I read Planck's
Real Food and while I liked it it doesn't wholly work for us because of milk allergies. She also comes off a bit... I dunno... really, I don't know. Just irritating a bit.
I've read AVM and TOD and liked both, AVM more. I've read a lot of
Plenty while sitting in B&N and I'd love to finish it but our library doesn't plan to get it. (So if someone wants to loan it to me I'd be happy to pay shipping both ways... still cheaper than buying it).
As far as "how to cook" books I find that I don't really get into them. I prefer to figure things out myself or to learn via the recipe cards at the co-op or through friends. I don't find myself trying new things in cookbooks. I think it's because I've been cooking since I was nine
plus I have allergies to watch out for, so there's not a lot I haven't done or that I would do if I hadn't because of dairy and eggs.