Reviews

Start Here: Instructions for Becoming a Better Cook by Sohla El-Waylly

torturedreadersdept's review against another edition

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informative inspiring relaxing medium-paced

5.0

babywren's review

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informative inspiring

5.0

canadiantiquarian's review

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informative slow-paced

2.5

This is the typical cookbook where the writer positions their approach like it’s new and game-changing, when really, it’s just the same message shared before, in a slightly different package, often where others have already explained it better. 

It tries to be everything at once,  from intricate science to basic recipes, from breakfasts to candy making, managing to be both over and under explained. There are drawings to try and present various bits of food science like gluten development, yet no discussion of how protein in flour varies between brand and region and has a big impact on your baking. There is a section on how to sharpen knives with a whetstone, but nothing about adapting to different stove styles even though low on gas and induction can be very different. 

And the large fonts and various page style choices make it a nightmare to read through services like Libby. 

teas_tales_toebeans's review

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informative inspiring lighthearted fast-paced

4.0

aep29's review against another edition

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informative inspiring lighthearted relaxing medium-paced

4.5

the_milof's review

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adventurous challenging informative inspiring lighthearted relaxing medium-paced

5.0

jkribbit's review

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informative

4.25

Pros: the education and information given in this book is immense and super helpful! I learned a lot! There are several recipes I can’t wait to try. 

Cons: a lot of the info is given in long paragraphs in large font. It’s makes the books thicker and heavier and it also made it a challenge for me not to skim or skip. Use of bullet points or shorter paragraphs (design choices) would have helped. Also, a lot of the ingredients in the recipes are very foreign to me and didn’t appeal to my tastes. Sometimes I’m looking to expand my horizons and try more diverse foods. But I also know which ingredients I for sure do not enjoy. I passed over a lot of recipes. I admit to being a very picky eater. That being said, I can apply a lot of the knowledge I gained to ingredients I do enjoy! 

divyab's review

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informative slow-paced

5.0

ac_rva's review

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challenging informative medium-paced

3.0

trappednerve's review

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informative inspiring lighthearted

5.0