Want to know what books Chris Young recommends on their reading list? We've researched interviews, social media posts, podcasts, and articles to build a comprehensive list of Chris Young's favorite book recommendations of all time.
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The famous Staffordshire oatcake is nothing less than a local food hero. Throughout the Potteries, and even beyond, it has achieved iconic status, with more than forty traditional oatcakemakers still in business. This book tells the history and social history of this unique, much-loved product. more The famous Staffordshire oatcake is nothing less than a local food hero. Throughout the Potteries, and even beyond, it has achieved iconic status, with more than forty traditional oatcakemakers still in business. This book tells the history and social history of this unique, much-loved product. less 
Chris YoungThe ‘Tunstall tortilla,’ as it’s sometimes known, is a traditional flatbread of Britain. I’d love to see more of them being made, instead of vacuum-packed tortillas laced with all sorts of preservatives and other additives that you find on supermarket shelves. It’s delicious and very healthy. (Source)
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Nathan Myhrvold, Francisco Migoya | 4.49
Modernist Bread: The Art and Science is a revolutionary new understanding of one of the most important staples of the human diet. Created by the team that published the award-winning Modernist Cuisine: The Art and Science of Cooking, this massive treasury of practical knowledge and groundbreaking techniques captures over four years of independent research and collaborations with leading industry professionals; the result is the most in-depth look at bread to date. Stunning photography brings the complete story of bread to life across five volumes--uncover its incredible history, loaves from... more Modernist Bread: The Art and Science is a revolutionary new understanding of one of the most important staples of the human diet. Created by the team that published the award-winning Modernist Cuisine: The Art and Science of Cooking, this massive treasury of practical knowledge and groundbreaking techniques captures over four years of independent research and collaborations with leading industry professionals; the result is the most in-depth look at bread to date. Stunning photography brings the complete story of bread to life across five volumes--uncover its incredible history, loaves from every corner of the world, and the breath-taking beauty of scientific phenomena at work above and below the crust. In addition, you will discover innovative recipes and techniques developed by the Modernist Cuisine team that have not been published anywhere else. Housed in a sleek stainless steel case, this five-volume set contains more than 1,500 traditional and avant-garde recipes, as well as a wire-bound kitchen manual so that you can easily bring all of the recipes into the kitchen in one compact collection. Spanning over 2,300 pages, Modernist Bread will become an invaluable resource for anyone who has a thirst for knowledge about bread or wants to advance their craft. This book is a call to arms for any baker--whether you are a strict traditionalist, avid modernist, home baker, restaurant chef, or an artisanal baker--to embrace the possibilities of invention and follow your inspiration to make breads in your own way. less Chris YoungThere’s this idea that wholemeal loaves don’t rise as well because the bran somehow cuts through or interferes with the formation of gluten. So what they did was say, ‘OK, if it’s about something cutting, let’s use white flour and throw a load of glass powder in there—because surely that’s going to interfere with the structure. If anything is going to cut gluten strands in half it’s going to be... (Source)
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First published in 1977, and winning its author the coveted Glenfiddich Writer of the Year Award, this universally acclaimed book is regarded by many as simply the best book ever written about the making of bread. It covers all aspects of flour-milling, yeast, bread ovens and the different types of bread and flour available. It contains an exhaustive collection of recipes, everything from plain brown wholemeal or saffron cake to drop scones and croissants; all described with her typical elegance and unrivaled knowledge. Even how to make your own yeast and keep it. But more than just a list of... more First published in 1977, and winning its author the coveted Glenfiddich Writer of the Year Award, this universally acclaimed book is regarded by many as simply the best book ever written about the making of bread. It covers all aspects of flour-milling, yeast, bread ovens and the different types of bread and flour available. It contains an exhaustive collection of recipes, everything from plain brown wholemeal or saffron cake to drop scones and croissants; all described with her typical elegance and unrivaled knowledge. Even how to make your own yeast and keep it. But more than just a list of recipes, it is an insight into an interesting and informative home-baker.Inquire within on any point connected with baking and Miss David has the answer. Nor does it omit the history of bread making from the Exodus onwards, the iniquities of sliced bread and uncovers the dubious practices of some flour millers and bread manufacturers in the UK and elsewhere with amusing anecdotes and personal observations throughout. The writing style of this book has aged well and adds greatly to its charm. This is a book that should be included in every food lover s collection, not just for those who love to cook, but those who enjoy reading about food and its history. It is also an absolute must for keen bakers." less Chris YoungElizabeth took a look at loaves and said, ‘All those times you thought you were eating traditional loaves, they were probably quite modern. There is a better way of doing it. There are better breads to be made.’ She was perhaps the most prominent champion for real bread in Britain during the depths of the white sliced years. (Source)
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In Bread Matters, Andrew Whitley, professional organic baker, founder of Bread Matters, and cofounder of the Real Bread Campaign, exposes the terrible state of modern commercial bread and shares his recipes for making great, nutritious bread at home.
