A loaf of bread means different things to different people: It is the traditional food of poverty and yet now we routinely pay big money for an artisanal loaf. Why does it have such a hold on us? From the British and American white sliced loaf to the French baguette, Scandinavian rye, and the uber-trendy Japanese katsu sando, its cultural significance is manifold. Tim Hayward's love letter to the loaf features recipes for 60 dishes that can be made on bread, in bread, and with bread—among them, the hallowed doorstep sandwich and a classic BLT—while also exploring myriad uses for breadcrumbs, croutons, and hollowed-out loaves.