All You Knead Is Bread: Over 50 Recipes from Around the World to Bake & Share
I bought this to help me expand away from a simple loaf and uncovered not only fantastic recipes but a great narrative on what bread is and what it means to people.  The recipes are easy to follow and most suggest how you can alter it yourself if you want to.  If you get stuck on technique  there are also videos made by the author on her website.The narrative is written with a personal touch that has made me smile while reading and the recipes with instruction that almost allows you smell the end product before you have the joy of taking out of the oven yourself and sharing it.Jane Mason's 'All you knead is Bread' is a wonderful book, and an excellent resource for any kitchen bookshelf.It's  informative and interesting, with beautiful prose, excellent photographs, easy-to-follow recipes and interesting anecdotes of travel/bread customs from around the world (who knew that if you dropped  bread in Armenia, you had to pick it up and place in a high place (tree  etc) to show respect?)The authors style makes it easy for beginners, as well as intermediate and advanced cooks.I ordered this book as a present  for someone else, but have enjoyed it so much, I am keeping it for myself. In 3 days I have made 3 breads -with no disasters. I am a novice  & £200 spent on books by "the famous experts" has left me confused & unsuccessful.  But this book is different, this woman is a teacher. Simple step by step instructions even step by step photographs. The narrative sucked me in with easy to follow recipes for really interesting  breads. The book even feels good - lovely slightly glossy pages that will withstand prod-ing sticky fingers. Fantastic.