Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

I was SUPER EXCITED to get this book and after reading it, I quickly felt like a kid on Christmas morning that awoke to a GIANT, shiny and well wrapped gift; only to open it and find clothes and rocks (to weigh it down)…funny for everyone except the child. The cover is vibrant and enticing but like the old adage proves correct once more, you most definitely can’t judge this book by its cover. Within you will find 178 pages which contain 101 recipes (kind of) and ONLY 8 pictures are of those actual dishes. I found it odd that of 16 total pictures; they only used 8 constructively and even included a picture of a blank textured wall (I wish I was kidding). The page layout is confounding as many pages only contain 3 or 4 lines of text, placed in a way as to make the page look less empty (I assume). It seems obvious that these MANY VOIDS would have been better served by photos of the dishes described. The first chapter is mostly fluff but I could some of what is in there being very useful to someone very new to a plant based diet. Definitions of sugar, maple syrup, baking soda and potatoes are included for those who have recently suffered amnesia, whilst things like how to make coleslaw were left out, instead, listed in recipes as “bag prepackaged coleslaw mix”. The whole first chapter is seems to be targeting the newest of the brave kitchen soldiers, building your confidence only to quickly pop your excitement balloon. Many of the recipes are complex requiring an hour or more, specialty ingredients like TVP, and an advanced culinary aptitude (salads less so). For perspective, I gave this book to my wife as she wanted to surprise us with a COVID self-isolated soul food feast, only to come sulking back with the look of fear and disappointment (remember the popped balloon). I found the writing to be adequate, occasionally less so and occasionally thoughtfully so. Fun Fact: for an additional $11-$13 you can purchase a signed copy by the first time author directly. In a way, that is how the book felt to me. It felt more important than it was, drawing on content from several online sources with a layout akin to better books but without the content. I think just about anyone that gets this thing is going to wish there was an option to have spent an extra $11-$13 for a copy with pictures ;) If you made it this far and want to know, did I actually use it and how did the meals turn out then on that front there is some positive news. Of the 12 or so final products + a dessert or three and we thoroughly enjoyed most of them. Summation, if you are accustomed to well written cook books with plenty of pictures and explanations like that of a Thug Kitchen, Betty Crocker, Forks Over Knives, etc. then know that this is not that. It’s not horrible but it’s not great, so go in with both eyes open and perhaps this book has a place on some people’s shelves, though I’d imagine it only as a collector of dust.