The best 18 Cook Books books

Eating and cooking have always been crucial to our survival, but over time they have also become a subject of cultural and scientific interest. In Consider the Fork (2012), author Bee Wilson blends history, anthropology and technology to tell the fascinating story of the evolution of cooking, while also taking a closer look at the creation of cooking tools and how they have shaped our culture and eating behavior.

• Cooking fans and food lovers
• Anyone interested in the history and development of food
• People fascinated by the connections between food and culture

The Paleo Manifesto (2013) is the go-to guide to going paleo. It explains why the Paleo diet is in sync with our ancestors’ diet, and how you can use humanity’s anthropological and evolutionary history to get fit, feel great and lead the healthy lifestyle you’ve always wanted to.

• Anybody looking for a sustainable, intelligent diet
• People tired of calorie-counting methods to lose weight
• Anyone interested in the history and development of the human diet

The Plant Paradox (2017) alerts us to the dangers of eating seemingly healthy plant foods. It explores the differences between our diets and those of our ancestors’ and tells us which food products we should eat and which we should avoid to improve our digestion and maintain our optimal weight.

• People who want to lose weight
• Those who want to start eating healthily
• Anyone interested in nutrition

In Pursuit of Garlic (2012) peels back the thin, papery skin to reveal the inner truths of the miraculous allium whose exquisite flavor and restorative properties have made it a kitchen staple for millennia. A deep dive into the plant’s history, cultivation and culinary and medical uses, this rich exploration of the “divinely odorous bulb” is jam-packed with tasty morsels for cooks, gardeners and history buffs.

• Garlic connoisseurs
• Gardeners
• Food history buffs

Flour Water Salt Yeast (2012) by Ken Forkish is a guide to the principles underlying high-quality baking, that you can apply to your own baking at home. By learning the fundamentals and developing a good technique, you can master the art of home baking and develop your own individual baking style.

• Experienced home bakers looking to up their game
• Baking novices who don’t know where to start
• Anyone looking to develop an exciting new skill.

The Alice B. Toklas Cook Book (1954) is as much a cookbook as it is a window into the louche world of Parisian expats before World War II. We follow Toklas and her partner, the writer Gertrude Stein, as they traipse all over the country in their Ford Model T, entertaining art luminaries like Picasso and Hemingway, collecting recipes along the way. By cooking Toklas’ recipes, we have the rare opportunity to participate in a long-gone age of carefree sensuality. 

• Anyone who loves a good, wine-soaked dinner party
• Farm-to-table fans
• Conscious carnivores

The Inspired Vegan (2012) is a plant-based cookbook featuring original recipes as well as reimaginings of traditional soul food favorites, from johnnycakes to jambalaya. But it’s also a collage of inspiration – author Bryant Terry annotates recipes with recommendations for music, literature, and art to nourish not only readers’ appetites, but their creativity and culinary experimentalism. 

• People looking to break out of their cooking ruts
• Home gardeners – or people who would like to be
• Anyone who thinks that vegan food is boring tofu and bland beans

The Kitchen Counter Cooking School (2011) is a practical guide to mastering the art of good home cooking. Kathleen Flinn set out to equip nine insecure home cooks with vital kitchen skills. They learned how to wield a knife confidently, roast a chicken, and bake a mean loaf of bread. But even more importantly, they learned to value food and to make conscious choices about what they ate and how they shopped for food. In these blinks, Flinn compiles the key lessons from her workshops to inspire any home cook.

• Aspirational cooks who want to wow their friends with new recipes 
• Tired parents looking for quick, healthy recipes to feed the kids after a long day at work 
• Anyone interested in how to live – and eat – in a more ethical, sustainable way

Modern Comfort Food (2020) is Ina Garten’s twelfth cookbook, focusing on all-American homestyle favorites to make us feel cozy and cared for. With her trademark chic yet relatable Hamptons style, Ina serves up comforting recipes for every meal of the day, from breakfast to cocktail hour to dessert.

• Anyone who isn’t into fancy food
• People craving cozy vibes
• Those wanting to get good and hungry before lunch

Eat Better, Feel Better (2021) is a guide to cultivating a balanced diet. Based on Giada De Laurentiis’s personal journey to transforming her health, it reveals how you can change your diet to control inflammation and improve your well-being.

• Health-conscious foodies
• Anyone suffering from burnout, digestive problems, or fatigue
• Fans of Giada De Laurentiis

The Art of Simple Food (2007) is much more than just a cookbook – it’s also a resource for how to think about food, eating, cooking, and entertaining. Renowned chef and restaurateur Alice Waters starts from the very beginning: excellent ingredients. She then teaches skills and recipes layer by layer, in the same way she builds flavor in a dish. 

• Anyone curious about “California cuisine”
• Those who don’t want to fuss with fancy recipes
• People looking for calm, soothing cooking energy

The Art of Fermentation (2012) is an award-winning exploration of fermentation – a biological process that offers a key to understanding our species’ evolution and culture. From the emergence of life on Earth to alcohol-loving bats and the art of making sauerkraut, Sandor Katz leaves no stone unturned in this gripping account of the natural and human history of fermentation. 

• Home cooks 
• Natural history buffs
• Healthy eaters

Mastering Homebrew (2015) is an accessible guide to the art of making beer. This practical handbook gives a step-by-step overview of the whole process from brewing to bottling.

• Budding brewers looking to make their first batch
• Seasoned drinkers seeking to deepen their beer knowledge
• Anyone curious about making beer at home

Juicing for Beginners (2013) is a comprehensive guidebook that tells you everything you need to know to get started on juicing. It covers the basics of juicing, from its health benefits and machine types, to different beginner-friendly recipes to try. 

• Those new to juicing
• People seeking to lose weight
• Anyone looking to live a healthier lifestyle

Meals She Eats (2023) combines practical advice on PCOS with easy-to-follow recipes to manage the disorder’s symptoms. Drawn from the authors’ own experiences, it shares lifestyle changes and strategies that have proven effective for them. 

• Women with PCOS
• Women suffering from period-related issues 
• Anyone who wants to eat healthier

Bread Baking for Beginners by Bonnie Ohara is a comprehensive guide for anyone who wants to start baking their own bread at home. It covers everything from essential equipment and ingredients to different baking techniques and troubleshooting common problems. With clear instructions and helpful tips, this book will empower even the most novice bakers to create delicious homemade bread.

• Aspiring bread bakers who want to learn the basics of making homemade bread

• People who enjoy the process of creating and experimenting with different bread recipes

• Individuals looking to incorporate freshly baked bread into their daily meals and snacks

Tartine Bread by Chad Robertson is a comprehensive guide to baking delicious and artisanal bread at home. With detailed instructions and beautiful photographs, the book takes you through the process of creating sourdough bread from start to finish. From making your own starter to mastering the art of shaping and scoring, this book is a must-have for bread enthusiasts.

• Home bakers who want to master the art of making delicious and artisanal bread

• People who are passionate about traditional baking techniques and sourdough

• Food enthusiasts who enjoy experimenting with different flavors and textures in their bread

The Six O'Clock Scramble Meal Planner by Aviva Goldfarb is a practical guide to help busy families plan and prepare healthy, delicious meals in a time-efficient manner. Filled with weekly meal plans, grocery lists, and easy-to-follow recipes, this book aims to make dinnertime less stressful and more enjoyable for everyone.

• Individuals or families looking to save time and reduce stress around meal planning

• People who want to eat healthier but struggle with finding the time to cook nutritious meals

• Those who are open to trying new recipes and expanding their culinary repertoire