Cookbooks are great but it is not the recipes that make them so. It is the inspiration that they provide - the inspiration to create beautiful delicious meals that will only be fully appreciated as shared experiences between human beings.
I learned to cook mostly from people, not books, but it is always helpful to write things down, and all of the people who I have learned from wrote things down for me at one point or another. This is essentially what a recipe is - a reminder and we all need reminders.

Reminders are particularly useful for baking and these are the cookbooks I have found most useful for baking.
- The Joy of Cooking
- Great Good Desserts Naturally
- The Tassajara Bread book
- Vegan Planet

All cookbooks contain inspiration, but I would like to point out ones that I return to.
- The Joy of Cooking
- The Tassajara Bread Book
- The New Mossewood Cookbook

Many cookbooks Contain fascinating information about food and the ingredients and processes involved. These are another great source of inspiration.
- The Joy of Cooking
- On food and Cooking
- Vegan Planet

Great good Desserts Naturally, Fran Costigian
The Joy of Cooking, Irma S. Rombauer and Marion Rombauer Becker
The New Mossewood Cookbook, Molly Katzen
On food and Cooking, The Science and Lore of the Kitchen, Harold McGee
The Tassajara Bread Book, Edward Espe Brown
Vegan Planet, Robin Robertson