Rating: 
Summary: This book is incredible
Review: I was given this book for a graduation present. I love it! If you like the show or just plain want to know about the mechanics of cooking, buy this book. The recipes and explanations are clear, witty, and thoroughly enjoyable. I've plowed through many an Alton Brown tutorial from his show, and I'm looking forward to doing the same with this book!
Rating: 
Summary: An average cookbook with too little surrounding science
Review: Maybe I had my hopes set to high because "Good Eats" is my current favorite cooking show. I had been expecting something along the line of "Cookwise", which is informative and packed with good recipes, but I found this book to be somewhat shallow. The stories are good, Alton Brown knows how to tell a quirky story, but the surrounding recipes didn't releate to the surrounding food science information. Sure, the grill section had grill recipes, but those recipes could just as easily been done on a stove. I was hoping for something that said "This only works right, if you make me on a grill." It almost seems like there were two books here, a light introduction to food science and a recipe collection, which the editor shuffled together. Not that the recipes are bad, some of them are quite good, and the food science stories are entertaining, but I was hoping for more. That's why I rate this "average".
Rating:
Summary: Funniest Cookbook Ever
Review: Ok, so maybe you won't be rolling around laughing when you read this. But it is probably impossible to read it without at least chuckling every few minutes. But that's probably not enough reason to buy a cookbook, but it does make this one of the few books of its genre that you can read cover to cover. On top of the humor value this book also has a lot of good basic advice about the hows and whys of cooking. I've tried a couple of the recipes and they've come out quite good. If you enjoy Alton Brown's show, Good Eats, then you will definitely enjoy this coobook. If you are unfamiliar with AB's unique take on food, then this book can serve as a good introduction. Another thing I like about this book is that it subtly nudges the reader to try to experiment with food - AB definitely provides his own opinions, but also encourages experimentation on the part of the reader.
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Summary: cooking techniques, not recipies
Review: This is a book about cooking techniques, rather than recipies. It's organized by cooking method, rather than ingredients like most other cookbooks. There are a lot of cookbooks out there full of nothing but recipies, but many of them don't say anything about the different methods to prepare food. AB also goes into some of the how's and why's of the different preparation methods. afraid to broil? never poached anything? roasts turn out like lumps of coal? deep fried stuff ends up grease laden? You'll pick up a lot of good tips out of this book. There are a few simple recipies in with each section that you can use to test the waters and practice with. If you like to cook and want to expand your repetoire of cooking techniques, this is a good one to add to the shelf.
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Summary: How and Why "Food + Heat = Cooking"
Review: Alton Brown has incorporated the scientific information that makes his "Good Eats" a must see cooking show into this book, making it a must read book. It is not a cold listing of recipes but a lively discussion of what makes food relly happen. You learn the why/how of the cooking process which is actually more important the the recipe. Recipes can stray and ingredients can vary but if you have a solid background in the science of what is happening to the food there will be a feast at the end of each forray into the kitchen. A note to Mr. Brown - a similar book dedicated to baking is alluded to in 'I'm Just Here for the Food'. A prompt publication date would be greatly appreciated!
Rating: 
Summary: Just Like the Show
Review: If you like Alton on Food TV you will like his book. It has all the detail of the show plus more. His teaching approach really comes through. I have been trying to find a book that explains the simple things of cooking and this is it. How to fry and egg? He explains how. The details on cooking turkey, chicken, roasts etc. are all here. Plus an explaination of why one should do X Y & Z. I have just received it and have been putting it to use. Now off to grill........
Rating:
Summary: Mini cooking school
Review: This is good instruction for understanding the whys of cooking. I really like the footnotes and the historical bits. It's also refreshing to read something so opinionated. For example, AB states that hamburger cooked beyond medium is not worth cooking at all. I would recommend this for someone who already knows their way around a kitchen. Otherwise, all the equipment required might be too overwhelming. Also, it takes a good bit of experience to use his guidelines and adapt them to the amount of food and servings one might need. Some of his recipes produce one serving, some 8 and so on. And it's all well and good to experiment with techniques and flavors but not everyone can afford a whole strip roast to cut into steaks for testing. Which is why he did it already. I f you are someone who likes the obsessive explanations of Cook's Illustrated, you will dig this book. Ir's not a cook book, it is a text book.
Rating:
Summary: Just like the show
Review: I love this book the same way I love the show. Alton takes several different techniques and gives you the definitive way to do them. Why are they definitive, because they work! If he stopped there, then this book would be good. What makes it a great read is that he tells you WHY these techniques work. He goes beyond the recipies and applies some brain power to cooking. He reminds us that cooking is not only an art, but a science as well. If you took Mr. Wizard, Billy Nye the Science Guy and asked them to write a cookbook, this is what they'd produce... only quirkier.
Rating:
Summary: Alton Brown is the Kitchen God
Review: This book is an excellent manual describing cooking techniques and the preparation of meat and veggies. Alton maintains in this book the humor and quirkyness that have made his show such a hit on the food network. The instructions are lucid, and there are a number of easy-to-follow diagrams and cartoons. Recipes from his show and new ones are included. My only quibble is the lack of desserts, breads, etc.--please, Alton, another book soon!
Rating:
Summary: If you love "Good Eats", this book is for you
Review: Modeled after his show, this book gets very focused into cooking techniques that exposes the chemistry going on behind the scenes. Alton Brown's knowledge, references, and wit make for a great read that is both educational and humorous. This book, which also includes a number of recipes, will help you understand how to avoid catastrophe and take on more in the kitchen than you ever thought you could. The book is especially good in encouraging anyone who hasn't experimented with different cuts of meat, to do so. It's informative, without being so scientific that its confusing to get through. After you read this, buy Shirley Corriher's "Cookwise", for greater detail and even more interesting recipes.
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