This book is a 4.5 from me. More than a listing of recipes, Crescent Dragonwagon's writing style is conversational, personal, educational and informative. I've seen the strangest commentary from people who seem bewildered that a cookbook with the theme of beans included recipes for fresh string beans, that a vegetarian cookbook author's book about *beans* did not include more meat ("yet another vegetarian cookbook," he complains even though several of the *bean recipes* do include instructions for including meat), or that the recipes are "bland" despite including chile peppers, vinegars, handfuls of fresh herbs, and a number of condiments and sauces (harissa, chipotles in adobo sauce, mustard pickle) as ingredients.

This book was exactly what I was looking for in a bean-themed cookbook. ( )

Comprehensive treatment of the subject! Lots and lots of ideas from around the world. Organized, explained, clearly defined recipes. But not a beautiful cookbook filled with photographs. ( )

I almost gotta have pictures in my cookbooks...this one doesn't, other than that it's ok. ( )

I am a foodie; preparing delicious food is one of the most satisfying experiences anyone can enjoy. This book is an excellent resource for anyone interested in learning more about beans and their vital role in nutritious eating. I switched to a plant-based food regime in December 2011 (a health decision), and while I have found many good resources on getting interesting and good tasting food as a vegetarian, this book is one of the best, and the recipes are outstanding. Perhaps the most interesting discovery about plant-based eating is that the marvelous variety of tastes in any meal are from the plants, spices, and herbs used in the recipe (rather than the meat). For example, Ms Dragonwagon has a recipe for "Chopped Liver," using green beans, lentils, and toasted walnuts. It is amazing! Her chilies are great, her explanations are clear and easy to follow and she adds caveats where appropriate. If you are a foodie, this book should be in your kitchen. ( )

I have seen other reviews of this book, and my curiosity was peaked. My family doesn't eat lot of beans, but I would like to incorporate more of them into our diet. (I like black beans, refried beans, kidney beans, white beans myself.)

This is a comprehensive book about beans. The author starts with Bean Basics, discussing the many variety of beans and the basic cooking methods for each type: what to look for in a good green bean, shell beans and how to cook them, soaking beans- whatever you need to know about beans is covered here, no more need to fear them.

The ten chapters cover such topics like Hummus & Starters, with such recipes as Gotcha-Hotcha Sweet-Smoky Cocktail Peanuts, Hillbilly Hummus (made with peanut butter!) and Greektown Dip from Chicago's Greektown.

Soulful Simmer Soups is a great chapter that covers the world of beans literally. There are Middle Eastern Bean Soups (Spicy Syrian-Style Lentil Soup), African Bean Soups (Nigerian Seed-Thickened Beef & Shrimp Soup Stew), Asian Bean Soups (Thai Hot & Sour Soups), Indian Bean Soups (Sambar), European (Hungarian Green Bean Soup), and the Americas (Day after Thanksgiving Turkey, Wild Rice & Rattlesnake Bean Soup).

Of course there are many chili recipes, curry recipes and a chapter on skillets and stir fries that contains an interesting vegetable hash recipe I want to try.The last chapter has desserts, with Julie's Peanut Butter Cup Brownies that looks good and I never would have thought I'd find in a bean cookbook!

I like that each recipe has symbols next to it that states whether it is compatible for vegans, vegetarians, gluten-free diets or has meat in it. That makes it easy for anyone with dietary restrictions or preferences to quickly see if the recipe is for them.

The only negative I have is that there are no photos of recipes in the book, but it is a substantial book, and I guess that photos would add to the heft of the book.

If you like beans or would like to add more beans to your diet, this is the cookbook to pick up. I can't imagine that there is any information about beans that I would like to know that is not in this comprehensive, 175-recipe book. ( )