Great book, love this author and how they can keep my attention to the end! The plot is well developed, characters are believable and they obviously paid attention to detail to make the story worth your time to read.

This book is well written but is not a cook book. I wish it was made more clear before requesting it from Netgalley

Afraid I found this book hard to get into, it was well written but not a book I would usually read. I liked the premise but found I didn't love it.

Beautifully written book exploring the authors personal philosophy on cooking. I appreciate the emphasis on being present and enjoying the process and it is a nice reminder to really experience the labor of love that brings forth a satisfying and delicious meal. While it was an enjoyable read it felt a touch too long for the subject.

Philosophy and meditation on life, cooking and eating.

Not a recipe book but an interesting read if you are trying to be more “present” in the kitchen and life in general. Put a little love into your life and the meals you prepare.

Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for providing a preview copy.

Not quite what I was expecting--more spiritual and meditation content, and less cooking. Readers looking for a "no-recipe cookbook" may be left disappointed, but those looking for a meditation on food and life will be drawn into this quiet, contemplative book.

This is not a book of recipes-it is focused on a philosophy of life. As an almost Buddhist myself, I found a great deal to like here. There is much wisdom and it is very well conveyed. Very enjoyable and well-written. Recommended.
My thanks to NetGalley for providing me with an eARC in exchange for my honest review.

How we value ourselves in the kitchen...what is the purpose...what is the intention, when cooking in the kitchen?

Turning the light inward, connecting with the outer world.

I myself have struggled with cooking  when all that's running through my mind is, "I want it now!" So rather than being in the space of "IN" and NOW, I might end up reaching for an unhealthy quick food fix to feed my impatience until the actual meal is ready.

I've had many moments of stressing out in the kitchen...heck, even stressing out before stressing out...lol...preparing myself for, "I'll probably be stressing out about something soon!", only because it's been a pattern for me that now I'm aware of it so now I can change it!

In reading No Recipe, I've already reached acknowledgement of my own issues and now, from here, I will always know when to recognize if I'm falling in to an old pattern or habit.

The author encourages the reader to trust in their own instincts and to "listen" to what speaks to them. The author also goes into how we seek pleasure to pleasure (as in avoiding pain or discomfort) when we "believe" in a task as some kind of trouble or burden.

Just like in conscious parenting, what may sometimes feel like a chore, that very moment of experience could also be experienced as a magical time of, let's say, bonding...sharing...or as the author beautifully writes, "The activity is not in charge." :D

The author writes from real life experiences of Zen teachings.

What might have been a cool addition to this book (at least for me), would maybe be some kind of interactive exercises to go with it. To take what's being read into being actively being practiced. Still, this is one of the coolest books I've gotten to read this year!

This is not a cookbook. It is a philosophy of life.

I could not make it through this. The author's writing style felt difficult to wade through and I felt that he was on a whole other spiritual level that was not accessible to mere mortals like myself.

This is not a book containing recipes or cooking advice but a reflection on the experience of cooking and food.
It is really interesting and give food for thought.
Recommended if you want to reflect on your relationship with food.
Many thanks to Sounds True Publishing and Netgalley

The title is "No Recipe" so I am confused to see people's biggest disappointment is that it isn't a cookbook.
So, nope, it isn't a cookbook. The author also explains early on it also isn't about cooking as meditation. It really is philosophy using the act of cooking as metaphor, so if that isn't what you want to read, please don't.

However, if that *is* what you want to read it is a lovely reflection on the writer's experience of food and is perfect inspiration for relating to food if you want something deeper than a recipe!

I have always enjoyed Edward Espe Brown's writings as far back as the early Tassajara Cookbook. This book isn't a cookbook or recipe book at all, but a philosophical look at cooking, eating, and life. It rambles on and at times the author seems lost in the past. Unless you're a Zen student or wanting to discover some deeper take on food, this book probably won't appeal to the average reader.

Review on YouTube channel

I was disappointed in the No Recipe book by Edward Espe Brown. I thought I was going to read a ""no recipe" cookbook. Instead I found a philosophical book that used food as a theme to discuss spirituality.

The writing was fairly good --- the book was not what I expected.