L.A. Times Cookbook Hotlist

1. “Fast Food Nation” by Eric Schlosser (Houghton Mifflin, $25). A condemnation of the national pastime.

Last Week: 1

Weeks on List: 24

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2. “Suzanne Somers’ Eat, Cheat and Melt the Fat Away” (Crown, $25). A manual for how to cheat on a diet.

Last Week: 3

Weeks on List: 17

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3. “Kitchen Confidential” by Anthony Bourdain (Ecco Press, $14). The bad boy is back--in paperback.

Last Week: 2

Weeks on List: 59

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4. “Barefoot Contessa Parties” by Ina Garten (Clarkson Potter, $32.50). The chic takeout store is back.

Last Week: 5

Weeks on List: 16

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5. “The Best Recipe” by the editors of Cook’s Illustrated magazine (Boston Common Press, $29.95). Ultimate examples of favorite dishes.

Last Week: 4

Weeks on List: 14

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6. “The Barefoot Contessa Cookbook” by Ina Garten (Clarkson Potter, $32.50). The first book from the specialty store in the Hamptons.

Last Week: 6

Weeks on List: 80

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7. “Sugar Busters!” by H. Leighton Stewart, Morrison C. Bethea, Sam S. Andrews and Luis A. Balart (Ballantine Books, $23.95). Lose weight the New Orleans way .

Last Week: 7

Weeks on List: 19

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8. “French Lessons” by Peter Mayle (Alfred Knopf, $24). The colorful French and how they eat.

Last Week: 8

Weeks on List: 14

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9. “How to Cook Everything” by Mark Bittman (Hungry Minds, $29.95). A fresh approach to the cooking encyclopedia, with more than 1,500 recipes.

Last Week: 10

Weeks on List: 120

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10. “How to Read a French Fry” by Russ Parsons (Houghton Mifflin, $25). The Times’ food editor makes cooking science interesting--and tasty.

Last Week: --

Weeks on List: 10

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Rankings are based on a Times poll of national and independent cookbook sellers.