The gold standard of comprehensive cookbooks.  This is the 75th anniversary, 2006 version, hard back.  Filled with how to cook or bake practically everything.  Intro notes by Julia Child and Ethan Becker.  Interesting "A history of the Joy of Cooking" section.  Having eight pages on coffee is a great exmple of the style of the book.  All you need to know for an expansive start or continuation of your kitchen experience.