An absolutely fascinating reminiscence. The author owns a bookstore, and has published at least one (other) book of things he found in books. This is more specialized - recipes he found in books. Most are handwritten, and he provides pictures of that. He includes the book it was in, the year it was published, and for some of them he asked cooks he knows to actually make the recipes and report. -- One recipe in it appeals to me, and though he doesn't note it (probably didn't realize) it was the winner of the 2nd Pillsbury Bake-Off, in 1950. It's called Orange Kiss Me Cake, and has in it, ground together, an orange, 1 C. raisins and 1/3 C. walnuts. These are incorporated into the cake batter. After baking, orange juice is "dripped" over the warm cake & it is giving a cinnamon sugar walnut topping. Sounds tasty! -- I am just delighted to have found the book. It brought back memory of Spry cans (although my mother was a Crisco user) and yes, of my youth. A fair amount of the recipes were done in handwriting resembling that of my mom, in a time penmanship was taught in school. -- Worthwhile read definitely. ( )