Learning the Communist manifesto

[UjimaTribesman]

Here’s the deal, I consider my self a socialist, well a self styled socialist. The thing is that I’m not well versed in the works of Marx, or any of the other well known socialists. I basically have learned the definitions of the different ideologies, and realized that I’m a socialist.
So I’m not a Marxist, Maoist, or any other kind of “ist” besides socialist, but I’d like to read and understand the communist manifesto. I’ve tried to read it but its so boring or at least the parts I’ve tried to read are. Nothing puts me to sleep faster then the audio book of it I tried to listen too.
My question is, does the communist manifesto have any kind of companion book that would allow a guy like me to understand it better. Maybe like a study guide.
If such a source exists can some one tell me where to find it.

[Paulappaul]

Let me say as a Socialist and Marxist,

The Communist Manifesto is more then a hundred years out of date. A big part about being a Marxist, is recognizing that things go out of date. The Communist Manifesto was written to accompany certain historical conditions that have since gone way out of date. If you're looking for something that is really going to relate to modern conditions, or going to enlighten you on Socialism, the Communist Manifesto isn't going to help you.

Trust me, there is nothing worse for my eyes then somebody starting on Socialism with reading the Communist Manifesto. Engels himself recognized that the Communist Manifesto had gone out of date in light of the Workers' Struggles in the later part of the 19th century and the development of Capitalism alongside it.

A good book by a Dutch Marxist that is comprehensive and detailed description of Communist theory and what a communist society will look like is Anton Pannekoek'
s "Workers' Councils". It's an easy read, not full of Marxist jargon either. In the words of Noam Chomsky "a true piece of workers' literature". Another good substitute is by the Russian Anarchist Peter Kropotkin, "Fields, Factories and Workshops" and "The Conquest of Bread".

A short read which is super easy and enlightening is from the British Marxist Sylvia Pankhurst and is entitled "Communism and it's tactics" the first and best version can be found here (http://www.marxists.org/archive/pankhurst-sylvia/communism-tactics/index.htm).

[Robespierre Richard]

Arguably, the Manifesto went out of date as soon as the first copy rolled out of the printing press. However, it's a good exhibition of communist political argument as well as a summary of key philosophical, economic, and political ideas that are at the foundations of capitalism. Good books to read besides it would be Comrade Stalin's "Foundations of Leninism" which give an excellent overview of imperialism and of course the Quotations from Chairman Mao Tse-Tung which are a generally good in questions of modern political organization.

[#FF0000]

You might want to take a look at Engel's Principles of Communism.

It's actually a sticky on this forum.

http://www.revleft.com/vb/communist-theory-faq-t23569/index.html

[tbasherizer]

I'd still recommend reading the Manifesto as a part of an introduction to socialism. Before you start though, you should get a grasp of the rough historical development of Western Europe (or at least Britain) from mid-millenium until then. After you're done that, read up on the industrial revolution, and finally focus on the contemporary labour movement in Britain from the beginning of the 19th century until then. Then read up on Greek and German philosophy. After all this, turn to page one of the Manifesto. I know, it's bulky, but this will give you the context you need to understand Marx. On top of that, I've also always been sort of a history fiend ;).

[Die Rote Fahne]

The Communist Manifesto is just a basic introductory to Marxism, intended for the working class of the time.

Marxism is much deeper.

Still very informative, very important in helping you understand and apply Marxism to modern situations.

[Proukunin]

try State and Revolution by Lenin or books by Mao.. I recommend going to Marxist Internet Archive.

[UjimaTribesman]

A good book by a Dutch Marxist that is comprehensive and detailed description of Communist theory and what a communist society will look like is Anton Pannekoek'
s "Workers' Councils". It's an easy read, not full of Marxist jargon either. In the words of Noam Chomsky "a true piece of workers' literature". Another good substitute is by the Russian Anarchist Peter Kropotkin, "Fields, Factories and Workshops" and "The Conquest of Bread".

A short read which is super easy and enlightening is from the British Marxist Sylvia Pankhurst and is entitled "Communism and it's tactics"


You might want to take a look at Engel's Principles of Communism.

It's actually a sticky on this forum.




try State and Revolution by Lenin or books by Mao.. I recommend going to Marxist Internet Archive.
Hey thanks, for the sources. I'm going to check out the communist theory on this fourm, then I think I'll try to obtain some of the other books you all have mentioned.

[The Idler]

No one mentioned David Harvey's companion guides! There is also graphic guides.

