste. I've had this experience multiple times for this cookbook, and neither my wife or I have any desire to bake from it again.

It self-destructs	Customer Rating:
A great cookbook for today. However, I am now buying my 3rd copy because the binding keeps falling apart. Just a disgusting practice. Shame on them.

Best. Cooking book. Ever.

Customer Rating:

I've got a lot of cooking books. I like to cook, but I'm not terribly good at it, having only started cooking (and baking) in the last few years. This book is by far the best cooking book I've ever owned - can you imagine, reading a book on cooking this big from cover to cover? I did, and enjoyed every minute of it. And went back and read it again. Does it really cover everything? No, not really. But it does cover *almost* everything that I'm interested in cooking, and that's plenty. Not only that, but after 20 or so recipes, I've yet to find a single dud. For someone who's in the beginner to intermediate range, this is a must-have book.

My go-to cookbook	Customer Rating:
This book is my standard, go-to cookbook. It is extremely comprehensive and easy to follow. I gave away my copy of Joy of Cooking because I realized How to Cook Everything is the only basic cookbook I needed.

useful	Customer Rating:
This is the cookbook that gets used the most in my kitchen. The recipes are straightforward and easy to follow. I really appreciate the informative discussions about various ingredients and the best ways to cook them (like in the Joy of Cooking).