Craig Claiborne was a restaurant critic, food writer and former food editor of the New York Times. He was the author of numerous cookbooks and an autobiography. Over the course of his career, he made many contributions to gastronomy and food writing in the United States.
I got this book from my mother. It has been in her kitchen for years, and it is actually an earlier addition, An Herb and Spice Cookbook. It has been helpful to use more spices in my cooking though. Not only am I using more of the spices I have had for years and usually don't know what to do with, I am learning more about what those spices taste like and what goes well together. I definately think it has helped me become a better and more creative cook.