Leisure reading

'The Architecture of Happiness'

By Alain de Botton

Pantheon, $25.

Alain de Botton, a native of Switzerland, has written three novels, plus "The Art of Travel" and "Status Anxiety." While this book, on the philosophy of architecture, is a departure for him, his ideas are interesting.

The basis of the book is that beautiful buildings make us happier if they provide order, balance, elegance, coherence and self-knowledge. They solidify ideas we have about ourselves, so we love them.

Numerous pictures are used to highlight the author's viewpoint. His sentences, however, are not simple. Often the reader may find it necessary to reread various sentences in order to catch the meaning.

'Crawling: A Father's First Year'

By Elisha Cooper

Pantheon, $19.95.

Elisha Cooper, an author of children's books, describes here the life-changing experience of being a first-time father. This little book is both moving and funny. For instance, he writes:

"I've spilled soup on Zoe, poked her in the eye with a fork, covered her nose in newsprint when I was trying to get out snot, thrown a Frisbee with her in my arms and given her whiplash, flipped her over in the jogger, and kicked a soccer ball into her head.

"But I have not dropped her. Not yet. I am increasingly preoccupied with when the drop will be. The longer I go without it happening the more inevitable it seems."

Anyone who has been a first-time father or mother will appreciate the candor, the whimsy and the ardor Cooper puts into this little keeper.

'Mindless Eating'

By Brian Wansink

Bantam, $25.

Brian Wansink has a doctorate from Stanford and is director of the Cornell University Food and Brand Lab. So he probably understands his subject more than the average writer. He also admits to enjoying French fries every week.

But as a food psychologist, he writes about all the many aspects of everyday life that affect how we eat: the hidden persuaders that lead us to overeat; the assertion that bigger is never better; the reasons many of us think we need comfort food; inherited food cravings; the many types of eaters — "The Meal Stuff," "The Snack Grazer," "The Party Binger," "The Restaurant Indulger," "The Desktop (or Dashboard) Diner" — all of which explain why we usually eat without thinking.