What do the Fab Five from Queer Eye for the Straight Guy, the Supernanny and celebrity chef Jamie Oliver all have in common? Lifestyle gurus are increasingly intruding on everyday life, directing ordinary people to see themselves as «projects» that can be «made over» through embracing an ethos of relentless self-improvement. Smart Living argues that they represent a new form of popular expertise sweeping the world. Written in a lively and accessible manner, the book examines this cult of expertise across a range of media and cultural sites and offers the reader a range of critical tools for understanding the recent emergence of this popular international phenomenon. Smart Living is a must-read for anyone interested in the relationship between popular media culture and contemporary social life. What do the Fab Five from Queer Eye for the Straight Guy, the Supernanny and celebrity chef Jamie Oliver all have in common? Lifestyle gurus are increasingly intruding on everyday life, directing ordinary people to see themselves as «projects» that can be «made over» through embracing an ethos of relentless self-improvement. Smart Living argues that they represent a new form of popular expertise sweeping the world. Written in a lively and accessible manner, the book examines this cult of expertise across a range of media and cultural sites and offers the reader a range of critical tools for understanding the recent emergence of this popular international phenomenon. Smart Living is a must-read for anyone interested in the relationship between popular media culture and contemporary social life. Acknowledgments vii Introducing the lifestyle expert: Zen and the art of spot removal 1(25) From manners to makeovers: A history of modern lifestyle advice 26(22) Eating expertise: From nutritionists to TV chefs 48(19) `He needs to face his fears with these five queers!': Queer Eye for the Straight Guy, makeover TV, and the lifestyle expert 67(21) Honey We're Killing the Kids: Producing lifestyle TV in Australia 88(26) DIY lifestyles?: Health, lifestyle media, and the reflexive consumer 114(16) Lifestyle Inc.: Celebrity, branding, and ordinary expertise 130(25) References 155(8) Index 163