L.A. Times Cookbook Hotlist

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

Last Week: 2

Weeks on the list: 26

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

Last Week: 1

Weeks on the list: 19

3. “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 the list: 21

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

Last Week: 3

Weeks on the list: 61

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

Last Week: 8

Weeks on the list: 16

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

Last Week: 4

Weeks on the list: 18

7. “How to Cook Everything” by Mark Bittman (Hungry Minds, $29.95). A fresh approach to the cooking encyclopedia.

Last Week: 10

Weeks on the list: 122

8. “Weight Watchers New Complete Cookbook” (Hungry Minds, $16.95). More than 500 recipes for the famous diet plan.

Last Week: 6

Weeks on the list: 18

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

Last Week: 9

Weeks on the list: 16

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

Last Week: 5

Weeks on the list: 82

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