The following books are my favorites...
1. "The Professional Chef" by The Culinary Institute of America
2. "On Food and Cooking" by Harold McGee
3. "Land of Plenty - Authentic Sichuan Recipes" by Fuchsia Dunlop
4. "Japanese Cooking - A Simple Art" by Shizuo Tsuji
5. "Sauces" by James Peterson
These are excellent books as well...
1. "The Chinese Kitchen" by Eileen Yin-Fei Lo
2. "DK's Sushi Chronicles From Hawaii" - by Dave Kodama
3. "Exotic Ethiopian Cooking" by Daniel Mesfin
4. "Louisiana Real & Rustic" by Emeril Lagasse
5. "Seductions of Rice" by Jeffrey Alford & Naomi Duguid
6. "Les Halles" by Anthony Bourdain
7. "The Breath of a Wok" by Grace Young
8. "The Food of Thailand" by Lulu Grimes & Oi Cheepchaiissara
9. "A Cowboy in the Kitchen" by Grady Spears & Robb Walsh
10. "Garde Manger" by The Culinary Institute of America
11. "Bouchon" by Thomas Keller
12. "The French Laundry" by Thomas Keller
...Thats what I have here at my desk anyways...