These are the cookies my mother and aunts made when I was growing up, and I was so happy to see the original book reprinted so that I could keep up the traditions! The recipes are easy to understand, easy to execute, and the cookies are fabulous. Nothing super fancy like those books that have techniques that are meant to dazzle visually instead of deliver on taste -- these cookies are simple and timeless and are loved by all tastebuds. A really great gift for yourself or someone else!