John Roberts

In this fascinating study, Dave Beech and John Roberts develop what they call a 'counter-intuitive' notion of the philistine, claiming that what the philistine tells us about cultural division and exclusion is more persuasive than the theories of the popular and the 'otherly-cultured' in cultural studies and postmodernism. The 'counter-intuitive' philistine, they contest, returns the cultural debate to the problems of the persistence of power, privilege and symbolic violence. Asserting that the relations between power and art have been untheorized in recent studies, Beech and Roberts find their critical resources in the least likely place: not in the 'best of things', but in that which has 'no proper place'.The book also includes several in-depth responses to the Beech and Roberts thesis by leading scholars in the field of cultural theory, together with the authors' replies to their critics.

Roberts seeks to show how and why world citizenship and mundialism—the building of global institutions—are essential for the human race to solve the growing problems of the environment, international violence, and other major world challenges. World citizenship is described from its origins, and its importance to solving current problems is made clear. Its necessary connection to federalism and democracy is stressed, while the inevitable consequent requirement of mundialism is discussed and emphasized.Mundialism describes the creation of structures needed by the emerging world community; it means, as Roberts points out, working for a new political organization of humankind involving the transfer of certain parts of national sovereignty to a World Federal Authority. This is an important synthetic and original work that will be of concern to those interested in world citizenship and peace issues.

Cruising on a small boat is a continuous learning experience. Sometimes you discover answers on your own, but more often the best lessons come from casual conversations with other cruisers. Why Didn't I Think of That? brings together the lessons learned, the tested advice, and the ingenious solutions of more than 200 sailors from around the world. Here you'll find nearly 1,200 tips on everything from anchors to bilge pumps, refrigeration to communication, food preparation to handy gadgets, finding just the right tool to weathering the weather, and cruising with children to making your boat a secure and comfortable home. Whether you're new to cruising or a full-time liveaboard, this book belongs on board.