"In Cooked, Pollan explores the previously uncharted territory of his own kitchen. Here, he discovers the enduring power of the four classical elements--fire, water, air, and earth--to transform the stuff of nature into delicious things to eat and drink. In the course of his journey, he discovers that the cook occupies a special place in the world, standing squarely between nature and culture. Both realms are transformed by cooking, and so, in the process, is the cook"-- Provided by publisher.

Introduction : Why cook? -- Part I : Fire : creatures of the flame ; Part II : Water : a recipe in seven steps ; Part III : Air : the education of an amateur baker ; Part IV : Earth : fermentation's cold fire ; Afterword : Hand taste ; Appendix I : Four recipes ; Appendix II : A short shelf of books on cooking.