Joy of Cooking — Irma S. Rombauer

First self-published in 1931 during the Great Depression, "Joy of Cooking" has been continuously updated for over 90 years and sold more than 20 million copies. It's the American kitchen bible — comprehensive, accessible, and opinionated enough to actually teach. The 2019 edition covers everything from how to hold a knife to how to butcher a deer. What makes it a teaching book rather than a recipe collection is the running commentary: Rombauer (and her descendants) explain technique inline, so you learn while you cook.