This cookbook of simple recipes is a great choice for people looking for fast and healthy dinner ideas. However, it doesn't have wonderful pictures of the food which I always look for in cookbooks.

Cook As You Are features lots of interesting recipes inspired by many different cuisines like Italian, Japanese, Chinese, and German. However, I'd argue many of them aren't as simple as the book summary and even the title suggest. Most of these recipes require a bit of know-how in the kitchen but there are definitely ones in there that are easier than others. There were a few things I really appreciated about this cookbook that aren't necessarily overly common in cookbooks in general. One being its in-depth substitution suggestions - to make dishes vegetarian, to accommodate allergies, or even just options to swap out things someone may not like such as fresh cherry tomatoes for sundried ones. Another was how the book had a real focus on recipes suited for people with disabilities that may have reduced mobility and energy, something I was really appreciative of.

Cook As You Are is definitely not what I expected. It is a lot more advanced than I would have guessed by the description given and the choices of recipes probably won't appeal to everyone, especially those who don't consider themselves to have extensive palates. Not to mention the kindle version of this book that I received is largely unreadable and chopped up.

“Cook As You Are” is a beautifully written and lovingly created book. It is one of my favorite things to read about food when it’s written by someone with as much love for it as myself. My single caveat is that I think it would be a tiny bit overwhelming for your average person. This is exactly the kind of thing that someone who is accomplished in the kitchen or has a broad palette would love. I don’t think Cook As You Are is quite the right title for the collection of recipes here. Nevertheless, there are a handful of these creations that will absolutely be in regular rotation in my own kitchen. I loved the lack of food photography! It forces a cook to focus on their own tastes and skills, rather than trying to recreate something in a picture.