Looking for Mr. Goodbucks

The author here is not exactly driven by either charity or profound thoughts. If there is a dig to be made, she will make it, but these digs don't contribute to our knowledge of why beautiful women often marry rich men. The rich, indeed, are different from you and me; they know things that you and I don't, but if you want to find out what some of those things are, read the wonderful novels of Dominick Dunne. The level of insight you'll get from this book can be gauged by a description of Tory Burch, who was quiet and reserved until she married Mr. Burch, the venture capitalist. Then she remained quiet and reserved and had the nerve to say in public that she enjoyed playing with her children. "It makes you want to vomit, but I think it's sincere," says "a catty observer." And another amiable woman, the third Mrs. Trump, is reported to have made a drastic personality change since her marriage: "She was more laid-back. Now she shops at the best stores in the world and she's always got her Manolos on."

Every book finds its own audience. No book is without some redeeming social value. Maybe the virtue of "The Fortune Hunters" resides in the fact that some would-be social climbers who read it might stop to ponder what in the world they're climbing to. Frankly, that's the only virtue here I can think of.

Sunday in Book World

· Wendy Shalit explains how to be good.

· Latino girls celebrate their sweet 15.

· A failed explorer names America.

· "The Scandal of the Season."

· And murder travels the globe.