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Too many cookbooks?

Two women, 8000 cookbooks.

Many of us love cookbooks. For some, they are a useful tool, and for others a source of inspiration. But then there are those for whom they are a whole lot more.

Emily Thomas meets two people who are obsessed with cookbooks, collecting thousands of copies, and building emotional connections with each of them.

Irish food writer Diana Henry explains how books can become soulmates, and Californian chef Cindy Pawlcyn describes how it feels to have a collection built over decades, destroyed overnight.

If you would like to get in touch with the show, please email [email protected]

(Picture: Pile of books. Credit: Getty/BBC)

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26 minutes

Last on

Thu 31 Dec 202023:32GMT
BBC World Service except East and Southern Africa & West and Central Africa

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  • Thu 31 Dec 202004:32GMT
    BBC World Service Australasia, South Asia & East Asia only
  • Thu 31 Dec 202006:32GMT
    BBC World Service Americas and the Caribbean
  • Thu 31 Dec 202009:32GMT
    BBC World Service
  • Thu 31 Dec 202013:32GMT
    BBC World Service except East and Southern Africa & West and Central Africa
  • Thu 31 Dec 202021:32GMT
    BBC World Service East and Southern Africa & West and Central Africa only
  • Thu 31 Dec 202023:32GMT
    BBC World Service except East and Southern Africa & West and Central Africa

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