[Robespierre Richard]

David Harvey's stuff on Capital is good for the first few chapters but after that he goes into some crazy diagram-land trying to explain everything in one big flowchart. (One Man. One Dry-Erase Board. 1100 Pages Of Economic Thought.) That's the video lectures. I tried to read the books, the one on Capital basically only deas with explaining phenomena he considers important.

And yeah, of graphic guides, Marx for Beginners by Rius is excellent. Introducing Marxism is post-modernist garbage though and after reading it I returned it to the store.

[Broletariat]

Edit: nevermind

[Hit The North]

Try this:

Why You Should be A Socialist (http://www.marxists.org/archive/foot-paul/1977/wysbas/index.htm)

[Hit The North]

Hey thanks, for the sources. I'm going to check out the communist theory on this fourm, then I think I'll try to obtain some of the other books you all have mentioned.

Most of the books mentioned are available at the Marxist Internet Archive (http://www.marxists.org/index.htm)

[NGNM85]

While much of Marx's writing can be incredibly tedious to read, I fail to see why anyone wouldn't be able to finish the Manifesto. It's essentially a pamphlet, for Christs' sake.

[Amphictyonis]

Here’s the deal, I consider my self a socialist, well a self styled socialist. The thing is that I’m not well versed in the works of Marx, or any of the other well known socialists. I basically have learned the definitions of the different ideologies, and realized that I’m a socialist.
So I’m not a Marxist, Maoist, or any other kind of “ist” besides socialist, but I’d like to read and understand the communist manifesto. I’ve tried to read it but its so boring or at least the parts I’ve tried to read are. Nothing puts me to sleep faster then the audio book of it I tried to listen too.
My question is, does the communist manifesto have any kind of companion book that would allow a guy like me to understand it better. Maybe like a study guide.
If such a source exists can some one tell me where to find it.

I'd suggest David Harvey's reading of capital here:

http://davidharvey.org/reading-capital/

OR librivox has readers reading Marx's works with no analysis:

http://librivox.org/newcatalog/search.php?title=&author=Marx&status=all&action=Search


I've found boring books are more tolerable when you listen to them. Maybe do some exercise first to relax or listen as you go to bed at night :) Some of it will sink in.


Youtube videos such as the one below also help:

bvzj5g0nCXs

This guys youtube channel is good:

http://www.youtube.com/user/brendanmcooney

Also I've given "The Meaning Of Marxism" to a few people and they said it really helped- it's written by Paul D'Amato. You can find some of his online work here:

http://socialistworker.org/Featured/MeaningOfMarxism.shtml

[deadmeat1471]

Let me say as a Socialist and Marxist,

The Communist Manifesto is more then a hundred years out of date. A big part about being a Marxist, is recognizing that things go out of date. [/B]


I have to agree and stress this point also, I have had many discussions and in all of them it is easy to discover that Marx's statements must be taken within the context of our own society. To take it as it is stated in the communist manifesto is to refuse to adapt to changing situations.
Marx wasn't wrong, he was just citing the situation of the times, and i'm sure he intended his works to not be a bible to be strictly followed, but as a guideline to adapt to modern times as socialist ideals and ways melt into society.

[Sinister Cultural Marxist]

I'd recommend Das Kapital, but i think it would put you to sleep even faster.

There are plenty of essays by Marx which might be a good place to start. check marxists.org

[Rooster]

Yeah, I don't understand why people find the Manifesto a difficult read.

I find Capital a fascinating read though, once you get into it. It's difficult, I admit but you can just re-read the same parts until you get and if you don't then you can just move on and at a later date, come back to it.

Has anyone read Louis Althusser's Reading Capital (http://www.marx2mao.com/Other/RC68NB.html)?

If David Harvey and other guides are too much of a bore for you then you can try http://kapitalism101.wordpress.com/ which I found to be a great little site, filled with videos and transcripts. You can even message the guy and ask questions. He also has a youtube page where he keeps all of the videos but I can't off the top of my head remember it.

[RED DAVE]

My standard recommendation:

The Two Souls of Socialism (http://www.marxists.org/archive/draper/1966/twosouls/)

RED DAVE

[NoOneIsIllegal]

The Manifesto is dreadfully boring, and no that's not a sectarian shit-throw. I thought that when I was closer to Marxism/democratic-socialism as well.
I really do prefer The Conquest of Bread. It's over 100 years old, and is still easy to read.

As much as it goes against the grain, it was easier for me to read other books about socialism and radicalism before reading the almighty classics. Sometimes, you have to get a feeling of the water before diving in, right? But that worked well for me, it may be completely opposite for you.