Lifestyle media ? books, magazines, websites, radio and
television shows that focus on topics such as cookery,
gardening, travel and home improvement ? have witnessed an
explosion in recent years.

Ordinary Lifestyles explores how popular media texts bring ideas
about taste and fashion to consumers, helping audiences to
fashion their lifestyles as well as defining what constitutes an
appropriate lifestyle for particular social groups. Contemporary
examples are used throughout, including Martha Stewart, House
Doctor, What Not to Wear, You Are What You Eat, Country
Living and brochures for gay and lesbian holiday promotions.

The contributors show that watching make-over television or
cooking from a celebrity chef?s book are significant cultural
practices, through which we work on our ideas about taste,
status and identity. In opening up the complex processes which
shape our taste and forge individual and collective identities,
lifestyle media demand our serious attention, as well as our
viewing, reading and listening pleasure.

Ordinary Lifestyles is essential reading for students on media
and cultural studies courses, and for anyone intrigued by the
influence of the media on our day-to-day lives.

Contributors: David Bell, Manchester Metropolitan University; Frances Bonner, University of Queensland, Australia; Steven Brown, Loughborough University; Fan Carter, Kingston University; Stephen Duncombe, Gallatin School of New York University, USA; David Dunn; Johannah Fahey, Monash University, Australia; Elizabeth Bullen, Deakin University, Australia; Jane Kenway, Monash University, Australia; Robert Fish, University of Exeter; Danielle Gallegos, Murdoch University, Australia; Mark Gibson; David B. Goldstein, University of Tulsa, USA; Ruth Holliday, University of Leeds; Joanne Hollows, Nottingham Trent University; Felicity Newman; Tim O?Sullivan, De Montfort University; Elspeth Probyn; Rachel Russell, University of Sydney, Australia; Lisa Taylor; Melissa Tyler; Gregory Woods, Nottingham Trent University.