Angels and heaven: so last year. This fall, try mermaids. Anyone whose knowledge of these mythical part-human sea creatures stops with Hans Christian Andersen’s fairy tale can get up to swimming speed with Mermaids 101 by Doreen Virtue (Hay House, Nov.). Another title in the mind-body-spirit category is comparatively more practical. The Magical Path by Marc Allen (New World Library, Oct.) is by the cofounder of New World Library, the publisher that has helped develop the MBS niche in contemporary publishing.

On the material plane, textile artist Kaffe Fassett— yes, we’ve picked him before, but he’s got talent—continues to generate books (and, presumably, revenue from same), returning to the quilting medium with Kaffe Quilts Again: 20 Favorite Quilts in New Colorways from Rowan (Taunton, Sept.). Moms of the 21st century can find diversion, tips, and possibly even tech support in Geek Mom: Projects, Tips, and Adventures for Moms and Their 21st Century Families by the editors of GeekMom.com (Potter Craft, Oct.), the sister site to Wired magazine’s GeekDad.com blog.

Fall is heavy with diet books, since it includes January, when good intentions pave the road to fitness centers for those wanting to start the new year slimmer, smarter, or otherwise better. Even as paleo dieting continues to hold sway, another approach beckons in The Baby Steps Diet by Tosca Reno (Free Press, Dec.). Reno has already developed the successful Eat Clean Diet series. Her new book could attack the biggest problem with dieting—failure to stick with it—by making it easier to stick with lifestyle changes needed to lose weight. Young style maven Lauren Conrad continues to build her empire with Lauren Conrad Beauty by Conrad with Elise Loehnen (HarperCollins, Oct.). A first printing of 300,000 sounds like enough said.

The category of self-help is filled with heavy-hitting authors and publishers making substantial opening bets on them, judging by announced print runs. 8 Habits of Love: Open Your Heart, Open Your Mind by Ed Bacon (Grand Central Life & Style, Sept.) might be Gary Chapman (Five Love Languages) meets Oprah. Author Bacon is a pastor who has appeared frequently on Oprah’s “Soul Series” online broadcasts. While she no longer has a network television platform, her currency of influence still spends. Bacon’s book comes out September 11. The more laconic may prefer The Dude and the Zen Master by Jeff Bridges and Bernie Glassman (Penguin/Blue Rider, Nov.), in which the actor talks with his longtime spiritual guru, a Zen master, and we get to find out, what is the sound of one dude clapping. More cinematic influence is apparent in The Wisdom of the Shire: A Short Guide to a Long and Happy Life by Noble Smith (St. Martin’s/Thomas Dunne, Nov.), a hobbit’s guide to the good life based on the J.R.R. Tolkien classic and tied to the long-awaited cinematic adaptation of The Hobbit coming in December from Peter Jackson. From the same language gutter or potty-mouthed inner child whence came the mega-hits Sh*t My Dad Says and Go the F**k to Sleep comes the newest entry for both the happiness and plainspeaking minigenres: F**k It Therapy: The Profane Way to Profound Happiness by John C. Parkin (Hay House, Nov.). Anyone who’s ever had therapy may buy a dozen copies for passive-aggressive holiday gifts.

PW’s Top 10: Lifestyle

Mermaids 101: Exploring the Magical Underwater World of the Merpeople by Doreen Virtue. Hay House, Nov.

The Magical Path: Creating the Life of Your Dreams and a World That Works for All by Marc Allen. New World Library, Oct.

Kaffe Quilts Again: 20 Favorite Quilts in New Colorways from Rowan by Kaffe Fassett. Taunton, Sept.

Geek Mom: Projects, Tips, and Adventures for Moms and Their 21st Century Families by Editors of GeekMom.com (Potter Craft, Oct.)

The Baby Steps Diet by Tosca Reno. Free Press, Dec.

Lauren Conrad Beauty by Lauren Conrad with Elise Loehnen. HarperCollins, Oct.

8 Habits of Love: Open Your Heart, Open Your Mind by Ed Bacon. Grand Central Life & Style, Sept.

The Dude and the Zen Master by Jeff Bridges and Bernie Glassman. Penguin/Blue Rider, Nov.

The Wisdom of the Shire: A Short Guide to a Long and Happy Life by Noble Smith. Thomas Dunne Books, Nov.

F**k It Therapy: The Profane Way to Profound Happiness by John C. Parkin. Hay House, Nov.

Read and sort all our picks from this fall's lifestyle titles in the spreadsheet below:

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