Hi, my name is Randi and I am a cookbook junkie.(Insert group salutation here.)My problem really didn't get too out of hand until a few years ago when I decided to pursue cooking professionally. It sort of just happened. After not being able to attend culinary school for several reasons (Really... A blessing. But that's another story.) I decided to continue the pursuit by seeking out and working for the best chefs I possibly could.I found myself cooking in amazing kitchens and working side-by-side with some of the most talented people in the industry. My hunger for knowledge (No pun intended... Well, maybe.) continued to grow and while I felt I was partially satiated by my experiences, I found myself craving more.Enter the seemingly innocent cookbook.Now, what you must know is that while cookbooks come in all shapes and sizes - fat and thin, large and small - not all are created equal, especially in the eyes of a professional. I find myself perusing the aisles of bookstores in search of cookbooks that are not just going to spit a few simple recipes at me and call it a wrap. I look for things that have an overflow of information and, as I am more visually inclined to learn, figures or photographs that are exceptional in explaining technique or showing a final end product.I have succeeded in finding what I am in search for many times and while I refuse to admit that my habit is out of hand, my family has recently staged an intervention. No more cookbooks. What do I have to say in this matter you ask? What they don't know won't kill them and I was dying for a fix.As I have only scratched the surface in my understanding of bread, I asked around for some recommendations and was pointed to this book, particularly because the author had trained for a time in Germany, a nation known for their beer and bread culture. But there was the risk of my family finding out about my purchase. Was it really worth it to experience the disappointment?Yes. Yes, it was and is totally and completely worth it.Filled with recipes, information, and illustrated techniques, I was completely and 100% amazed by this book. While I do wish there were more pictures of the end product, I am extremely happy I took the leap. What I enjoy most about this particular bread book is that it delves into a much deeper side of bread, which is quite enjoyable for the person who is looking to get a better understanding about such an incredibly vast topic.While I didn't find it to be a complete text - as it was missing some information that was easily searched for via internet - I do feel that this was a wise investment. Those looking to get into bread baking should consider this title as well as some others - namely How to Bake Bread by Michael Kalanty, Flour Water Salt Yeast by Ken Forkish, or anything written by renowned baker Peter Reinhardt.But trust the addict here - this is a well worth it fix.