France

Top ten works of nonfiction as of October 2, 2005, from IPSOS, France's leading polling organization.

1. Confessions of a Baby-Boomer, by Thierry Ardisson with Philippe Kieffer . A media personality looks back with wistful cynicism on his hurtle through fame, money, sex and drugs, depression, self-mutilation … and back again.

2. Manufacturing Cretins: The Inevitable Death of School, by Jean-Paul Brighelli . How does the French educational system (nickname: the Mammoth) turn out dysfunctional French people? Let us count the ways.

3. Confessions, by Patrick Poivre d'Arvor with Serge Raffy . "PPDA"—for twenty-five years France's most-watched, best-loved, oft-loathed television newsreader—tells all.

4. Love in the Blood, by Charlotte Valandrey. A French film star recounts the hidden life she has led since 1987, when she learned she was HIV-positive.

5. For the Love of Massoud, ...