Rating: 

The ASP.NET Cookbook by Kittel and LeBlonde is an exceptional book. Such a book was badly required among the burgeoning ASP.NET titles, which, sadly, lacked practical code. Almost all the books repeat the same thing over and over, but in different styles. They all said the same thing.

As the other titles in the Cookbook series do, this book also addresses real world programming issues. The authors (thankfully) do not come from an academic background, so it is very easy to get right into the heart of the matter. The code highlights are very useful.

If there has been an option to give 4 1/2 stars, then I would have given that rating...but there were some specific problems for which I did not find a solution (had to retain Javascript). Maybe I was expecting too much from ASP.NET! Other than that, the book is flawless, and you couldn't ask for more. Considering its price here in India, it is pricey (about $15), but well worth it. I would recommend the Cookbook as a reference, with the main book being LIberty and Hurwitz' Programming ASP.NET.

It is evident that the book is the result of a lot of experience, and a lot of the solutions are what one would come around after a lot of tinkering with esoteric aspects of ASP.NET. The authors are right in asserting that this book would help in avoiding the same mistakes they made.

I congratulate the o'Reilly team for finally coming up with this wonderful book.