Using the skills he has amassed during more than 25 years as a professional bread baker, Whitley clearly explains the process in detailed discussions of the tools, ingredients, methods, and tricks of the breadmaking trade. He also offers more than 50 foolproof recipes for all types of bread, including yeast-free and gluten-free... more In Bread Matters, Andrew Whitley, professional organic baker, founder of Bread Matters, and cofounder of the Real Bread Campaign, exposes the terrible state of modern commercial bread and shares his recipes for making great, nutritious bread at home.
Using the skills he has amassed during more than 25 years as a professional bread baker, Whitley clearly explains the process in detailed discussions of the tools, ingredients, methods, and tricks of the breadmaking trade. He also offers more than 50 foolproof recipes for all types of bread, including yeast-free and gluten-free loaves, as well as uses for leftover crumbs once they've passed their prime.
Bread Matters is an essential bread book for beginning and seasoned bakers alike. Once you see how easy it is to make your own delicious bread at home, you may never buy commercial bread again.
"Anyone who understands bread as a transformational food the way Andrew Whitley does, is a friend of mine. In his wonderful book, Bread Matters, he not only brings this powerful and ancient symbol down to earth and demystifies the process, but also communicates from his heart how anyone can easily participate in the joys and rewards of the bread baking craft." --Peter Reinhart, author of Peter Reinhart's Whole Grain Breads: New Techniques, Extraordinary Flavor
"Now and then, a book about food is so revelatory, so shocking, that it is likely to change the industry. Andrew Whitley's new book is such a work." --Rose Prince, The Daily Telegraph
"What an important book; passionate and polemical and full of truth. The chapter too on gluten-free baking is original and inspiring." --Bee Wilson, Sunday Telegraph and New Statesman
"Whitley gets down to brass tacks about what exactly makes artisan bread healthier and tastier, then offers such alluring cases in point as arkatena from Cyprus...and dozens of others, both savory and sweet." --Saveur less Chris YoungThe thing about Andrew’s book is that it’s more than just a bunch of recipes. People have taken it on as a manifesto, really, of what can be done better. (Source)
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With more than 75 recipes, from dark crisp rye breads and ricotta breadsticks to effortless multigrain sourdough, The Handmade Loaf guides you through the stress-free techniques you need to make and bake great breads at home. Made and photographed in kitchens and bakeries across Europe, from Russia to the Scottish Highlands, Dan Lepard's ground-breaking methods show you how to get the most flavor and the best texture from sourdough and simple yeast breads with minimal kneading and gentle handling of the dough. Let this classic cookbook guide you to making superb bread at home. more
With more than 75 recipes, from dark crisp rye breads and ricotta breadsticks to effortless multigrain sourdough, The Handmade Loaf guides you through the stress-free techniques you need to make and bake great breads at home. Made and photographed in kitchens and bakeries across Europe, from Russia to the Scottish Highlands, Dan Lepard's ground-breaking methods show you how to get the most flavor and the best texture from sourdough and simple yeast breads with minimal kneading and gentle handling of the dough. Let this classic cookbook guide you to making superb bread at home. lessChris YoungIt was the first book I’d come across that said you could get a world of bread from three or four ingredients—rather than saying, ‘Here’s a basic dough that you make in half an hour. If you want a different bread you throw in some cheese or some herbs or some chilli or you tie it in a knot.’ It was the first book I came across that didn’t pretend that the same dough shaped in three different ways... (Source)
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7
Harold McGee's On Food and Cooking is a kitchen classic. Hailed by Time magazine as "a minor masterpiece" when it first appeared in 1984, On Food and Cooking is the bible to which food lovers and professional chefs worldwide turn for an understanding of where our foods come from, what exactly they're made of, and how cooking transforms them into something new and delicious. Now, for its twentieth anniversary, Harold McGee has prepared a new, fully revised and updated edition of On Food and Cooking. He has rewritten the text almost completely, expanded it by... more Harold McGee's On Food and Cooking is a kitchen classic. Hailed by Time magazine as "a minor masterpiece" when it first appeared in 1984, On Food and Cooking is the bible to which food lovers and professional chefs worldwide turn for an understanding of where our foods come from, what exactly they're made of, and how cooking transforms them into something new and delicious. Now, for its twentieth anniversary, Harold McGee has prepared a new, fully revised and updated edition of On Food and Cooking. He has rewritten the text almost completely, expanded it by two-thirds, and commissioned more than 100 new illustrations. As compulsively readable and engaging as ever, the new On Food and Cooking provides countless eye-opening insights into food, its preparation, and its enjoyment.
On Food and Cooking pioneered the translation of technical food science into cook-friendly kitchen science and helped give birth to the inventive culinary movement known as "molecular gastronomy." Though other books have now been written about kitchen science, On Food and Cooking remains unmatched in the accuracy, clarity, and thoroughness of its explanations, and the intriguing way in which it blends science with the historical evolution of foods and cooking techniques.
