ABAA-member Charles Roberts (Wonder Book) has published a wonderful meditation on the classic cookbook The Joy of Cooking on his blog at Wonder Books. More than a straight article about the book's creation (although it does cover that) or its critical reception and impact on the wider culture (that, too), Roberts conveys a real bookseller's perspective on the book, both as a cultural artifact and ... [more]

ABAA member Tom Nealon (Pazzo Books) specializes in early printed books and cookbooks, and has drawn on his knowledge of these areas to write a book on the history of food and its vital influence on the course of human history, Food Fights and Culture Wars: A Secret History of Taste. In this brief introduction, Tom Nealon explains what drew him to early cookbooks and food is connected with arcane ... [more]

The Lilly Library, Indiana University, has announced its summer exhibition. “Eat Your Vegetables! Five Centuries of Vegetarianism and the Printed Word” will survey the history and impact of vegetarian movements on society, and it will also contain a variety of cookbooks that emphasize vegetarian cuisine. The materials in this exhibition are drawn from many of the Lilly Library's collections, m... [more]

UPDATE (12/8/14): BOOKS RECOVERED A package of books has one missing in transit from California to Maine and contained the following items: (San Francisco) Ladies Aid Society of the Baptist Church. *The Baptist Church Cook Book*. First Edition. San Francisco: 1910. (Oakland) *The Ladies' Superior Cook Book*. First Edition. Oakland: Enquirer Publishing, 1899. (San Francisco) *Corona Club Cook Book.... [more]

A rare 161-year-old book of recipes owned by Beatrix Potter is set to go to auction on Thursday. Also for sale is a collection of books and ephemera from Potter's husband William Hellis's personal effects. The cookbook is full of Hellis's family recipes, clearly handed down through generations, but there are several recipes that appear to be in Potter's own hand. Richard Westwood-Brookes, a repres... [more]

Bon Appetit recently named the "7 Best Culinary Bookstores in America" and ABAA firms Rabelais (Portland, ME) and Amber Unicorn (Las Vegas, NV) made the list! (If you've browsed either shop's inventory, this is no surprise!) Congratulations! The 7 Best Culinary Bookstores in America [more]