The Cook's Bookshelf. Fundamental books for the cook, in spite of the many titles published each year, are few and far between. Notable exceptions and great contributions are the splendid La Technique and La Méthode by Jacques Pépin. These books teach us, with step by step photographs, how to make the essential preparations for cooking. Without the skills presented here the cook will always be an amateur. Home cooks should go back to these again and again. They will always be rewarded by the excellent recipes accompanying each technique.