Much more than a list of ingredients and instructions, Tom uses a wonderful anecdotal style to describe the history and background of the dishes.this book had a lot of hype, but in essence I found nothing new or exciting here, a big disappointment. More of someone using his name to get a book out I thought.Brilliant recipes and with the added hand written notes make this book not only a great read but one of the best cookery books I’ve bought in years.The only downside for me is that quite a few of the recipes are for a large number of people.This book was delivered on time and packed safely and securely. It had one page that was badly dog-eared but that is ok. ON the whole the product was clean and pretty new. I am very happy with this seller.As for the content of the book, -- ACE. The recipes are interesting and doable. Not an overload of ingredients. It is not textbookish but gives you the feel that you are getting insider cooking tips from the author's notebook (as the subtitle suggests). Love it.The book looks interesting and has some good practical recipes and jokes. I haven't read it properly yet, but will be doing so soon.Great recipies for everyday and special occasions ?Really enjoyed trying out a few recipes. Always like Tom Parker Bowles, his recipes are easy to follow.