This book is a lot of a lot. It's also a must-read book. EVERYONE should be reading this book, because if you think that food insecurity will never affect you, you clearly have not been paying attention.

Meticulously researched [and liberally sprinkled with his own family's history in Haiti] and spectacularly written, this book grabbed me from page one and just never let me go. Filled with information about famine, food insecurity, and the West's part in all of that, this book will anger you, bring you to tears, and leave you realizing changes need to be made - both abroad and both at home in the US and in our personal homes [the amount of food waste currently in the US is shameful; not only would it feed the people who are going hungry here in our own country, it would also feed many abroad].

This book will change you and will change how you look at food forever and if you work to be a part of the change, you will be a better person because of it.

Thank you to NetGalley, Jean-Martin Bauer, and Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor/Knopf for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC!

Jean-Martin Bauer's The New Breadline: Hunger and Hope in the 21st Century offers a critical examination of how colonial capitalism has perpetuated food crises from historical epochs to the modern-day epidemic of food deserts. Bauer, a Haitian-American humanitarian aid worker, draws from his extensive field experience to illuminate the political and historical contexts of food access, deftly revealing the havoc industrialization and commercial farming have wrought on vulnerable communities.

The book opens with Bauer's poignant recollections of his time providing aid in Haiti, a country deeply scarred by colonial exploitation and modern economic disparities. His firsthand experiences underscore a central theme: the systems creating and sustaining acute hunger are deeply embedded in political and economic frameworks. Bauer effectively unearths the intricate connections between politics and food, demonstrating how global capitalism has commodified food, transforming it from a basic necessity into a privilege accessible only to those who can afford it.

Bauer's writing is both direct and analytical, employing clear and impactful language to highlight systemic issues and historical contexts. He argues that economic disparities are the primary drivers of food insecurity, drawing parallels between capitalism, the climate crisis, commercialized farming, and the food industry. Through detailed analyses, Bauer elucidates how these unsustainable and inequitable models exacerbate global hunger.

The book is particularly compelling in its staunch anti-neoliberal approach, revealing how global capitalism's impact on impoverished nations has created and maintained food crises. Bauer's arguments expose the failures of international governmental bodies to protect citizens from starvation inflicted by corporate greed and colonial legacies. His assertion that those who control the food ultimately control the people, both in times of war and peace, is a powerful reminder of the political nature of hunger.

Despite the grim realities presented, The New Breadline is not without hope. Bauer documents the resilience and creativity of communities impacted by food crises, showcasing strategies of survival and resistance. From Haiti's hurricane and dictator recovery efforts to the Central African Republic's 2013 crises, and from Yemen and Syria's civil conflicts to the COVID-19 pandemic's revelation of food insecurity in upper-middle-class white communities, Bauer's experiences provide a rich tapestry of global perspectives.

Bauer's critique extends to the complacency toward hunger affecting marginalized groups and the sudden urgency when it impacts more privileged populations. This dichotomy underscores the pervasive inequalities in our global food systems and calls for a collective reimagining of food access. Bauer's vision of "a better food future for us all" is both an inspiring call to action and a sobering reminder of the work that remains.

The New Breadline is a vital contribution to the discourse on food justice, offering profound insights into the systemic and structural causes of food insecurity. Bauer's blend of personal narrative and analytical rigor makes for a compelling and enlightening read, challenging readers to confront the political realities of hunger and to envision a world where food is a right, not a commodity.

📖 Recommended For: Readers who seek insightful analysis of global food crises, those interested in the intersections of politics and food security, anyone passionate about social justice and humanitarian work, fans of books by activists and aid workers like Paul Farmer.

🔑 Key Themes: Colonial Capitalism, Economic Disparities, Systemic Corruption, Resilience and Resistance, Global Food Insecurity, Political Control through Hunger.

Content / Trigger Warnings: Pandemic (moderate), Murder (moderate), Torture (severe), Enslavement (moderate), War (moderate), Genocide (minor), Animal Cruelty (minor), Cannibalism (minor), Sexual Assault (minor).

Jean-Martin Bauer moved with his family to the United States from Haiti with the hopes of a better life. He was shocked that hunger and poverty is rampant in the country, one of the richest in the world. Dedicated to social justice, food justice, he has worked at the United nations in the food programmes stationed in developing countries and dispatched to food emergencies in others.

Drawing upon years of history and international experience, Bauer highlights the structural issues of race, class and gender that imprison so many people in our world. His book is a criticism, but also a call to action and a beacon of hope!
#knopfpantheonvintage #thenewbreadline #jenamartinbauer

4.5 stars. Incredible book that illuminates modern issues in world hunger. Bauer has a ton of experience both on the ground and in the office, and his stories are insane. He focuses on his areas of expertise: central Africa, Haiti, and West Virginia, but addresses many other cases. Especially given the ongoing hunger crisis in Gaza, this is essential reading for anyone interested in contemporary issues.