Why the recipes are not enaugh?

Too many cookbooks tend to give only recipes. Maybe most of the readers really see a cookbook like it. And while recipes for particular food are really necessary, many other possibilities stay highly neglected. I want to find out what story lies behind this recipe what is the purpose of ingredients in the meal, what are it's origin and is there some significance behind this what I eat. The essence of gastronomy is not solely enjoying in the food, it is having knowledge about it. I always remember a Greek movie «Politiki kouzina» (Political kitchen, but translated as A Touch of Spice), a story not only about modern Greek history, but about food which consist this history and how some historical events influence traditional dishes and vice versa. And evey nation has similar story as cuisine is the cornerstone of every culture as well as great image in modern harsh world. For example, see how Thailand had remarkably succeded to make a brand out of its food. Given the political, social, biological, historical, cultural and economical value of cuisine, maybe we should care more often about the meaning and story that lies behind of what we eat and what we drink.