What and how we eat are two of the most persistent choices we face in everyday life. Whatever we decide on though, and however mundane our decisions may seem, they will be inscribed with information both about ourselves and about our positions in the world around us. Yet, food has only recently become a significant and coherent area of inquiry for cultural studies and the social sciences.
Food and Cultural Studies re-examines the interdisciplinary history of food studies from a cultural studies framework, from the semiotics of Barthes and the anthropology of Levi-Strauss to Elias' historical analysis and Bourdieu's work on the relationship between food, consumption and cultural identity. The authors then go on to explore subjects as diverse as food and nation, the gendering of eating in, the phenomenon of TV chefs, the ethics of vegetarianism and food, risk and moral panics.

What and how we eat are two of the most persistent choices we face in everyday life. Whatever we decide on though, and however mundane our decisions may seem, they will be inscribed with information both about ourselves and about our positions in the world around us. Yet, food has only recently become a significant and coherent area of inquiry for cultural studies and the social sciences.
Food and Cultural Studies re-examines the interdisciplinary history of food studies from a cultural studies framework, from the semiotics of Barthes and the anthropology of Levi-Strauss to Elias' historical analysis and Bourdieu's work on the relationship between food, consumption and cultural identity. The authors then go on to explore subjects as diverse as food and nation, the gendering of eating in, the phenomenon of TV chefs, the ethics of vegetarianism and food, risk and moral panics.
This book will be fascinating reading for students and academics studying both consumption and cultural studies more broadly.

Many developing nations have attempted to advance their floriculture industries over the past four decades, supported by donors, with varying degrees of success. Over the past two decades, Ethiopia has gradually adopted economic policies which have resulted in a focus on increasing export earnings, and in the period since 2004 focus has been placed on floriculture which has experienced huge growth. Academic literature on floriculture as a development strategy has been critical, asserting that power is retained by multinational investors and international institutions. This book finds rapid industrial growth attributable to a range of natural, institutional, socioeconomic and 'lifestyle' conditions and changes that have occurred therein, both within Ethiopia and externally. The developmental potential of the industry is greater than previously thought. The book argues that institutional actors can best secure the benefits from engaging in global production networks by targeting industries in which they have a competitive advantage, manufacturing territorial embeddedness amongst investors in order spread the gains and risks involved with industrial specialisation.

Cornwall, 2013. Failed ex-pension salesman Godfrey Simmons is tired of being the sole member of the Godfrey Simmons Cult. So when he meets 19 year old failed Special Forces soldier Funkel Fingel and a beautiful but deadly girl called Cloud Berry, they start up Nowhere Children Inc., a corporate Cult based in Cornwall that uses pyramid selling techniques learned in Godfrey's pension scamming days. After a successful internet marketing campaign, it isn't long before all sorts of weirdos are rushing to jump on Godfrey's bandwagon. The Small Pixie Woman who harbours secret Nazi feminist ideals; Livid, the sexually deviant chimney sweep; Scarlett, who resents her 'animal urges'; Joshua, the homicidal Man of God from Jericho and Teddy the full time Free Spirit all sign up to 'Beat the stock markets, meet your perfect partner and change the world ' In the resultant mayhem, Godfrey and the Nowhere Children successfully manage to complete a 'Hostile Takeover bid' on a medieval Cornish castle while its owners are on holiday where they attempt to 'convert the ignorant'. Ultimate World Domination seems only a step away, but can they make it?

Many people go on holiday to a beautiful sun-drenched location and say "I wish we lived here." Louise and Ben Taylor decided to make their dream a reality. After extensive planning, they left rainy London behind and set off for the idyllic scenery of Portugal's eastern Algarve. Thousands of people have followed The Taylor's adventures via Ben's popular blog "Moving to Portugal." This book now tells their story in printed form for the first time. A brand new narrative from Louise is complemented with a host of trivia and practical information for those considering a move of their own. "Moving to Portugal" examines the lows as well as the highs, and is essential reading for anyone considering a new life abroad.