Among the major themes addressed throughout this new edition are:
Traditional and modern methods of food production and their influences on food quality
The great diversity of methods by which people in different places and times have prepared the same ingredients
Tips for selecting the best ingredients and preparing them successfully
The particular substances that give foods their flavors and that give us pleasure
Our evolving knowledge of the health benefits and risks of foods
On Food and Cooking is an invaluable and monumental compendium of basic information about ingredients, cooking methods, and the pleasures of eating. It will delight and fascinate anyone who has ever cooked, savored, or wondered about food. less 
Rose Levy BeranbaumHe explains how cooking works and gives you the freedom to create your own things, to know when things go wrong. (Source)
Yotam OttolenghiMcGee is very clear and to the point. Despite the fact that he is quite technical, it’s never boring. (Source)
Chris YoungMy career starts with [this book] in many ways. There wouldn’t be any of this modern cooking movement without [this book], I don’t think. (Source)
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Universally acclaimed for their compelling narrative, their fresh insights, and their objective renderings of Winston Churchill's life, The Last Lion trilogy presents a revelatory and unparalleled portrait of this brilliant, flawed, and dynamic adventurer, aristocrat, soldier, and statesman.
Born at the end of the 19th century when Imperial Britain still stood at the splendid pinnacle of her power, Churchill would witness the shift a few years later as the Empire hovered on the brink of a catastrophic new era. One of the greatest wartime leaders of our time, he would go on... more Universally acclaimed for their compelling narrative, their fresh insights, and their objective renderings of Winston Churchill's life, The Last Lion trilogy presents a revelatory and unparalleled portrait of this brilliant, flawed, and dynamic adventurer, aristocrat, soldier, and statesman.
Born at the end of the 19th century when Imperial Britain still stood at the splendid pinnacle of her power, Churchill would witness the shift a few years later as the Empire hovered on the brink of a catastrophic new era. One of the greatest wartime leaders of our time, he would go on to stand alone, politically isolated in Parliament, as he took the lead in warning of the growing Nazi threat, and would lead Britain to victory against Nazi Germany and the Axis powers in World War II.
Now, celebrated historian William Manchester's landmark biographies are collected together for the first time, along with the eagerly anticipated final installment Churchill's last years in power. More than thirty years in the making, The Last Lion is the definitive work on this remarkable man whose courageous vision guided the destiny of a nation during darkly troubled times-and who looms as one of the greatest figures of our century. less 
Ryan HolidayAfter the Caro series, I started William Manchester’s equally epic three volume set on Winston Churchill (Visions of Glory, Alone, Defender of the Realm) which Robert Greene gave me as a wedding present last year. Like all truly great long reads, you learn not just about the subject but every intersecting one: the history of British peerage, the Victorian era, the British Empire, Colonialism,... (Source)
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Chris YoungOne of the books that Chris has found himself gifting a lot is an out-of-print book on thermodynamics called The Second Law. "It was written by an Oxfod physical chemistry professor named P. W. Atkins. That book is just a phenomenal, casual, infographic-laden read on how the world works from an energy perspective. I found that so incredibly useful in trying to understand how to do something, how... (Source)
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What would happen if the world were ending?
A catastrophic event renders the earth a ticking time bomb. In a feverish race against the inevitable, nations around the globe band together to devise an ambitious plan to ensure the survival of humanity far beyond our atmosphere, in outer space.
But the complexities and unpredictability of human nature coupled with unforeseen challenges and dangers threaten the intrepid pioneers, until only a handful of survivors remain...
Five thousand years later, their progeny -- seven distinct races now three billion strong --... more What would happen if the world were ending?
A catastrophic event renders the earth a ticking time bomb. In a feverish race against the inevitable, nations around the globe band together to devise an ambitious plan to ensure the survival of humanity far beyond our atmosphere, in outer space.
But the complexities and unpredictability of human nature coupled with unforeseen challenges and dangers threaten the intrepid pioneers, until only a handful of survivors remain...
Five thousand years later, their progeny -- seven distinct races now three billion strong -- embark on yet another audacious journey into the unknown ... to an alien world utterly transformed by cataclysm and time: Earth. less 
Barack ObamaJust like us, the president enjoys a good beach read while relaxing in the sun. In 2016, he released his list of summer vacation books:
Barbarian Days: A Surfing Life, William Finnegan
H Is for Hawk, Helen Macdonald
The Girl on the Train, Paula Hawkins
Seveneves, Neal Stephenson
The Underground Railroad, Colson Whitehead (Source)
Bill GatesSeveneves reminded me of all the things I love about science fiction. It is a great novel to get lost in, learn from, and think about. More than anything else, it has me thinking I should get back to reading sci-fi again. (Source)
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