By Delfina Vannucci and Richard Singer
Oakland, CA: AK Press, 2010
Pages: 128 pages
Dimensions: 4.5" x 6.5"
Cover: soft
Binding: perfect
Process: offset
Color: black ink
Edition size: unknown
ISBN: 978-184935018-1

A truly welcome and necessary book on collective process. Often when books like this are published, they come from and speak to more of a mainstream corporate perspective. While still usually interesting for people who work in groups, they perhaps don't really come close enough to the kind of culture we are trying to make, our politics, and our values. Come Hell or High Water focuses on identifying the kind of things that can go wrong in collectives, and while it may feel a bit negative because of its attention to the most challenging parts of working in a collective (rather than celebrating the many rewards, this book would make an excellent addition to any group or collective's library.

From the back cover:

Come Hell or High Water: A Handbook on Collective Process Gone Awry helps individuals navigate the world of egalitarian, directly democratic groups. From their experiences working with egalitarian and anarchist organizations, Delfina Vannucci and Richard Singer offer a street-level view of how social relationships and power work. Lessons are learned and hindsight is 20/20, and Come Hell or High Water offers readers both in this little gem.

Critical, humorous, and prophetic, this book is a must-read for those new to egalitarian groups as well as for the salty old vet that thinks she's got it all figured out. It's a tough world out there; it's a world that doesn't prepare us for developing social relationships based on trust, caring, and solidarity—as well as a healthy respect for differences. Whether playing a role in an anarchist organization, horizontal social or political group, worker co-op, or trying to incorporate egalitarian processes where they don't already exist, Come Hell or High Water will help keep you focused on the positives and help in avoiding the pitfalls.