If you want to make really, really good breads and you don't mind taking some time to create exceptional loaves, this single book is more valuable than any other I have used. I make the breads in here for special friends and for family, not not once have I had less than excellent results.

This is a very good book on slow-rise breads though it has a few other things within such as crackers and so forth. It is a superb introduction to slow-rise baking.

This is a book similar to The Bread Baker's Apprentice by Peter Reinhart, but it does not have the same level of detail in terms of what actually happens when you make a batch of bread dough. That said, it is a book you can pick up and read for the stories as much as for making bread.

This is a huge volume covering a lot of ground. View it as the "Joy of Cooking" of bread - it has a little of everything. It is a great starting point for the beginning baker.

This is an unusual book that has a lot of "embellished loaves" described within. It is not a book that I would recommend for everyone, but rather it is well-suited for those with a penchant for unusual or savory breads.