Any suggestions for books on Anarchism?

[AnarchicSaint]

I'm looking for something that has a good bit of detail, but also acts as somewhat of an introductory to Anarchism (less confusion). Last 'introductory' I read was by Daniel Guerin and the only thing it introduced me to was a whole new world of confusion. I'm also looking for something that covers specific schools of thought but all in one book. That'd be much more convenient that wikipedia's mixed up definitions.


(Sorry for the italic bs idk what's going on over here.)

[Dr Doom]

try black flame: the revolutionary class politics of anarchism and syndicalism by Michael Schmidt and Lucen van der Walt. its probs the best book on anarchism i've read.

[Caj]

http://infoshop.org/page/AnAnarchistFAQ -- This is a comprehensive FAQ on anarchism.

http://marxists.org -- You can find tons of works on here for free. I'd recommend Bakunin, Kropotkin, Berkman, Goldman, Malatesta, Makhno, Volin, Rocker, etc.

As far as actual books go, I'd recommend The ABC of Anarchism by Alexander Berkman, Bakunin on Anarchism (best collection of Bakunin's writings in English that I've encountered), No Gods, No Masters (a collection of various texts on anarchism), Anarcho-Syndicalism by Rudolf Rocker, and Mutual Aid by Kropotkin.

[Brosa Luxemburg]

Anarchism and Other Essays by Emma Goldman and No Gods No Masters.

[Hermes]

Demanding the Impossible: A History of Anarchism is pretty good, although also fairly long.

[l'Enfermé]

If you know so little about Anarchism that you need an introduction to it, why do you all yourself an Anarchist?

[AnarchicSaint]

It's not that I don't know about it, but I like to get different views. I know a decent amount and I am an Anarchist. Some introduce it as simply as anti-state or anti-capitalism but I like to hear different opinions such as different philosophies, economic systems, community alternatives, etc. I guess I'm looking for something that covers Anarchism for those who have never studied politics and goes into depth about certain things rather than jumping on 'anti-capitalism' without even explaining what it is about Capitalism that Anarchists are opposed to.

[Bronco]

Anarchism (http://dwardmac.pitzer.edu/Anarchist_archives/kropotkin/britanniaanarchy.html) (Kropotkin)

A Talk About Anarchist Communism Between Two Workers (http://dwardmac.pitzer.edu/anarchist_archives/malatesta/MalatestaATAC.html) (Malatesta)

The ABC of Communist Anarchism (http://dwardmac.pitzer.edu/Anarchist_Archives/bright/berkman/communistanarchy.pdf) (Berkman)

And for a critique of Capitalism from an Anarchist

The Capitalist System (http://dwardmac.pitzer.edu/Anarchist_Archives/bakunin/capstate.html) (Bakunin)

[Proukunin]

The Coming Insurrection by the Invisible Committee

Armed Joy by Alfred M. Bonanno

[eyeheartlenin]

I thought The Anarchists, by James Joll, was an interesting book. I read it some years ago. As I remember, it is a straightforward history of that movement. I thought it was a good introduction. For some reason that I do not know, some anarchists do not like Joll, though.

[x359594]

I thought The Anarchists, by James Joll, was an interesting book. I read it some years ago...For some reason that I do not know, some anarchists do not like Joll, though.

Joll can't resist editorializing in the characteristic passive-aggressive liberal manner. That aside, his book has been superseded by several more recent volumes, many of which have been referenced above.

(I think this thread more properly belongs in Learning.)

[Luc]

I found this interesting thing.. haven't read yet but by titles it seems to be an intro to anarchism and I plan to read it soon no idea about name it's just listed as "books":confused:

http://theanarchistlibrary.org/custom-pdfs/Books.pdf


also you can find all your anarchy raising texts here at the Library http://theanarchistlibrary.org/index.html

you can also build your own book there for printing or for a e-reader

[NoOneIsIllegal]

"Anarchy" - Errico Malatesta
"ABC of Communist Anarchism" - Alexander Berkman
"Anarcho-Syndicalism: Theory and Practice" - Rudolf Rocker
"Black Flame: The Revolutionary Class Politics of Anarchism and Syndicalism" - Michael Schmidt and Lucen van der Walt

The first two are solid introductions. I figured you would want some perspective, rather than just one person. Always good to hear some worded differently.
The third was a book written during the Spanish Civil War, when anarchism, specifically anarcho-syndicalism, was at the forefront of a lot of people's minds.
The forth book pretty much breaks down everything on anarchist ideology and differing views. One of the best books I've read in years.
After those, you should be pretty solid. The first 3 should be all relatively cheap, or even free if you read them online.

