My mistake. I should have read the reviews closer. The people who think it's great are professional chefs! It's not that the recipes aren't clear, but when you are a beginner you really need pictures. I thought that something with University would be a teaching book, but 18 photos do not a "lavishly illustrated" book make. And without them you're basically stuck as to how it should look when you're finished ... if you are a beginner like myself.