Brother Juniper's Bread Book: Slow Rise As Method and Metaphor

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This classic guide to artisanal bread is back with a fresh new look, just in time to take advantage of the recent surge in popularity of at-home baking. As an award-winning baker and member of a religious brotherhood, Peter Reinhart skillfully blends the two aspects of his life in this eloquent guide to creating wonderful bread. More than 30 delicious recipes, from perfect white bread to pumpernickel and corn, will appeal to both the novice and experienced baker. Reinhart’s graceful commentary accompanies readers every step of the way, and illustrates how the artistry of baking, especially using the slow-rise method, is a metaphor for a purposeful life driven by service and charity. Cookies, sticky buns, stromboli, pizza crust, and “the world’s greatest brownies” are some of the delectable dividend recipes included.

208 pages, Paperback

First published January 1,1991

About the author

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Peter Reinhart is a master baker, educator, and award-winning author, renowned for his deep exploration of bread and pizza. His books, including The Bread Baker's Apprentice, American Pie: My Search for the Perfect Pizza, and Bread Revolution, have redefined the way people think about baking. With multiple James Beard Awards under his belt, he is considered one of the most influential voices in the world of bread and artisan baking.
A passionate teacher, Peter serves as a Chef on Assignment at Johnson & Wales University, where he shares his expertise with aspiring bakers. He has also worked as a consultant for major food brands, helped develop innovative baking techniques, and even delivered a TED Talk on the transformative power of bread.
His lifelong quest for the perfect pizza led him on a journey across the U.S. and Italy, documented in American Pie, and continues through Pizza Quest, a blog where he explores the art and craft of pizza-making.
Peter's work goes beyond recipes—he delves into the history, science, and philosophy of baking, believing that bread is not just food but a metaphor for transformation and discovery. Whether you're a home baker, a professional, or just someone who loves a good loaf, his books offer inspiration, technique, and a deep appreciation for the magic of fermentation.


Community Reviews

Rating(3.8 / 5.0, 18 votes)
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18 reviews All reviews
April 17,2025
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Having read several of Reinhart's books I decided to go on line and purchase this one as it is currently out of print. The many recipes include a Struan, a Scottish harvest bread. His newer book, The Bread Baker's Apprentice includes an updated version called Multigrain Extraordinair. This, along with his twist on the Artisinal Loaf has given my the courage to add some grains of my own design making a loaf of my own, all in the spirit of a Harvest Festival Bread. I highly recommend this book and anticipate an updated revision with added insights into the art of Bread Craft.
April 17,2025
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Enjoying the insight into the various aspects of bread making, and the diverse recipes. Liking the points made about communion, dough rising, dough vs. bread, religion and spirituality...yes. I picked it up because it was recommended by another book on spirituality, and while the various reflections (p. 190 esp.) by the author are well said, I also was dying to try out some of the recipes by the end!
April 17,2025
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You could read this book without being a baker because its message is spiritual, rather than culinary. But I use it as a bread technique book--and it works quite well. It won't replace Bernard Clayton's bread book (Clayton is more concerned with recipes than my soul), but it makes an excellent companion, especially if you have set aside the bread pans and are making artisan loaves.
April 17,2025
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A meditative and practical guide to the art of baking bread. Recipes with essay interludes.
April 17,2025
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Reinhart is one of my favorite bakers to learn from but this book was not as good as I expected it to be. His analogies were stretched and/or unclearly communicated. There are a few good looking recipes in here that I plan to try. The "oreganato bread" is yummy!
April 17,2025
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I haven't read all the way thru the book yet, it's kinda been buried in the pile, but I did make the first bread recipe with good results. 5/24/11

Oct. 2011 Update: I finally had a chance to revisit this book and I have 3 loaves of Struan rising on the counter right now. I really liked the way Peter Reinhart linked bread making to life. The anecdotes are as important to the book as the recipes. I thought the book would have more on pre-fermentation than it did.
April 17,2025
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May I recommend the poppy seed muffins? Very good. And a nice interesting reading cookbook. I have yet to make the other recipes but I think that this book is well worth a look.
And as an update I have since made the Struan and the Oreganato and both were good. The Struan was my preference and I am currently trying a wholewheat version.
April 17,2025
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Not what I was expecting. Yes I expected lots of talk about bread making and the joy it brings. The undertones in this book are definitely religious and feels like proselytizing. Not what I want when I want to learn more about bread making
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