[Aflameoffreedom]

-The Black Flag: Peter Kropotkin on Anarchism
Contains "Revolutionary Government", "Anarchist Communism; Its Basis and Principles", "Anarchist Morality" and "Anarchism; Its Philosophy and Ideal".
Short book.
- The Conquest of Bread by Peter Kropotkin

[Caj]

-The Black Flag: Peter Kropotkin on Anarchism

Anarchism: A Collection of Revolutionary Writings (also sold under the title Kropotkin's Revolutionary Pamphlets) is a better collection of Kropotkin's works, although this one isn't bad.

[blake 3:17]

I'd suggest the Goldman books.

[Искра]

As an ex- anarchist I don't understand why does anyone recomend Emma Goldman. Her writings are not anything special. She wasn't theoretician... she was a militant and her writings are short newspapers style texts about certain subject. They are not deep (not even on "anarchist deep" level) and they are so full of flaws...

I would recomed Black Flame as many other users. Also, I'd recomend Kropotkin's Conquest of Bread. Berkaman's ABC of Anarchism is also good. Also, anything my Maximoff.

I would also recomend you to avoid anything by Goldman or US individualist anarchists, also Volin...

[Caj]

As an ex- anarchist I don't understand why does anyone recomend Emma Goldman. Her writings are not anything special. She wasn't theoretician... she was a militant and her writings are short newspapers style texts about certain subject. They are not deep (not even on "anarchist deep" level) and they are so full of flaws

Yeah, I'm not much of a fan of Goldman either. She's pretty overrated. Nonetheless, I'd still recommend her just because of how revered she is by so many anarchists.


also Volin...

What do you have against Volin?

[Ostrinski]

Seems like Goldman is to anarchists what Che is to ML's. Sort of a figurehead but not really a theoretician. They were both bros/broettes though

[blake 3:17]

Nice comparison!


Seems like Goldman is to anarchists what Che is to ML's. Sort of a figurehead but not really a theoretician. They were both bros/broettes though

They were two of the most able and thoughtful revolutionaries of the past century that actually did shit and took risks. There's a reason they inspire so many people! I wouldn't dismiss either as a thinker.

[lombas]

Might I suggest reading the very short A Dialogue Between a Priest and a Dying Man?

http://www.sade-ecrivain.com/Dialogue-Between-a-Priest-and-a-Dying-Man.html

I'll give away the core message:


Reason, sir - yes, our reason alone should warn us that harm done our fellows can never bring happiness to us; and our heart, that contributing to their felicity is the greatest joy Nature has accorded us on earth; the entirety of human morals is contained in this one phrase: Render others as happy as one desires oneself to be, and never inflict more pain upon them than one would like to receive at their hands. There you are, my friend, those are the only principles we should observe, and you need neither god nor religion to appreciate and subscribe to them, you need only have a good heart.

[Comrade Jandar]

Anarchism by Daniel Guerin. To be honest, there are not that many individual anarchist theoreticians really worth reading. Read a few articles on libcom and then dive into some non-leninist marxist literature. If you are looking for something that's not too dry I recommend the biography Durruti in the Spanish Revolution. If you thought Che was a bad ass, wait till you learn about Durruti. In essence, anarchism = practice, marxism = theory.

[x359594]

Among the many fine recommendations already posted I'll second the following and add a few more:

Anarchism by Daniel Guerin: an overview of the most important anarchist tendencies succinctly written.

Anarcho-Syndicalism by Rudolf Rocker: The Pluto Press edition has a preface by Noam Chomsky and an Introduction by Nicholas Walter. Concisely lays out the fundamental positions of anarcho-syndicalism.

The ABC of Anarchism (also known as What is Anarchist Communism?) by Alexander Berkman. Direct and readable overview. There are many editions.

Drawing the Line Once Again by Paul Goodman: Goodman pioneered communalist anarchism and immediate direct action on local issues. Outfits like Cop Watch, Food Not Bombs and the Bus Riders Union are examples of communalist anarchism.

Quiet Rumours: An Anarcha-Feminist Reader edited by Roxanne-Dunbar Ortiz. The anarchist inflection of radical feminism.

From the classical anarchist thinkers:

Selected Writings of Mikhail Bakunin: Includes "God and the State", "Marxism, Freedom and the State", "The Policy of the International", and "The Paris Commune and the Idea of the State". Preface gives a brief biography.

Kropotkin's Revolutionary Pamphlets: available as a free e-book: http://www.ebook3000.com/politics/Kropotkin-s-Revolutionary-Pamphlets_118225.html

Property is Theft: A Pierre-Joseph Proudhon Reader: Good collection from a theoretical precursor of anarchism.

Anarchism in practice:

Anarchism and the City: Revolution and Counter-revolution in Barcelona, 1898–1937 by Chris Ealham. Vivid history of anarchist practice with pertinent discussion of what worked, what failed and what could be.

The Anarchists of Casas Viejas by Jerome Mintz: an anthropology of anarchist practice and insurrection.