Information

[Desert Fox]

Well I want to learn more about communism and the ideologies of other figures in the history of communism like mao, marx, etc ... But wich books should I consult, the topic of the book and why should I consult it. I figured it was here the best place to ask it since 95 % of this forum is leftish ;)

[Pete]

Read history in general. Perhaps the Peoples History of America. Read some Fisk and Chomsky articles on current events, but stay clear of the books if you want to stay awake. Take some time and read Naseau by Jean-Paul Satre, the Dune series, and a bunch of T.S. Eliot poems.

That should do you if you are anything like me.

[Bianconero]

Desert Fox, it is great to see your interest.

Basically, I'd say to learn more about Communism you should try rather basic works, like the Communist Manifesto (http://www.marx2mao.org/M&E/CM47.html) [Marx], Comrade Engels' Principles Of Communism (http://www.marx2mao.org/M&E/PC47.html) or simply read up here (http://www.marxists.org/subject/students/index.htm). Watch out though, the last one is a trotskyite source. ;)

[Desert Fox]

Thank you for your share of information. I shall check your ideas when I get the time CrazyPete. I have saved the sites to my fav and will read them throughly when I get the time. Since I have currently a busy msn and school life ;) But I want to discover more about the communism ideology since so many people on this board are driven by it and that intrested me ;)

[elijahcraig]

CrazyPete, I don't think those are books to read to learn about communism; although they are good books.

I would read
1. Das Kapital-Marx (first volume or all three, depends on how much time you have)
2. Manifesto-Marx/Engels
3. State and Revolution-Lenin
4. Guerilla Warfare-Mao
5. Economic Problems of Socialism in the USSR-Stalin
6. The Origin of the Family-Engels
7. What is to be Done?-Lenin
8. Quotations of Chairman Mao Zedong (The Little Red Book)-Mao
9. Revolutionary Armed Struggle-Anonymous Black Liberation Guerilla
10. Problems of Leninism-Stalin

[Pete]

They may not be about leninism, as most of yours are, but have no doubt that they help both open ones mind and shuffle in some leftist thought. Communistic books are also those that are gateways. For example, read Dune and develop a hate for empire and monarchy. Read T.S. Eliot to hear the brutal truth. Read Satre to have your beliefs questioned. Read Fisk and Chomsky to see what is really going in the world.

Pure theory goes so far. So That is why Fisk and Chomsky where included. If you have an opened and questioning mind their information, suplimented with mainstream and alternative media, will allow you to discover more truths in todays world and the realities that actually exist then any of your leninist deaththroes could ^_^

[Desert Fox]

Thanx for your list elijahcraig. And thanx to you to Crazy Pete for your explanation why I should read those books. Don't worry I already have developed a hate against monarchy since that is the less fairest political system there is. Even with dicators at one point of there lives they are loved by the people and chosen as their leaders but monarchy you can't choose the leaders and most of them are that incompetent that you really start to wonder if the system is right ...

[SonofRage]

Originally posted by [email protected] 27 2003, 11:07 AM
Read history in general. Perhaps the Peoples History of America.
I think you mean "A People's History of the United States" by Howard Zinn.

I would also recommend:

"Hegemony and Socialist Strategy: Towards a Radical Democratic Politics " by Ernesto Laclau
"Free Market Fantasies Capitalism in the Real World" by Noam Chomsky

[apathy maybe]

I would also read the Anarchist FAQ, do a search on google. But be warned, its very long. Also read some of redstar2000's papers. Not all of it is worth reading but most of it is.

[Sabocat]

Also check out Market Elections by Vince Copeland

and

Killing Hope by William Blum.

Both of these will also serve to open your eyes to the fiction of "Amercian Democracy"

[Desert Fox]

Originally posted by [email protected] 28 2003, 11:37 AM
Both of these will also serve to open your eyes to the fiction of "Amercian Democracy"
Well I don't think you have to enlighten me on that subject. Since I like most europeans know that USA is more and more going towards a despotisme world state than a democracy worldstate. And I really wouldn't care normally since I have no affairs with the politics of a foreign country but when they start to think they are all that and want to control everything in the world than I make it my affair :P

[elijahcraig]

They may not be about leninism, as most of yours are, but have no doubt that they help both open ones mind and shuffle in some leftist thought. Communistic books are also those that are gateways. For example, read Dune and develop a hate for empire and monarchy. Read T.S. Eliot to hear the brutal truth. Read Satre to have your beliefs questioned. Read Fisk and Chomsky to see what is really going in the world.

I was just commenting on this being a thread about communist theory, not "histories", etc.

I love a People's History of the United States, I just didn't think it fit Desert Fox's request.

TS Eliot the brutal truth? He was a Christian who flirted with fascism and designed a system of medevalism. Although I think I know what you mean. I'd go with Pound or Joyce for the "brutal truth", or Burroughs.

Sartre is getting to be less to my liking.

Fisk and Chomsky? I enjoy them both. I think Chomsky is a little "bourgeois" in analyzing socialist countries though.


Pure theory goes so far. So That is why Fisk and Chomsky where included. If you have an opened and questioning mind their information, suplimented with mainstream and alternative media, will allow you to discover more truths in todays world and the realities that actually exist then any of your leninist deaththroes could

Why the idiotic insult?

I have read many of Chomsky's books and read Fisk off of Zmag and Counterpunch daily.

Chomsky and I used to be in touch through email for something like 6 months or so, then it gradually stopped being an everyday back and forth because we quite frankly ran out of things to talk about.

[Desert Fox]

Originally posted by [email protected] 29 2003, 12:46 AM

I was just commenting on this being a thread about communist theory, not "histories", etc.

I love a People's History of the United States, I just didn't think it fit Desert Fox's request.



Well you are actually right, I posted a thread here because I was sure to get many books about the communist theory. But I don't mind that people want to enlighten me on certain parts of history as well, since I am intrested in history too.