Communist manifesto in laymen's terms?

[Viva Revolution!]

I'm 17 and really interested in communism, and what the communist manifesto entails. However, i find the actual manifesto a difficult and confusing read. Is there any books that simplify all the points mentioned in the manifesto? thankyou.

[Bronco]

I think the SparkNotes guide to the Communist Manifesto is actually pretty good at explaining the arguments that Marx is making - http://www.sparknotes.com/philosophy/communist/section1.rhtml

Also check out Engel's Principles of Communism (http://www.marxists.org/archive/marx/works/1847/11/prin-com.htm), like the Manifesto it gives a brief overview of Communism but I actually find it simpler and easier to follow

[Tommy4ever]

The proletariat consists of people who own no means of production and their only means of sustaining themselves is to rent their labour in the form of wages. Through this labour they created all wealth in society.

The bourgioesie owns the means of production and makes a living by employing labour to process their means of production and create wealth. They create no wealth on their own, but they gain the majority of the wealth created by the workers.

This practise is exploitatative, there is really no need for the bourgeiosie and the means of production should be held in common.

Therefore, the proletariat should overthrow the bourgeiosie and establish socialism - a society in which the means of production are held in common.

That's a rough guide that I hope is easy to understand (and damn quick to read!).

[Nuvem]

The Manifesto is in layman's terms.

[Binh]

There's a video on YouTube called Marx for Beginner.

An annotated version of the Communist Manifesto that explains all the archaic terms was done by Haymarket books and edited by Phil Gaspar. It also has study questions and an introduction.

[jake williams]

The Manifesto is in layman's terms.
...of literate workers in 1848.

Why is it that you're interested in the Communist Manifesto in particular? It's a specific historical document specific to particular people at a particular time. There are better documents explaining what communism is, what Marxism is, the history of class struggle, and so on. If you'd like to know what different communists do and advocate today, their own publications are written in much more modern language (the ones that do anything, anyway).

[Red Commissar]

If the Manifesto is a confusing read to you, I suggest you try and read some fiction books of your choice- particularly those from the late 1800s and turn of the century, and also read up on basic history of the industrial era. This'll improve your reading skills and appreciate the context the manifesto was written in.

To be frank if you find the Manifesto difficult to read, Das Kapital will blow your brains all over the wall.

[The Idler]

Oxford University Press
Anarchism: A Very Short Introduction by Colin Ward
Communism: A Very Short Introduction by Leslie Holmes
Socialism: A Very Short Introduction by Michael Newman
Marx: A Very Short Introduction by Peter Singer
Engels: A Very Short Introduction by Terrell Harver

Icon Books/Pantheon/Totem
Introducing Marx by Rius
Introducing Marxism by Rupert Woodfin and Oscar Zarate
Marx's Kapital for Beginners (http://www.revleft.com/vb/marx-39-s-t41211/index.html) by David N. Smith and Phil Evans

[Impulse97]

The Manifesto is in layman's terms.

Yea, but it's in laymen's terms for 1848. I think it's the fact that it's been 160 years since it was written that's causing issues. The lingo has change quite a bit since then and may be difficult for the newer comrades to grasp.

It was plenty hard for me on the first read through, but it got easier the second and third times through. Reading the Principles of Communism helped too, as it is easier to read and sheds more light on the manifesto's meaning.

[Unclebananahead]

-tvKR03g8e0

[Nikolay]

If I were you, I would read the original English version of the Manifesto, but have a dictionary in hand, and also have The Principles of Communism in hand as well.

[Tommy4ever]

If I were you, I would read the original English version of the Manifesto, but have a dictionary in hand, and also have The Principles of Communism in hand as well.

Isn't the opening line of the original something like ''there is a hobgoblin descending over the continent - that of communsim''?

[Desperado]

I wish they'd kept the original, we'd be able to capture the minds of the Runescape and Dungeons and Dragons demographic a little easier then.

[Nikolay]

Isn't the opening line of the original something like ''there is a hobgoblin descending over the continent - that of communsim''?
I meant the version on Marxist Internet Archive. :P

[o well this is ok I guess]

Isn't the opening line of the original something like ''there is a hobgoblin descending over the continent - that of communsim''? Man, I wonder how the translator felt about that.

[Obs]

Isn't the opening line of the original something like ''there is a hobgoblin descending over the continent - that of communsim''?
Spectre, not hobgoblin.

[Rooster]

Spectre, not hobgoblin.

An early English translation (if not the first) by Helen MacFarlane, opened up with the line "A frightful hobgoblin stalks through Europe".

[caramelpence]

Without being patronizing, I am genuinely surprised that you or anyone else could find the language of the Manifesto archaic or otherwise difficult to read. I find it hard to accept that the Manifesto was accessible in 1848 and has since become less so because it is one of the texts that has been consistently produced and circulated for educational purposes by left-wing organizations after Marx's death, including the SPD, whatever the underlying flaws of that organization, without there being any perceived need to alter or "update" the language. I have always been impressed by just how effectively the Manifesto describes complex historical processes, like the concentration of capital and its attendant political consequences, and Marx's understanding of capitalism as historically necessary and progressive, in language that is not only simple but highly pleasurable to read. In fact, I would go so far as to argue that the Manifesto is one of the texts that best demonstrates Marx's appreciation of literature and his ability to draw on highly precise and colorful language to develop his argument. I would suggest that you point to specific passages or points that you find difficult so we can discuss then in this thread.

[jake williams]

Without being patronizing, I am genuinely surprised that you or anyone else could find the language of the Manifesto archaic or otherwise difficult to read.
That's not "without being patronizing". If you're genuinely suprised that anyone would find the language obtuse or archaic, then you need to get out more.

That said, if you were to read through it and ask about any passages you found unclear, I think you would find good explanation here.

[Vladimir Innit Lenin]

To be frank if you find the Manifesto difficult to read, Das Kapital will blow your brains all over the wall.

I was thinking this, though the David Harvey interpretation might bear an easier read, i've not read all of either, though.

OP: i'm sure google or youtube will present many ideas on the manifesto for beginners.

Alternatively, go to Marxists.org and immerse yourself in the style that Marx, Engels etc. wrote at the time. It's often confusing but once you get past that you can ignore when they are chatting shit for the sake of chatting shit and actually, the manifesto is not a hugely difficult read once you understand their prose.

[Aurorus Ruber]

If the Manifesto is a confusing read to you, I suggest you try and read some fiction books of your choice- particularly those from the late 1800s and turn of the century, and also read up on basic history of the industrial era. This'll improve your reading skills and appreciate the context the manifesto was written in.

To be frank if you find the Manifesto difficult to read, Das Kapital will blow your brains all over the wall.

I've always found the Manifesto the easiest and most readable work of Marx that I've read, myself.

[Commissar Rykov]

I've always found the Manifesto the easiest and most readable work of Marx that I've read, myself.

Same though I found most of Marx to be pretty easy to read except for Capital. I don't know why but that thing gives me such a headache.

[The Idler]

Spectre, not hobgoblin.
Someone better tell these guys
Hobgoblin Online Journal (http://www.thehobgoblin.co.uk/)