The Monitor's Guide To Bestsellers

1. THE 9 STEPS TO FINANCIAL FREEDOM, by Suze Orman, Crown, $23

This book earns high marks and stands apart from others in the genre, because it pays attention to the way people regard money, not just how they use it. Its goal is to remove both the fear and the love of money. And the first three of the nine steps address those attitudes. The goal isn't to get rich; it's to get rational. And once you've stopped letting your money manage you, you can take the rest of the six steps. A basic, easy-to-understand approach to investing and planning. (278 pp.)

By Lynde McCormick

2. TUESDAYS WITH MORRIE, by Mitch Albom, Doubleday, $19.95

A beloved college professor who is dying agrees to meet each Tuesday with a former student and discuss life and death. Mitch Albom, a well-known sportswriter, recorded 14 "classes" with his former teacher Morrie Schwartz. Religion, family, friends, and work are carefully considered. Schwartz (now deceased) was interviewed at home by Ted Koppel and appeared on "Nightline." What keeps this uplifting book from being maudlin is Albom's crisp writing and Schwartz's generous heart. (192 pp.) By Jim Bencivenga

3. THE TEN COMMANDMENTS, by Laura Schlessinger, HarperCollins, $24

This is the impassioned and persuasive response of radio talk-show host Laura Schlessinger to those who feel the Ten Commandments are obsolete. Exploring in depth the principle behind each and its relation to the intimate choices of daily life, she seeks to show how obeying God's laws lifts lives to new levels of joy and meaning. Converted to Judaism as an adult, she says being "chosen" means not favoritism but having an assignment to live by those laws so others come to know and love God. (320 pp.) By Jane Lampman

4. IF LIFE IS A GAME, THESE ARE THE RULES, by Cheri Carter-Scott, Broadway Books, $15 The self-help cash cow just keeps stampeding along. Cheri Carter-Scott's life rules were first published anonymously in "Chicken Soup for the Soul," but they met with such wide approval that she claimed authorship and elaborates on them here. Her how-to-be advice is gracefully delivered, and it's never bad to be reminded to slow down and act with integrity, humility, and good humor. But the book lacks substance. It's primarily a peaceful float on a cloud of pretty words. (139 pp.) By Kristina Lanier.

5. SUGAR BUSTERS!, by Sarah Ban Breathnach, Morrison C. Bethea, Ballantine, $22

Three MDs and one CEO cooked up this latest opinion on the best way to trim your waistline. Complete with graphs and low-sugar recipes, this book focuses on insulin levels in the bloodstream. If you aren't afraid of food now, you will be after reading "Sugar Busters!" Keep your reading on a low-blab diet and avoid this book. (270 pp.)

By Kendra Nordin

6. THE DEATH OF OUTRAGE, by William J. Bennett, The Free Press, $20

Although written before the president's Aug. 17 grand- jury testimony and his speech to the nation that evening, William Bennett's argument still finds its mark. President Clinton's admission of deceiving the public and those around him regarding Monica Lewinsky corroborates much that Bennett sets forth here. He occasionally scatters his fire at old liberal foes, but his skill at crafting an argument about moral issues that should concern every American makes this a compelling essay. Reviewed 9/3/98. (154 pp.) By Keith Henderson

7. IN THE MEANTIME, by Iyanla Vanzant, Simon & Schuster, $23

Finding the right kind of romance is a bit like spring cleaning, says the author, who describes love as a three-story house. There's a progression from the basement, where we store our parents' values, to the first floor, where we confront our fears, all the way to the attic, where we learn how to accept ourselves unconditionally. Insightful at times, she is repetitive but easy to read. Her advice seems like common sense. If nothing else, the house metaphor may inspire cleaning the closet. Literally. (288 pp.) By Kendra Nordin

8. JUST JACKIE, by Edward Klein, Ballantine, $25.95

The author of "All Too Human: the Love Story of Jack and Jackie Kennedy" delivers an interesting backdoor perspective on Jackie's struggle after Camelot. Allegedly a longtime friend, Edward Klein has amassed personal and sometimes salacious tidbits of information that chronicle her life after JFK. Presented in quick, easy-to-read chapters, the book describes sexual situations and alcohol abuse. (399 pp.) By Heather Holmes

9. HIS BRIGHT LIGHT, by Danielle Steel, Delacorte Press, $25

There's nothing bright or light in this tragic memoir of Steel's manic-depressive son. She chronicles Nick's life from birth to his suicide at the age of 19. It's packed with emotionally charged drama, and the descriptions of the efforts to help him take on an almost superhuman tone. It's an understandably raw subject for Steel, but the narration crumbles into a long-winded eulogy to her much-loved but deeply troubled son. (320 pp.)

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