1. I share my food with friends.
2. I post recipes on my blog, which auto-posts on my facebook profile.
3. To friends who are curious, I send my list of paleo blogs for them to read.
4. I send testimonials and scientific research abstracts to friends who are interested; because they're short and easy to read.

I've sent the Paleo/Primal by Numbers: Email Template for Friends & Family from Pay Now, Live Later to my own friends and family. I can't say for sure whether it was well received or not, but it seems a good start.

I have thought about creating a flyer/brochure full of key points from "Good Calories, Bad Calories", "Paleo Diet", "Neanderthin", "Primal Blueprint" and other works in the paleo/primal genre.

Just avoid being like one of those new vegetarians that'll email you pictures of animals treated horribly without you asking for it. That's so annoying that it'll probably get you the opposite of what you want.

Spreading the Word sounds like political activism -- scary thought. Politics is more detrimental to health than is bad nutrition. I don't want to meddle in anyone else's affairs, just like I don't want any one else to meddle in mine. Anyone has the right to eat whatever he wants. Of course, if someone expresses interest about what I'm doing, I'll tell him. But if his interest is only to criticize me because I'm not doing what he I thinks I ought to, if he's a friend, I'll talk about Mickey Mantle; if not I'll leave. I think the best way for me to spread the word is to become healthy and fit so that everyone will notice.

I've found myself to be the best tool! (Did I just call myself a tool?)

When friends/family have inquired about how I've lost weight and gotten healthier, I just explain to them what I've been doing. I don't preach it as gospel, but I show what I did and how I ate to get to the healthier version of me. Should they want to borrow a book or learn more online, I offer them the suggestion of that if they seem interested. I'm not one to push something too hard on somebody, which is why I never did terribly well in commission-based sales. :)

For most people, the movie Fat Head is the most convincing. It also helps that the film itself is entertaining.

You can also help spread the word by joining us at Paleo for Life and voicing your support!

I think maybe the best thing to do (in most things actually) is to say nothing, but lead by example. Especially if your changes are dramatic people will

a) be curious about them

b) be more curious about them because you never said anything the whole time/didn't shove the whole system down their throat

c) respect you more due to b) and probably be more willing to listen.

Keep in mind that I have not managed to shut up about this (hahaha I just send the paleo hack before and after pics to my mom and dad who could definitely benefit). But I think, franky, the less evangelical you are the better. Worst case people get a bad taste in their mouth re: paleo b/c you were too abrasive about it and shy away from something that could be really beneficial.

Individual approach. It helps that I'm gluten-intolerant with a diabetic family and they know that I've learned a lot about nutrition that way.

Point out to the cook how delectable French cooking is.

Point out to the diabetic how their blood sugar spikes after eating grains, and then have them read Bernstein's book, which is the most sensible and approachable paleo-friendly book for the uninitiated I've seen.

Point out to close family that you're gluten-intolerant and that means they probably are too. Tell others that at least 30% of people are gluten-intolerant. Mention all the ways your health has improved.

If someone complains of a random gluten side-effect, jump on it! "I used to have the worst seasonal allergies in the world too, and dontchaknow they totally disappeared when I went GF! Weirdest thing. Apparently it's quite common, though. Because wheat is a grass, you know. And if you're allergic to grass, you shouldn't be eating it! Somehow "eating grass" aka wheat makes your immune system susceptible during allergy season."

If you know a paleo answer to their medical problem (obviously not while they're in a hospital bed recovering from a major scare), gently point it out. No preaching. "Dad, I just read an article about how gout is caused by fructose. Yeah, the fruit sugar. Yeah, I know they say it's the purines it meat, but apparently it's the way your liver processes sugar, makes crystals in your joints or something, and remember how well Atkins and South Beach worked for you? You never had gout then... I dunno, worth trying, isn't it?"

Finally, always stress how normal your diet is. I know some paleos like to eat a stick of butter in one sitting, but that's no way introduce the lifestyle to newbies! I eat hunks of meat, potatoes, veggies, generous helpings of cream and butter, and very modest amounts of sugar. Just no flour products, and most people are somewhat intolerant to them anyways, right? That's not so different from the mid-century American diet, is it? Or the European diet, and look how much healthier and blah blah blah.

I usually start with http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/10/fashion/10caveman.html

Then I point people at Taubes's piece at http://www.nytimes.com/2002/07/07/magazine/what-if-it-s-all-been-a-big-fat-lie.html?pagewanted=all which is a more approachable précis of GCBC.

The Colbert Report episode featured John Durant giving a perfect elevator pitch. http://grokonlife.com/john-durant-bringing-paleo-to-the-colbert-report/