What is a great and simple cookbook for a bachelor?

How to Boil Water by the Food Network staff is one of the best introductory cookbooks I've seen. It has all the basics and goes in to detail on how to do the little things that you don't even think about until you get halfway through the recipe at hand. How long it takes to steam broccoli, how long to bake a potato, how cook an egg, how to make the perfect cup of coffee, how long to leave a steak on the grill for and on and on and on. It is broken out by different meal types and in between has tips and tricks.

http://bit.ly/dqI3gi

Surprised no one mentioned this one:

The America's Test Kitchen Cookbook. Every recipe that I've cooked is delicious. Also they are typically easy to make, and kind of fun to read because they tell you some of the science going on behind the scenes... I highly recommend it!

If by bachelor you mean beginner, then "Martha Stewart's Cooking School"http://www.amazon.com/Martha-Stewarts-Cooking-School-Lessons/dp/0307396444 is the best starter cookbook I've come across. It's not simply a book of recipes and tips, it shows you all the basics like how to sharpen a knife, how to chop an onion, and how to make chicken stock with step-by-step photos. Many of the recipes also have step-by-step photos and the advanced recipes in each section build on basic recipes.

Jacques Pepin's
Fast Food My Way & More Fast Food My Way

Simply, one of the best chef's to ever pick up a knife, walks people through cooking the way real people cook -- using the grocery store as your prep kitchen/cook.

Great Books.

I love Bittman's How to Cook Everything. It's a great book, encyclopedic in it's knowledge, and probably the cookbook most used in my kitchen today. And, having been a single bachelor that received it as my first cookbook, I can say with authority...

Don't buy it.

It sat on my shelf, unused, for 10 years while it watched me make endless amounts of mac and cheese from a box. Sure, there were much better food hidden away in it's pages, but the book is not written to WANT you to read it.

And when was the last time you heard that Encyclopedia Britannica inspired someone to take up something new? Few and far between there.

Since you didn't say your bachelor was looking to be the next Batali or Bayless, they will have the same reaction as I did. And now, with the boom of Google, wifi and netbooks/iPhones, if a kid today really wants a recipe for boiling water, they will hit Google and find something that works just as good as Bittman and find it faster/more naturally, too. (I can wax long on the brilliance of dead tree publications, but even I have a netbook in my kitchen and the young will do the Cool New Thing.)

So, the best book will be the one that INSPIRES him to cook. For that, here are my thoughts:

If he's a guy that likes to know the why about things, Alton Brown's I'm Just Here For the Food (http://www.amazon.com/Im-Just-Here-Food-Version/dp/158479559X/ref=sr_1_4/183-3274397-7856045?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1264569401&sr=8-4) is a great book, full of pictures and simple recipes. He gives some humor, but the best thing about it is that you understand the why of cooking items without needing any prior cooking knowledge. He makes cooking APPROACHABLE. The book doesn't come close on how to cook most items, but if you got your bachelor cooking something not from a box, it's a win. Plus, the first sections are on grilling, and that's something every red blooded man should understand.

If your bachelor is a foodie loving to try cool, stylish food, Tom Colicchio's Think Like a Chef (http://www.amazon.com/Think-Like-Chef-Tom-Colicchio/dp/0307406954/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1264569569&sr=1-1) is bar none the best food porn book I own. He makes food DESIRABLE. The pictures will make you light one up after some alone time with it. Again, doesn't have much in it, but what it does have will stir the loins.

If after all this you still are focused on getting him something practical, spend your money on a subscription to America's Test Kitchen. (http://www.americastestkitchentv.com/) They have videos, tons of recipes, lots of background on the how and why, and you get things like equipment and brand reviews. Don't get the physical book, for the same reasons I say above for Bittman. The website has a lot richer feel to it than the books, but the killer app for it are the emails. Even if they don't go to the website, they will get newsletters with recipes and such every few days. It's like you paid someone to remind them that they have a cookbook. No cookbook on the shelf will do that.

