As I sit here in my living room I count 4 at my feet, 12 on one table, 7 on another table, peaking around the corner 5 on the dining room table mind you these I had to pick out from the various other books they are mixed in with along with countless periodicals. There are also probably 300 or so more mixed in with my other 12,000 books stored in the dining room shelves, bedroom shelves, and the library/basement shelving. I mean hell I can count at least 50 books in open view unshelved without moving from my current seat. So I have no real section for cookbooks or books for that matter they encompass my mind and therefore my space. Books Edit: Strangely enough there is no storage in my kitchen for books I will bring the book/s I need for the project into the kitchen. All my kitchen shelves are filled with gadgets and toys.