Customer Rating: 
Summary: A True Reference
Comment: I won't be as mean-spirited about reissues of Ms. Heatter's recipes in new additions as others have been. As with many other cookbooks that are reissued, they attract new readers with each issue. Back when Ms. Heatter's books were first issued I was doing all whole grains and foods and wouldn't have dreamed of using her recipes. Now, many years later, I am delighted to have them. One of the particular attractions to Ms. Heatter's books for me is the blend of experience and technical information. I don't agree with others that she is overly verbose in her recipes. In fact, her explanations of many of the processes in cooking and baking are very helpful to the novice and experienced baker alike. I find it much easier to sift out instructions than to dream them up from an overly terse recording. Having said that, the cookies are fantastic, every one I've tried, and I'd recommend this as a standard reference on the subject.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Buy it, bake it, love it!
Comment: For beginning or experienced bakers, this is a fantastic book. It is a compilation of all of Maida Heatter's published cookie recipes, plus some extras.Her instructions are easy to follow and precise, letting you know exactly what you're getting into for each recipe. You can't go wrong if you follow her instructions. And, for the experienced baker, she offers modifications and suggestions to customize recipes as your own.
Many of the recipes have a short history or background blurb that explains their origin. It is fascinating to know and understand Maida's devotion to seeking out and perfecting the best cookies on the planet.
There are no photographs, but her descriptions are as rich as her recipes, so you can easily visualize the outcome.
Customer Rating: 
Summary: Great recipes for intermediate/experienced bakers
Comment: I really like this book. I've done some of the recipes and they all came out great.
I'd just like to say that it's not a book for the novice baker. Doesn't have any pictures of the cookies featured here, nor general instructions on how to bake.
If it's your first time as a cookie baker, then you should buy other books like betty crocker or pillsbury, with basic cookie
recipes, great pictures and detailed instructions.
Customer Rating:
Summary: a simple good book
Comment: I got this book as a gift a couple of weeks ago and let me tell you that I'm not the world's best cook. But I have tried a couple of recipes and they were great! If you like cookies,just buy it, you don't have to like cooking, but believe me, you will after this book!
Customer Rating:
Summary: If you have earlier titles do not bother with this book
Comment: First, this book is not a reprint of a previous title. It is a reprint of a selection of recipes culled from Maida Heatter's Book of Great Cookies, Maida Heatter's New Book of Great Desserts, and Maida Heatter's Book of Great American Desserts. The dust jacket claims that all the recipes have "been reviewed and updated." I compared numerous recipes to the originals and found no changes whatsoever. If you are serious about cookies and Heatter in particular, I recommend that that you search out used copies of the above cited books instead. They are very easy to find in used bookstores as they were also issued as book club selections. Another complaint about this book and other two in the series (Cakes, Pies and Tarts) is the layout. Recipes are often placed in the wrong category and the recipes are run together, a particular pet peeve of mine. While her recipes do work, they could also benefit from an strong editor's hand. They tend to be over written and needlessly complex. Instructions are written in a long narrative, making it difficult to follow. A numbered step method would have been much better.
