Anyone who has a collection of cookbooks has probably done it.  Done what?  Why purchased a cookbook that turned out to be a dust collector! One that they used maybe once or maybe not at all!  The points on this page are meant to help you do a better job of choosing your next cookbook.  Remember that bargain cookbooks are NO bargain if they become just another decoration on your shelf!

1. Format you should consider how the book opens. The best format is one that allows the book to open flat -- a spiral bound cookbook.  Have you ever tried to use a huge hardcover book that just won't say open?  I have and, as you probably know, it is very frustrating!
2. Good Photography is important, too.  It makes the book appetizing, to say the least and some people even really enjoy being able to see what a recipe should look like when it is finished.  Pictures also serve to inspire us when we are looking for a meal idea. Some nights choosing what to cook is difficult and I can use all the inspiration I can get!
3. Clear Instructions is a pretty basic point.  A cookbook, naturally, is better if the instructions are simple and easy-to-follow.  This point varies of course with the degree of skill that the cook has.  A beginner needs to pick books that are appropriate to his or her ability. An advanced cook will not need to have as many steps written out.
4. Personality is not necessary but we aren't likely to enjoy a book if we are not taken by its personality or style.  People love Jean Pare's Company's Coming cookbooks because they have a friendly and down-to-earth feel. 
5. Theme is a personal choice and varies according to what you are looking for but a cookbook without a theme is only a gathering of recipes.  You want recipes that you know you are interested in cooking and that your family and/or friends will eat whether that be healthy, comfort food, Mexican, French, vegetarian or whatever.
6. Extra features can be helpful and might include things like ingredient substitutions.   Have you ever wanted to make pancakes that require buttermilk but had no buttermilk on hand? Having a recommendation for a substitue on hand is very helpful.
7. This point is a surefire way to pick a good cookbook. It is truely helpful and perhaps the closest thing to a guarantee you will get of the quality of a cookbook. Personal recommendations.  They can come from different sources -- like family and friends.  If your sister loves a cookbook, chances are that it is a pretty good cookbook!

I hope these points have given you a few things to think about when you choose a cookbook.  Whether you are a casual or a serious collector, I hope you will drop by my store's cookbook section for a visit!

Brenda