Within a perturbative QCD framework we present a systematic analysis o
f the high recoil, in particular two body mesonic, decay channels of t
he B meson. For decays involving D mesons, all experimentally observed
rates are in reasonable accord with our calculations. Noticeable corr
ections to heavy quark symmetry are found, appearing most prominently
when comparing D and D decay modes. Calculated branching ratios invol
ving the CKM matrix element V(ub) are all below experimental upper bou
nds, but not markedly so. Calculated decay rates into charmonium lie a
bit on the low side. Where color-suppressed diagrams contribute, they
are found to be also suppressed dynamically and explicit calculation
shows that the color-suppressed diagrams are ignorable in B --> Dpi de
cays.