If you are familar with Cooking Illustrated you know the name Christopher Kimball. This book is a wonderful educational guide in baking. He investigates each recipe and variations on it completely. Before the actually recipe he suggests proper baking equipment, food ingredients, and where you can obtain all of these products. This book contains a wide variety of recipes for cookies, cakes, pies, puddings, and so much more. I like this book because it carries with it a nice cross section of all types of desserts rather than being just a book that specializes in pies, or cakes. The recipes are excellent, and it makes a nice read as well.