Main Currents of Marxism

[28350]

I picked up the book Main Currents of Marxism by Leszek Kołakowski the other day while in B&N. It looked pretty comprehensive. However, I learned from searching his name that he was (once a communist but later became) an anti-communist. Does anyone know if this book is legitimate or neutral?

[ZombieGrits]

If it's at b&n at all, then it's almost definitely anti-communist. However, that doesn't mean that it won't have good information; it seems to be a pretty well-respected book

[The Idler]

As I understand it, the book has been described as broadly critical but nevertheless quite in-depth.

[graymouser]

I haven't read it but I've skimmed it in the bookstore. The book is essentially a very long, thorough repudiation of Marxism. I'd pass on it; the debates are important but shouldn't be understood through the eyes of an anti-communist as this has a distorting factor, and you could do yourself more good reading actual movement histories.

[Proletarian Ultra]

Boring as shit. That's the main problem. Sorry you spent $$$ on it. :(

[28350]

Eh I can return it.
I use bookstores like libraries.

[el_chavista]

Can you make a thorough tree chart of the different currents of Marxism with that book?

[28350]

i dunno.
it's very comprehensive in some areas, but lacking in others (only a page or so is dedicated to maoism)

[The Idler]

Just ordered this. I don't suppose there is a more sympathetic account but as comprehensive as this?

[fa2991]

Who says you shouldn't read something just because it's critical? MCOM is definitely worth the read. There isn't much about Mao or Trotsky, though, as Leszek believes that neither of them made any significant contribution to Marxist theory.

[Comrade Marxist Bro]

I picked up the book Main Currents of Marxism by Leszek Kołakowski the other day while in B&N. It looked pretty comprehensive. However, I learned from searching his name that he was (once a communist but later became) an anti-communist. Does anyone know if this book is legitimate or neutral?

Main Currents is on my bookself. It's a very intelligent book that offers a ton of philosophical criticism by examining the weaker aspects of Marxist theory.

It's very, very anti-communist (Engels, Leninism, and the USSR is most heavily targeted, but in the course of the survey Kołakowski also criticizes Marx, Engels, Luxembourg, and everyone else, with the exception of the reformist social democrats).

But it does offer far more intellectual and better arguments against Marxism and Marxism-Leninism as an antidote for the ills of capitalism than the typical right-wing intuitive non-sense that we are used to, since Kołakowski actually studied and taught Marxism for decades as a Warsaw University instructor, and understands its principles and ideas, unlike the right-wing idiots whose superficial attempts to understand Marx begin with the desire to reject him from the outset.

The book consists of three volumes and is very long (over 1000 pages in total), but not a particularly difficult read.

If that's what you are looking for, I would recommend it.