Whenever I go to London, I try to get at least one good burger in. John Torode is the owner of Smith's of Smithfields, a restaurant which stands directly in front of the Smithfield meat market, and he sells one of the best burgers in London. John knows beef, and his book distills this knowledge in diagrams, photos, and explanations from the different breeds of cow to how to purchase, the cuts and carving the meat, and the preparation. It starts with the basic beef stock and goes through all manner of recipes which have beef elements, from arancini with ragu, to beef wellington, salted beef sandwiches, yorkshire pudding, and everything in between. It's very British, mind you, but if there's a recipe with "beef" in the title, it's here. This is every much a reference book as it is a cookbook.