The Best Recipes in the World by Mark Bittman (2005, Hardcover)

I loved this book when I checked it out at the library, so I decided to find a copy on eBay. I chose to buy from a particular dealer because she described her copy as being new, yet when it arrived is was missing the publisher's dustjacket. The seller, realitychecksurvivor, accepted no responsibliity for her incorrect description which I now believe to be downright dishonest as she replied saying, "the book never came with a jacket." Which is B.S. according to the publisher and every major bookseller that carries this title. It is a well-known fact that booksellers throw away book covers and jackets so they can report the books as damaged and then sell them off as pure profit, which is literally stealing from the publisher. I still like the book, but I hate being ripped off by eBay dealers.

This book is excellent! I have made several recipes from this book, and all end up tasting authentic and delicious. It makes preparing dinner fun! I love asking my husband what country he would like for dinner, then turning to the index and finding recipes broken into countries/regions. Very easy to follow, most ingrediants are easy to come by. For the more difficult ingrediants, Mark Bittman gives you sources to contact. I highly recommend!

I bought this book for my son's girlfriend. I meant to buy my favorite all-round cookbook, Mark Bittman's "How to Cook Everything," but screwed up. Then this beautiful, huge book arrived and I was glad for the mistake (must have been Karma!). I of course paged through this book and ended up getting a copy of it for myself. Mark Bittman is a charming, funny and interesting foodie and the recipes are incredible - he has a show on PBS currently running called "How to Cook Everything" (hmm, where did they think of that title). One of our favorites is a VERY simple Japanese cabbage pickle that has three ingredients - Napa cabbage, kosher salt and (optional) soy sauce. If you are an adventurous cook and love great cookbooks, don't hesitate to buy this one. It is indeed a winner.

Even though I don't spend much TV time and wasn't very familiar with Mark Bittmann I was intrigued by reviews of his book so I gave it an Ebay try. I'm so glad that I did. If you would like a food book that gently expands your culinary horizons with background and insight this is a book for you. Easy, quick access is afforded by a good index and logical groupings. Exotic recipes are presented in clear, easy-to-follow formats and you can sample world cuisines on an entry level without becoming overwhelmed or befuddled. Many of these recipes fit well into the "make it quick, easy, and healthy" category and will help give your diet variety and interest. Happy eating!

In reference to the first reviewer who said that the seller was a liar, I just bought this book from a book club, and it did not come with a dustjacket. You might want to do a little research before being so nasty. Just a thought.