Spending the best part of £400 on a cookbook that contains no recipes may sound absurd to most, but for 45,000 eager (and presumably wealthy) foodies, it cooked up a storm.
According to a recent article by The Wall Street Journal, last year’s costly release, Modernist Cuisine: The Art & Science of Cooking by Nathan Myhrvoid has sold around 45,000 copies despite its hefty price tag.
The five volume book series, which weighs 47 pounds and is 2,400 pages long, was written by the former chief technology officer of Microsoft, who presents the science of food with an array of stunning photographs.
Myhrvoid also enlisted the help of 36 scientists, chefs, editors and photographers, who spent three years helping him create his masterpiece.
Despite containing no recipes, this visually pleasing cookbook, has been a surprise hit among food enthusiasts and Myhrvoid has banked a cool £20m.
“This wasn’t my big money making scheme in life. From the beginning, I realised I could have lost every penny,” he told The Wall Street Journal.
If a £400 cookbook with no recipes ideas isn’t your bag, take a look at our collection of practical yet fabulous cookbooks.
50 Best Cookbooks For Foodies
Bill's Everyday Asian(01 of50)
Open Image ModalThe Hairy Biker's Perfect Pies(02 of50)
Open Image ModalRiver Cottage Veg Every Day! (03 of50)
Open Image ModalFrench Country Cooking (04 of50)
Open Image ModalTwo Greedy Italians(05 of50)
Open Image ModalBritish Seasonal Food(06 of50)
Open Image ModalFlash Cooking(07 of50)
Open Image ModalMy Kitchen Table: 100 Cakes and Bakes(08 of50)
Open Image ModalVeggiestan(09 of50)
Open Image ModalOdd Bits: How To Cook The Rest Of The Animal(10 of50)
Open Image ModalAggie's Family Cookbook(11 of50)
Open Image ModalThe Allotment Cookbook Through The Year(12 of50)
Open Image ModalBill's The Cookbook: Cook, Eat, Smile(13 of50)
Open Image ModalBought, Borrowed & Stolen(14 of50)
Open Image ModalClassic Recipe Collection(15 of50)
Open Image ModalBaking Made Easy (16 of50)
Open Image ModalCouture Chocolate(17 of50)
Open Image ModalCox Cookies & Cake(18 of50)
Open Image ModalDiscover Organic (19 of50)
Open Image ModalFood Of The Grand Trunk Road(20 of50)
Open Image ModalGinger Pig Meat Book(21 of50)
Open Image ModalChristmas With Gordon(22 of50)
Open Image ModalGreat British Food Revival: The Revolution Continues(23 of50)
Open Image ModalHeston Blumenthal At Home(24 of50)
Open Image ModalHungry? (25 of50)
Open Image ModalJamie's Great Britain(26 of50)
Open Image ModalHome Cooking Made Easy(27 of50)
Open Image ModalLeon: Baking and Puddings (28 of50)
Open Image ModalLife & Soul(29 of50)
Open Image ModalMasterChef Kitchen Bible(30 of50)
Open Image ModalScandalicious(31 of50)
Open Image ModalTasting India (32 of50)
Open Image ModalThe Good Table (33 of50)
Open Image ModalCooking Creatively With Cheese (34 of50)
Open Image ModalThe Hummingbird Bakery Cake Days(35 of50)
Open Image ModalDelicious Jewels (36 of50)
Open Image ModalHawksmoor At Home(37 of50)
Open Image ModalEleven Madison Park: The Cook Book(38 of50)
Open Image ModalSausages (39 of50)
Open Image ModalReady For Dessert (40 of50)
Open Image ModalMacarons (41 of50)
Open Image ModalKitchen Secrets(42 of50)
Open Image ModalMalouf: New Middle Eastern Food(43 of50)
Open Image ModalSlow Cooking(44 of50)
Open Image ModalGood Housekeeping Cookery Book(45 of50)
Open Image ModalCountry Kitchen Cookbook (46 of50)
Open Image ModalComplete Chinese Cook Book(47 of50)
Open Image ModalWagamama: Ways With Noodles(48 of50)
Open Image ModalThe Biggest Loser Quick & Easy Cookbook (49 of50)
Open Image ModalA History Of English Food (50 of50)
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