Left Communism books

[Wobblie]

I'm looking for good introductory books to Left Communism. I've found some like "Worker's Councils" by Anton Pannekoek, and "Non-Leninist Marxism: Writings on the Workers Councils". I then found a whole series of books written by Lenny Flank Jr. on left communism, but I can't find any information on Lenny Flank and that makes me a bit concerned about the getting them. Do any of you know anything about him? Thanks. :D

[Alf]

The ICC has published books on the Italian, Dutch/German, Russian and British left communists. Most of these can be bought on amazon, otherwise, write to us directly via our website (www. internationalism.org)

[el_chavista]

Don´t forget Lenin's "Left-Wing Communism, An Infantile Disorder" :)

[which doctor]

Paul Mattick's Anti-Bolshevik Communism is a good introduction.

[Markyb]

Pannekoek is great, I would also recommend Mattick. It would be a good idea to read Lenin's Leftwing Communism alongside 'Open Letter to Comrade Lenin' by Herman Gorter which is included in "Non-Leninist Marxism: Writings on the Workers Councils" although it is also online. The ICC have lots of stuff on their site which is great.

If this topic is new to you see ww.marxists.org/subject/left-wing/index.htm or the thread on this forum concerning the topic, finally - see libcom.org

[Comrade_Kole]

Read Engel's FAQ, which is a stickythread right on this forum.

[Die Neue Zeit]

What about Bordiga's Dialogue with Stalin?

[Niccolò Rossi]

Don´t forget Lenin's "Left-Wing Communism, An Infantile Disorder" :)

A good read, but I second Markyb's recommendation that Herman Gorter's reply: 'An Open Letter to Comrade Lenin (http://www.marxists.org/archive/gorter/1920/open-letter/index.htm)' as an accompaniment is a must.


What about Bordiga's Dialogue with Stalin?

Why this and not anything else of Bordiga's? I don't think it's really that significant relatively.

On the original topic, I would strongly recommend you read the current publications of the communist left in addition and as a supplement to important historic texts. Reading online/taking out a subscription to International Review (http://en.internationalism.org/booktree/2145), World Revolution (http://en.internationalism.org/booktree/2781), Internationalism (http://en.internationalism.org/booktree/3468) (ICC), Revolutionary Perspectives (http://www.leftcom.org/en/articles/revolutionary-perspectives) (ICT) or Internationalist Perspectives (http://internationalist-perspective.org/IP/ip-index.html) (among many others) is a very good idea in my experience.

[Die Neue Zeit]

Why this and not anything else of Bordiga's? I don't think it's really that significant relatively.

I see the left-communist take on state capitalism as being more important than "organic centralism" or not having fetishes for the "democratic principle" or the emphasis on workers' councils.

[Bilan]

Pannekoek - Workers Councils, or the above mentioned ICC works. Bordiga too.