The Conquest of Bread, thoughts?

[Nikolay]

I just ordered this book from amazon.ca, because I am interested in some anarchist-communist theory. Would you say this is a good source of information, or is there better books out there?

[AxiomFire]

I read Conquest a few months ago and it blew my mind. It was part of the reason I transitioned from Trotskyism to anarchist communism. In my experience, it is one of the best explanations of a libertarian communist system with various examples to support each concept. Very good source, however don't judge the entire movement on the writings of a single intellectual. Variation is key, read some Malatesta or Goldman as well.

[Blake's Baby]

I would agree that Conquest is a clear explaination of the possibility of communism. Politically and historically I think there are problems with it, but I read it about 7 years ago when I was moving away from Anarchist-Communism, so it's hardly surprising I don't agree with everything in it; but as AxiomFire says, it supports the conceptual explanations with practical examples, and lucidly argues that a co-operative economy could produce more with less work for more people than capitalism ever could.

[Let's Get Free]

"The study of the needs of mankind, and the means of satisfying them with the least possible waste of human energy"

Clear, comprehensive and to the point.

I think that this is an easier book for understanding Kropotkin's anarcho-communism than Mutual Aid. But I think Mutual Aid is a better book overall.

Sometimes he sounds downright American libertarian-- mainly when he is decrying government intervention in the economy on moral and economic efficiency grounds.

[MP5]

"The study of the needs of mankind, and the means of satisfying them with the least possible waste of human energy"

Clear, comprehensive and to the point.

I think that this is an easier book for understanding Kropotkin's anarcho-communism than Mutual Aid. But I think Mutual Aid is a better book overall.

Sometimes he sounds downright American libertarian-- mainly when he is decrying government intervention in the economy on moral and economic efficiency grounds.

I have unfortunately had to talk with a few American libertarians (one of my ex girlfriends ex boyfriend was a right wing libertarian along with being a complete ****) and their ideology is nothing like the Anarchist Communism of Kropotkin. American libertarianism opposes any form of state intervention in their capitalist affairs while Anarcho-Communists want to abolish Capitalism and the state that gave rise to it. Anarcho-Capitalists (what a complete oxymoron that is) just don't want pesky labour rights imposed by the state so Capitalism does not completely collapse to interfere in their business. Most of them on both sides of the border have been in my experience upper middle class, trust fund baby conservatives who support the likes of Ron Paul simply because he wants Cannabis legalized. Though one would have to be smoking PCP to see any sense or logic in his ideology in my opinion.

Peter Kropotkin is definitely one of my biggest influences and The Conquest of Bread is one of his best works though i think Mutual aid is perhaps his best work overall. The Conquest of Bread gives a good basic explanation of why the revolutions of the past failed and how to meet the needs of the people instead of having them turn against you and have the whole thing collapse and turn into a reactionary government. Anarchist morality is also very good. When i discovered Kropotkin i was a Marxist-Leninist but reading him opened my mind to Anarchist Communism. This sparked my interest in the possibilities of that ideology and how it does not have the same drawbacks as Leninism.

So besides Marx and Engels i would say that Kropotkin is up there with Fanon and Connolly in terms of the authors that most influenced my idea of what a Communist society should be like and how to achieve it.

[MarxArchist]

I just ordered this book from amazon.ca, because I am interested in some anarchist-communist theory. Would you say this is a good source of information, or is there better books out there?
The only problem I have with the book is chapter 4 where he argues an anarchist revolution need not be defended by the state because, to summarize, people woulnt be forced into wage slavery because they'd have a choice to NOT work for a boss so any attempts to establish private property and wage labor would be laughed at by workers:

http://dwardmac.pitzer.edu/Anarchist_Archives/kropotkin/conquest/ch4.html

edit- cancel the book because it's online for free ;)
(http://dwardmac.pitzer.edu/Anarchist_Archives/kropotkin/conquest/ch4.html)