Introductory book for someone getting into the revleft?

[valdek]

Hi there, I'm reasonably new to the leftist community and just recently bein enlightened to myself of the terrible state this world is in and the perils of capitalism. Ive had a bit of trouble debating my righty and capitalist friends-

So I was looking for perhaps an introductory level book or a well written one stop shop critique of capitalism/defense of the socialist ideology; a book that has a lot of takeaway ideas that will hopefully assist me in debating and stumping my colleagues and friends - perhaps something reasonably recent and not marx's capital as that thing is a beast and kind of struggle!

I realize I may be asking for too much and there is a reading list here but it's reasonably long and I'm kind of at a loss as to where to start reading and i was hoping you guys would have some personal recommendations for someone in my position.

Cheers :)

Edit: thread title was meant to be Introductory book for someone getting into the revleft scene?

[x359594]

Try The Communist Manifesto by Marx and Engels for starters. For the anarchist position, there's God and the State by Michael Bakunin.

[The Idler]

A Brief History of Neoliberalism, David Harvey.
The Principles of Communism, Friedrich Engels.
Why not Socialism?, G. A. Cohen.
Why you should be a socialist, Paul Foot.
The Case for socialism, Paul Foot.
An Anarchist FAQ, Iain McKay.

[RED DAVE]

I've always liked this one:

The the Finland Station by Edmund Wilson (http://books.google.com/books?id=6ZaTgaSeFDMC&printsec=frontcover&dq=to+the+finland+station+by+edmund+wilson&source=bl&ots=3SqlOtZI4x&sig=YbbB_M6CHkekdQ5nQalTc71pP9A&hl=en&ei=GetVTdGfPMycgQernomSDQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=4&ved=0CDkQ6AEwAw#v=onepage&q&f=false)

RED DAVE

[F9]

For the anarchist position, there's God and the State by Michael Bakunin.

really?i would far from offering to a newbie a bakunin book.Dont sounds and the best choice.I would say clearly ABC of Anarchism from Berkman, and for a bit deeper than that Conquest of Bread from Kropotkin.Bakunin comes way after those imo for a newbie, he is not that great writer.
I would also avoid the manifest but i am not aware how is this version for starters, but if its even half "difficult" than the real deal it would only make a newbie more confused.

Fuserg9:star:

[Formaldehyde and Seek]

I suggest
The A.B.C. of Anarchism
The Coming Insurrection
Communist Manifesto
Politics is Not A Bannana
The American as Anarchist
Or The Adventures of HuckleBerry Finn

[x359594]

...Bakunin comes way after those imo for a newbie, he is not that great writer...I would also avoid the manifest...if its even half "difficult" than the real deal it would only make a newbie more confused.

I was a newbie when I read both books and found them crystal clear. I especially liked Bakunin's invective and the polemics of the "Manifesto" which was after all written as an introduction to communism.

[bcbm]

"q" by luther blissett

[Os Cangaceiros]

I was a newbie when I read both books and found them crystal clear. I especially liked Bakunin's invective and the polemics of the "Manifesto" which was after all written as an introduction to communism.

Yeah. Bakunin is an underrated thinker.