Books About Food (Cookbooks) Recommendations - Fable

No one who cooks, cooks alone. Even at her most solitary, a cook in the kitchen is surrounded by generations of cooks past, the advice and menus of cooks present, the wisdom of cookbook writers.
- Laurie Colwin

Skip to Cooking book selections

Where Can I Read Books on Cooking?

Books about cooking and food are the best self-improvement books, as readers learn how to improve their lives from generations of great cooks and food writers.

The reading of cookbooks and food literature can also provide readers with a better understanding of what healthy eating and good cooking actually look like. Food writer Laurie Colwin explained this another way:

“No one who cooks, cooks alone. Even at her most solitary, a cook in the kitchen is surrounded by generations of cooks past, the advice and menus of cooks present, the wisdom of cookbook writers.”

Where Are the Best Books About Cooking?

Fable was created to share the health and wellness benefits of reading. A great cookbook or book about food will put you on the path to better health and better living.

Vegetable Kingdom

By Bryant Terry

Food justice activist and author Bryant Terry breaks down the fundamentals of plant-based cooking in Vegetable Kingdom, showing you how to make delicious meals from popular vegetables, grains, and legumes.

Nutrition Stripped

By McKel Hill

Discover just how deliciously simple whole foods cooking can be with this essential cookbook, based on the popular Nutrition Stripped blog, featuring more than 100 exciting and good-for-you recipes and color photography throughout.

Simply Julia

By Julia Turshen

Beloved New York Times bestselling cookbook author Julia Turshen returns with her first collection of recipes featuring a healthier take on the simple, satisfying comfort food for which she’s known.

The Anti-Anxiety Diet

By Ali Miller

The Anti-Anxiety Diet Cookbook features over 75 tasty recipes that will reduce inflammation, strengthen your gut, and nourish your body, all while helping balance your mood and emotions.

Fit Men Cook

By Kevin Curry

Kevin Curry, fitness expert and social media sensation, shares everything you need to live a healthy life each day—from grocery lists to common dieting pitfalls to his ten commandments of meal prep.

Soul Food Love

By Alice Randall and Caroline Randall Williams

A mother-daughter duo reclaims and redefines soul food by mining the traditions of four generations of black women and creating 80 healthy recipes to help everyone live longer and stronger.

A Good Bake

By Melissa Weller

A chemical engineer before she became a baker, Melissa Weller uses her scientific background to explain the whys and hows of baking, so home cooks can achieve perfect sweet and savory baked goods every time.

New World Sourdough

By Bryan Ford

New World Sourdough teaches handmade artisan bread baking for beginner to intermediate home bakers who want to learn how to bake fermented breads at home with New World twists.

My Shanghai

By Betty Liu

Experience the food of Shanghai, China’s most exciting city, in this evocative, colorful gastronomic tour that features 100 recipes, stories, and more than 150 spectacular color photographs.

The Food of Oaxaca

By Alejandro Ruiz

A groundbreaking cookbook celebrating the distinctive cuisine and culture of Oaxaca, from one of Mexico's most revered chefs. Here are recipes for making your own tortillas, and for preparing tamales, salsas, and moles, as well as Ruiz’s own creations.

In Bibli’s Kitchen

By Hawa Hassan

Grandmothers from eight eastern African countries welcome you into their kitchens to share flavorful recipes and stories of family, love, and tradition in this transporting cookbook-meets-travelogue.

The Flavor Equation

By Nik Sharma

A scientist, food blogger, and author of the buzz-generating cookbook Season demonstrates how to convert approachable spices, herbs, and commonplace pantry items into tasty, simple dishes.

Check out more great cooking books on Fable!

Research has proved that regular reading can alleviate anxiety, depression, and stress. It can even extend your life by two years!

You can learn more about managing your health and self-improvement in our special genre pages. You can also learn how to set a reading goal or start a best books of the year list on Fable.

Also, tune into our special conversation about mental wellness with Omar Dawood, Chief Medical Officer at Calm. He talked about mental fitness and how we can train our mind to cope with anxiety.

Explore more delicious recipes with our expertly crafted cookbook recommendations on Fable!

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