Comment by andrewclunn

It seems to be the nature of celebrity that it doesn’t matter why someone is a celebrity. See the Kardashians among thousands of other examples. Anyway, Julia Childs was in fact great.

She didn't write her book alone. Her partners were amazing. The result speaks for itself really. Anyone would be a better cook having read it and learned the fundamentals. Bridges a gap between French and American culture that benefits an American reader. Several recipes are 'best-of' for me. I have too many chickens so quiche is a staple at my house and I've tried so many recipes, but her's are my go to always. Even the book itself is beautiful, right down to the layout and font.

This doesn't make any sense. Julia Child was a spy herself well before she was married, that's how she met her husband. Later in life the government decided he was a communist and interrogated him, and then Julia didn't become famous until after he retired from the government. Her first show aired a year after his retirement.

I encourage you to read a couple dozen cookbooks and then read Mastering the Art of French Cooking and then come back here and issue a mea culpa.