I am thinking of an Alton Brown Cookbook for a present. Any recommendations? nm

[Major Nikon]

3. I'm not a big fan of cookbooks anymore

The reason is because pretty much every notable recipe anyone has ever conceived is available online either in text form or on youtube. So cookbooks are fine for older people or other assorted luddites who aren't connected to the internet, but I suspect this wouldn't be the case with anyone who has an interest in Alton Brown's works.

I often reference Alton Brown's videos, because he demonstrates techniques and methods that are certainly available elsewhere, but he has more name recognition than any other chef that employs the principles of food science so directly. However, he is not the only one and nothing Alton comes up with is even all that original. He's simply repeating things he's learned elsewhere from people who were more original and inspired than he is and profiting from their efforts.

If you are looking for a good book for someone who has an interest in Alton Brown, it would be hard to go wrong with On Food and Cooking: The Science and Lore of the Kitchen. Although I have never known Brown to say so, I can pretty much guarantee this was the inspiration for his show and many of his episodes lift many of the principles explained in this book pretty much word for word. On one of his episodes you can even see him flipping through the pages of it. I actually have two copies as I bought the updated edition a year or two back.