On top of the book, I highly recommend getting them two key things: All Clad 3 quart saute pan (http://www.amazon.com/All-Clad-Stainless-3-Quart-Saute-Loop/dp/B00005AL5W/ref=sr_1_18?ie=UTF8&s=home-garden&qid=1264570717&sr=1-18) and a Victorinox 8" chef's knife (http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000638D32/?tag=googhydr-20&hvadid=4584308547&ref=pd_sl_81uv74yte3_b). The All Clad is a decent all around pan, cooks excellently, and, if nothing else, it cleans up easily even after they leave it in the sink for over a week (which they will). Plus, pan recipes are generally quick and you can do things like stir frys in them. Don't balk because of the price. For the abuse I've given my All Clad, they've been going strong for 10 years and are not showing any signs of stopping. The Victorinox is a good, cheap chef's knife that is something every cook should have.

Once they are cooking, there will be plenty of time to get them Bittman and others. As multiple people said, it's a great book even for non-beginners. But first, you need the gateway book. Something approachable. Something cool. Something that will inspire them not to cook that mac and cheese in a box.

Cheers,

- Lou

...depends on the level you're starting out at.

No Experience (sandwich is complicated)
A Man, a Can, a Plan

Some Experience (I'd like to make a lasagna, I think?)
Rachel Ray's 30 Minute Meals

Experienced
www.tastespotting.com
see something that looks good and cook it

A good cookbook for bachelors will not only provide him with a versatile range of appealing recipes, but also teach him the building blocks of how to become a better cook of various cuisine.

"Cook with Jamie: My Guide to Making You a Better Cook" is specifically designed to do both those things. This is an excellent entry text to learn not only the what, but the how and why of ingredients that make up a good recipe. Here's a link where you may find it online ( Cook with Jamie: http://www.amazon.com/Cook-Jamie-Guide-Making-Better/dp/1401322336 )

Once the bachelor is feeling more comfortable and ready to experiment further in the kitchen, it's time to graduate to the Culinary Institute of America's introductory text: "On Food and Cooking: The Science and Lore of the Kitchen" by Harold McGee - a book that will revolutionize the way you think aboutdifferent foods and how to cook them ( On Food and Cooking: http://www.amazon.com/Food-Cooking-Harold-McGee/dp/0684843285 )

Marco, I think this question requires a bit more followup. Is your goal to not eat Mac & Cheese for supper 5 nights a week, or is your goal to make a soufflé without collapse?

Alton Brown's book and Show (Good Eats) are a wonderful resource for guys because 1) he breaks things down logically and 2) he makes things that are fairly simple and taste good. Also, if you are outfitting your kitchen his book Alton Brown's Things for Your Kitchen is probably the best reference for anyone short of a professional chef.

One of the guys above mentioned
Better Crocker book

This is the classic cookbook, at least for those of us from the midwest. This is where your Christmas cookies came from. It has home-comfort food recipes as well as a lot of good information.

The next step, and a much more versatile solution would be the aforementioned Joy of Cooking

The Joy of Cooking provides a wonderful amount of fundamental knowledge, recipes and techniques. This is my default book when I want to find a recipe. This is NOT my end all, but my starting point for information.

It's been said, but it needs to be said again. The only cookbook - and I like to cook - that I've ever actually READ is Alton Brown's "I'm Just Here for the Food": http://www.altonbrown.com/ . Entertaining and educational, it gives a great foundation for cooking just about anything.

Listen to 'em; it's true: Bittman's "How to Cook Everything" is simply unbeatable. Here's a key to success: When you get it the book, first read through the first few chapters on tools, techniques and other basic cooking knowledge. You'll then be a lot more confident when you tackle the recipes.

Another must-have cook book: Julia Child's "The Way to Cook". As Julia says, Bon Appetit, buddy.

Michael S., my goal is to learn how to start with simple entrees and increase my knowledge in cooking different varieties of food. I want to start on a basic level and then move up in difficulty in order to make my meals a bit more elaborate and tasteful.

If this is for a gift, then the above recommendations are great.

If not, I'd highly recommend going to AllRecipies.com. They have a tremendous selection of recipes that fit about any skill level. What's even more awesome is their iPhone app which allows you to search recipes by ingredient or time you want to spend preparing a dish.

Secondly, I recommend subscribing to a cooking magazine. Martha Stewarts Everyday Food is great for good flavor and minimal steps. Rachel Ray's magazine is also pretty good too.

Three Gordon Ramsay cooks books that are absolute must-haves - "Recipes from the F-Word", "Fast Food". For something a little more challenging, there's "Cooking for Friends".