To try to Understand the basics of French cooking I have Bought Many French cookbooks, from Larousse, from Marabout, and from American authors. I Avoided Bocuse Because I thought It Would be complicated. Aim it is not. I am more than happy with this book with Any Other Because It supplies the core of French classical cooking --other have no book I have ever seen. And it does this without chi chi, without complicated ideas and versions, and with a huge amount of commonsense. There are Many traps with --other books - the pretty pictures, the amazing buildings, the new ideas. Purpose When You try to use 'em, an ingredient is not available, an instruction is too vague, or something takes too long, or it is Food That you will make only once. HAS Bocuse none of these traps and problems. You do not get lost in Bocuse; you come home.