Books

[IClibsoc]

Today I got Value, Price, and Profit/Wage-labour and capital by Karl Marx, and Capital: A new abridgement by the Oxford Press. In order to learn more about Marxism, what other books should I buy, and are all books useful?

I'm a newbie, so I appreciate your help :)

[fa2991]

The full version of Capital vol.1 might be a nice start, since I can't imagine how one could abridge that book and do it justice.

See also:

http://www.revleft.com/vb/should-read-marx-t140027/index.html

[Pretty Flaco]

Communist Manifesto, first and foremost! :thumbup1:
there are also tons of generic "ABC" books on marxism that explains the principles. There's a reading list in the literature section that might have some good titles for you.

[fa2991]

It's probably worth asking whether or not you are interested in currents of Marxism that came after Marx - Leninism, council communism, etc. - or if you want to just stick with books on classical Marxism.

[IClibsoc]

Thanks for the help guys! Fa2991, I want to stick to classical Marxism books.

[fa2991]

In that case, I'd recommend, above all, the Communist Manifesto, the Eighteenth Brumaire of Louis Bonaparte, and the Critique of the Gotha Programme by Karl Marx and On Authority and Origin of the Family, Private Property, and the State by Friedrich Engels.

[IClibsoc]

Thanks for the info :D

[ZombieGrits]

Though I've not read it, I've heard that "Socialism, Utopian and Scientific" by Engels is pretty good. And speaking of Engels; this doesn't necessarily fall under the category of Marxist theory, but I read this really good biography of Engels that really sheds some light on the formation of his and Marx's ideas, it's called "Marx's General" by Tristram Hunt

[anticap]

On Authority

Read this if you like, but be aware that most anarchists vehemently denounce it as an attack on a straw man. But even they might recommend it as an excellent example of such.

See here for one anarchist rebuttal: http://anarchism.pageabode.com/afaq/secH4.html

FWIW, as someone who perpetually bounces around in the space between Marxism and anarchism, I side with the anarchists on this one. Engels either completely misunderstands anarchism, or deliberately misrepresents it.

[fa2991]

Read this if you like, but be aware that most anarchists vehemently denounce it as an attack on a straw man. But even they might recommend it as an excellent example of such.

That's why I recommend it. :D

It's a foolish essay, but I think that to understand M&E, you need to understand their take on anarchism.