I have never gone wrong with a recipe from this book. I have made several including tortilla soup, Thai coconut soup, and fish chowder. This is a comprehensive reference and a book to read and dream about what to make next. It begins with sections on utensils, ingredients, accompaniments and reducing fat. The chapter on broths alone has 50 soups! Many of the recipe notes include anecdotes and they all contain suggestions for variations. There are side bars with tips and techniques. There are photographs of some soups in the center but this is a working cookbook not a coffee table display. The recipe notes are so clear and well written a total novice could navigate this without a problem....