I am pleased to announce the release of my newest book Stand Together or Starve Alone: Unity and Chaos in the U.S. Food Movement. It is available directly from the publisher, from Amazon, and if you pout and stamp your feet long enough, at your independent book store. CLICK HERE to order directly from the publisher, and when you check out use promo code Q11820. You may also purchase it directly from Amazon.com.

The price is admittedly too high. Unfortunately, the only thing I can do about that is give you the 20 percent discount when you order it from the publisher. If you catch me at a conference or speaking event where I’m selling the book, well, I’ll do my best to give you a deal. But rather than apologize for something I can’t control, I can guarantee you that I’ve put my heart, soul, and 45 years of food system experience into writing this book. As an avid participant in and observer of the food movement, I’ve had a front-row seat in watching it evolve and devolve. So, with respect to the book’s price, my unalloyed opinion is that you’ll get more out of it than what you ultimately pay for it.

What will you get? Here’s a sample:

Thousands have wondered why the Community Food Security Coalition soared to such extraordinary heights only to crash and burn in 2012. As a participant in the life and death of CFSC, you’ll read my perspective on the perils awaiting those who dare to build a more united food movement.

After decades of work battling hunger, obesity and diabetes, and an industrial food system that often doesn’t give a damn, do you ever wonder why all the indicators of progress show none? I’ll give you a hint: try collaborating.

Nearly 90 percent of food activists feel strongly or somewhat strongly that the “food movement would be improved through greater food organization cooperation.” The book is chock-full of ideas, methods, and tips on how to make that cooperation happen.

Ever wonder why the food movement’s chief spokespersons seem to be a handful of chefs and journalists? So do I.

Have you given up trying to remember the acronyms for all the USDA food and farm programs? Join the club, but take heart in knowing that the way to a healthy, sustainable, and affordable food system doesn’t require that we drown in an alphabet soup of government programs.

Does race divide the food movement? Does money divide the food movement? Do big egos divide the food movement? Does bad communication divide the food movement? Yup.

Has the food movement produced some real-life, super action heroes? Absolutely, but most of us won’t recognize their names since they’ve been quietly trying to build bridges between the food movement’s sub-movements, sub-sub-movements, and sub….

Hear the confessions of a real-life do-gooder who didn’t always do good.

Maybe you’re in need of a few arcane food facts to amuse and amaze your foodie friends with at that next brew-pub gathering. Among other bits of trivia, you’ll learn about the insane number of food blogs, food flicks, and food books (including mine) that have come on the scene over the past 10 years.

Is there reason to be optimistic about the future of the American food system? You bet there is! Why? You’ll be able to answer that question for yourself after reading Stand Together or Starve Alone: Unity and Chaos in the U.S. Food Movement.