Straight of the back this book is beautifully illustrated. Rather than just being an unoriginal cookbook, it goes into the history of each country represented, while also providing recipes and explaining the background of traditional dishes. I would however warn that if people are just interested in a simple recipe book then it might not be their cup of tea. Still, this book would be perfect for someone with an interest in history, culture and of course food -this is a simply fantastic and easily digestible gift book. Yet, it appears to be quite large ( and so not the most convenient for reading and storing), which is why a star has been knocked off. This would be a great gift for a younger person such as a teenager or child with an interest in food. It is a great idea to get people thinking about where their food comes from, and what inspired it. The illustrations are captivating and rather than just being a practical book, this is a gorgeous coffee table type book.