By far the most essential book for every cook. It needs to be updated for the 21st century but it explains the why and how of most traditional techniques and has good diagrams. I own several copies, and the womenin my family love to use it as a reference book. In some editions there are errors e.g half a paragraph is omitted which is a pity because every paragraph is concise and essential. Nevertheless, it is as essential to a cook as a dictionary is to a reader.