Antonio Negri

[GracchusBabeuf]

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[Pawn Power]

I have read Empire which he coauthored with Hart. It has a lot of bullshit in it but also many interesting ideas. All of his stuff is pretty 'complex' so I wouldn't know where to start, though I suppose Empire is his best known work.

[Pawn Power]

This website also has a few of his essays, Class Against Class (http://www.geocities.com/cordobakaf/)

[svenne]

If you feel like reading Empire, begin with a book or two on the history of philosophy and political philosophy, he's pretty much being harder than he needs to be with a lot of strange persons and ideas just thrown at you without explanation. The book Multitue is supposed to be a bit easier, aimed at the anti-globalization audience but somewhat the same subject as Empire.

Also, there's a bok called Books for Burning, which is a compilation of early texts. Is said to be great, and i have it, but haven't read it. Yet...

[Sasha]

i got a wel written book by a certain frans van den oudenrijn wich breaks down Negri's ideas about autonimy into understandebel bits but it doesnt seem to be translated outside dutch.

[Mujer Libre]

Multitude is pretty easy reading, and perhaps a good introduction to Negri's ideas. His work is quite theoretical, so it helps to have an understanding of sociological concepts like 'discourse' etc before reading, but as I said, Multitude is pretty easy and gives a reasonably simple explanation of some of the key concepts.

[Louis Pio]

I think Negri is a perfect example of a left intellectual that uses alot of time talking about the same simple things, but covers it up in a complex cape as to appear intelligent.
I wouldn't suggest anyone reading his books, his ideas are nothing new really. And I feel the time I've spent on Empire was some of the most wasted time in my life. Time I unfortunately will never get back.

[Palmares]

Multitude is pretty easy reading, and perhaps a good introduction to Negri's ideas. His work is quite theoretical, so it helps to have an understanding of sociological concepts like 'discourse' etc before reading, but as I said, Multitude is pretty easy and gives a reasonably simple explanation of some of the key concepts.

What did you think of the book? Negri is influenced by some post-structuralist ideas right?

Is Multitude an easier (more accessible) and better book to read than Empire? I thought that the former was a kind of follow up to the latter? So I always planned (slow going that plan...) on reading Empire, then Multitude.

[kalu]

Do NOT read Empire unless you are acquainted with "theory," ie. Foucault, Deleuze. Maybe Multitude is understandable by itself.

Personally, I'd begin with Marx Beyond Marx and Marx's Grundrisse. A lesson in solid Autonomist Marxism for under $30! You might even try Harry Cleaver's Reading Capital Politically, Negri's fellow traveler.

If you are interested in Negri's philosophy, read Spinoza's Ethics and Negri's Savage Anomaly together.