Last week, the challenge was simple: Get between the covers of a good book.

Instead of my go to romantic treat, I picked up a real treat, two boxes of chocolate chip cookies and a cookbook, New York Cult Recipes by Marc Grossman.

 

Turns out, cookbooks are some of the most innovative books on the market.
 

Why?
Because when everyone is using the same basic ingredients, standing out isn’t optional. You have to give browsers a reason to stop and pick up your book.

A great cookbook doesn’t just tell you what to do; it pulls you into an experience.

This is where nonfiction authors underestimate themselves.

 

They assume that because a topic has been covered before, their voice doesn’t matter. Their story doesn’t matter. Their perspective doesn’t matter.

 

But cookbooks prove the opposite.

 

You don’t need new ingredients to create something distinct.
You just need a new way of seeing.
A new way of speaking.
A new way of framing the familiar.
A new way of bringing yourself to the page.

 

That’s the kind of books we build at Unapologetic Press, books that create immersive experiences, books that turn readers into participants, books shaped around you, the author, and your distinction.

 

So today, we’re looking at what New York Cult Recipes has to teach us about writing, design, brand storytelling, and reader experience.

 

That is where distinction is born, so read on.

 

P.S. Don't miss the next edition of The Book Report. If this was forwarded to you, subscribe at unapologeticpress.com/report and get it straight from the source.

 

P.S. If you're ready to build your book, then let's talk. Hit reply and schedule a 15 minute consultation.

 

 

As you read through New York Cult Recipes, you realize very quickly that this isn’t just a collection of recipes. Marc didn’t just write a cookbook.

 

He wrote a love letter to New York City.

 

New York Cult Recipes is part travel guide, part cultural scrapbook, part culinary archive, all wrapped inside one bright, yummy yellow book. Through the pages, we get to see New York through the lens of food and the eyes of a world traveler who once called the city home. We wander through neighborhoods, meet the owners behind beloved eateries, uncover the stories that shaped their dishes, and even attempt a few things we’ve only ever bought (hello, Mr. Bagel).
 

It’s not hard to see why this book rises above the noise.
 

Now, let’s look at seven things this book teaches us about building bold, captivating books that stand the test of time.

 

 

 

1. Lifestyle Photography
Use documentary-style or lifestyle photography to capture real moments, real environments, and the mood of your message.

 

2. Location, Location, Location
Root your ideas in place. Use meaningful locations, settings, and environments to anchor the reader in a world.

 

3. People and Portraiture
Bring people into the narrative. Interviews, profiles, characters, and real voices make your message personal and inclusive.

 

4. Food in Motion
Show the process. Include in-progress moments, imperfect attempts, behind-the-scenes stories, and real-time evolution.

 

5. Illustrated Details
Use diagrams, icons, metaphors, frameworks, or illustrations to make abstract ideas tangible. Photographs can be turned into illustrations too.

 

6. Cultural Anecdotes
Give your ideas backstory. Explain where they come from, what shaped them, and why they matter now.

 

7. Accessibility
Make your insights usable. Break down concepts into steps, prompts, checklists, small wins, or tools that help readers apply what you teach.

 

The secret to a distinct book is not one element, but a combination.

Mix and match. 
Create a mix that feels like you and that elevates the reader’s experience. The blend is what creates the distinction.

 

 

One of the most overlooked elements of New York Cult Recipes is the fact that Marc didn’t build this world alone. The book’s distinction is the result of strategic collaborations, with photographers, an illustrator, and the people behind the diners, bakeries, and eateries who were willing to share their recipes and their stories.

 

Collaboration added layers he could never have created by himself, including:

 

• the emotion captured in lifestyle photography
• the mood and personality conveyed through illustration
• the authenticity and personal touch that comes from interviewing real New Yorkers
• the cultural depth revealed through shared recipes.
 

This book feels like a world because multiple people helped build it. And that’s the lesson for authors, especially non-fiction and personal development authors who often feel pressure to be the expert and authority. You don’t have to write your book in isolation.

 

You DO NOT have to do it alone.

 

Inviting others in, whether through interviews, conversations, photography, research, or cultural contributions, expands what’s possible for your book and can make the writing process so much more fun.

 

Distinction isn’t always about doing more.
Sometimes it’s about inviting more voices, the right voices to the table.

 

 

If cookbook authors, working with the same basic ingredients, the same techniques, the same pantry, can still create books that stand out, so can you.
 

As authors we often disqualify ourselves before we ever begin thinking things like, 
“Everyone’s already written about this.”
“What do I have to add?”
“This topic is so saturated.”
 

Regardless what you're telling yourself, hear me when I say this, 

 

There is room for your voice.
There is room for your story.
There is room for your perspective and your way of seeing the world.
 

The secret to standing out is not to say something no one has ever said.
The secret to standing out is to bring all of you to the table.

That’s what creates distinction.
That’s what cuts through the boring.
That’s what turns a familiar topic into an bold and unforgettable book.
 

So write that book. Say that thing. Do something. And then share it. 
Your world and your people are waiting.

As I am saying this to you, I'm also saying it to myself - There is room for your voice! Let me know how you're using it and what parts of you, you will be brining to the table. 
 

See you next week for the Confession Edition, my first behind-the-scenes of a Bold Book in the Making.

 

With you in the making,
Val

Editor, The Book Report, Creative Intelligence for Bold Authors

Founder, Unapologetic Press, Creative Publishing House for the Bold

P.S. Don't miss the next edition of The Book Report. If this was forwarded to you, subscribe at unapologeticpress.com/report and get it straight from the source.