So I caved as you all likely guessed I would. So far I am unable to tell if I am going to learn anything new about cooking techniques but it is teaching me to slow down when I read! It doesn't lend itself to skimming for the gist of a recipe and then rushing into the kitchen to execute it. That is strictly an observation not necessarily a criticism. Whether it will ultimately drive me into the kitchen remains to be seen.
Thanks for all the input.