L.A. Times Cookbook Hotlist

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

Last Week: 2

Weeks on List: 7

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

Last Week: 4

Weeks on List: 10

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

Last Week: 1

Weeks on List: 17

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

Last Week: 3

Weeks on List: 52

5. “How to Grill” by Steven Raichlen (Workman, $19.95). A picture-filled textbook for the barbecue-challenged.

Last Week: 6

Weeks on List: 3

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

Last Week: 10

Weeks on List: 4

7. “Weber’s Big Book of Grilling” by Jamie Purviance and Sandra McRae (Chronicle, $22.95). Who knows barbecuing better?

Last Week: 5

Weeks on List: 8

8. “Comfort Me With Apples” by Ruth Reichl (Random House, $24.95). More adventures at the table, and elsewhere.

Last Week: 7

Weeks on List: 10

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

Last Week: 8

Weeks on List: 73

10. “The Cake Mix Doctor” by Anne Byrn (Workman, $14.95). How to turn a box cake into something special.

Last Week: -

Weeks on List: 66

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