My husband is IN LOVE with the thing. There are all sorts of user groups on the internet so you don't need a cook book. My only complaint is the volume it prepares. We eat A LOT of leftover because it's only us eating. It does take some tweaking because it's very easy to over cook stuff. But enjoy. Soups from scratch are almost instant, stews, chilies, chicken stock, anything that normally needs a long slow bake. Oh yeah yogurt too.