[Sca-cooks] HELP? What makes a good book on Gastronomy?

[Sandra Kisner]

>Yes, this is one, but to really understand the philosophy behind the food
>culture, you should look at books like "The Book of Tea," a wonderful, very
>short book on Japanese aesthetics.  There is a chapter in the book on the
>tea ceremony, but the entire book should be read to fully understand the
>ideas it contains.  In most of the mid and far east, you really can't
>understand one facet of the culture without taking a look at all of it.

Wow - I checked Cornell's library, and they've got *14* copies (including 
some in German, Japanese, and Vietnamese), published between 1919 and 
1964.  I wonder if there's much difference in the English editions?

Sandra