The ideas presented in this book were wonderful, but problems with mechanics and style interfered so much that I almost quit reading it. I cannot imagine a publisher letting something this poorly written get by. One problem was the author's constant "gushiness" and ending even ordinary statements in exclamation marks. Enough already! Also, run-on sentences and other grammatical errors abound. There are also some problems with clarity. At one point, the author (mistakenly, I believe) indicates that she was 15 when she was in the sixth grade.

My mother bought me this book when I moved out on my own for the first time, and I did not have much experience in the way of cooking. To this day I incorporate a lot of her ideas into my meals - her tips are especially helpful for weeknight dinners when you have two full-time-working adults in the house. I still refer to it every now and again, but would reccomend it mainly for the novice chef or the person who has a difficult time tearing him-or-herself away from recipes and cookbooks. Sometimes clarity can be an issue as well, as stated by another reviewer.

I've gotten so much great information out of this book, not to mention some fabulous new ideas for cooking. I like the way it's written so that I can pick it up any time and turn to a section and put it to use. The fact that the focus is on healthy eating is also a big plus. This book makes cooking so much easier and enjoyable. I also like the warm, friendly writing style. Between the food suggestions and the safety and nutrition tips,this book is so complete, yet easy to understand. I'd recommend Cooking Without Recipes to everyone from the novice cook to the gourmet.