Das Kapital, getting started

[Einkarl]

So I want to buy a copy of the first volume of Das Kapital, but from what I've been told it is a hard read. I'm not sure if I'm ready or if there are any works specifically that I need to read. So far I've read the manifesto, and most of Theses on Feuerbach (will soon finish). Also, since there are a lot of bullshit versions out there I'd like to know which version by which publisher is the best.

Could you guys help me out?

[Manulearning]

You can watch David Harvey's lectures alongside, they are good.

[The Jay]

Get the penguin classics version. It is the bees' knees. That is the one that I have and it is rather cheap for a book of this kind. If you want a primer I have heard that Value, Price, and Profit is a good thing to read.

[Einkarl]

Get the penguin classics version. It is the bees' knees. That is the one that I have and it is rather cheap for a book of this kind. If you want a primer I have heard that Value, Price, and Profit is a good thing to read.

Hmm... Some of say the penguin version is missing half the book.

[Yuppie Grinder]

Just read it on MIA for free.

[Manulearning]

Capital -A basic course by Walter Schellenberg

[$lim_$weezy]

Yeah Penguin has a good version is you want a hard copy.

I suggest, for a somewhat bland and uninspiring, if still useful and easy-to-understand resource, David Harvey's lecture series.
davidharvey.org

[Einkarl]

Just read it on MIA for free.

is the MIA version a full version?

Still I'd like a paperback

[LOLseph Stalin]

Just read it on MIA for free.

Reading off a computer screen is horrible. It's one of the reasons I do so little leftist reading. I really need to order some books.

[TiberiusGracchus]

So I want to buy a copy of the first volume of Das Kapital, but from what I've been told it is a hard read. I'm not sure if I'm ready or if there are any works specifically that I need to read. So far I've read the manifesto, and most of Theses on Feuerbach (will soon finish). Also, since there are a lot of bullshit versions out there I'd like to know which version by which publisher is the best.

Could you guys help me out?

A Frankfurt-based marxist group called Marx-Arbeitsgruppe Historiker published an excellent introduction to the first book of Capital back in 1972. I know it has been translated to at least english, danish and swedish but I can't find the english translation. Anyone else? German title: "Zur Kritik der Politischen Ökonomie"

I have not read it myself but I've heard that the Penguin-edition (translated by Ben Fowkes) is the beest one. Then you can also follow Harvey.

Other complements to Capital:

Hans G Ehrbars annotations (http://content.csbs.utah.edu/~ehrbar/akmc.pdf), very good. The text is organised so that the german original is on therright side and Ehrbars own english translation on the left side, and then followed by Ehrbars commentaries. It's a detailed read from a critical realist perspective, and Ehrbar uses hyper links to show how and where different aspects of Marx arguments relate to eachother, and he discusses questions of translations and include relevant material from ie. Grundrisse.

Harry Cleavers Study Guide (https://webspace.utexas.edu/hcleaver/www/357k/357ksg.html), autonomist marxist perspective.

Roman Rosdolsky's Making of Marx's "Capital" (http://www.amazon.com/Making-Marxs-Capital-Roman-Rosdolsky/dp/0904383377), generally well appricated even by critics of his interpretation.

Michael Heinrich's Introduction to the Three Volumes of Karl Marx's Capita (http://www.amazon.com/Introduction-Three-Volumes-Marxs-Capital/dp/1583672885)l

Isaak Illich Rubin's Essays on Marx's Theory of Value (http://www.marxists.org/archive/rubin/value/index.htm)

And Karl Marx' Grundrisse, penguin edition. (http://www.amazon.com/Grundrisse-Foundations-Critique-Political-Classics/dp/0140445757)

--------------

But for starters, just read Capital with Harveys and Ehrbars commentaries. Take it slow. Would recommend reading in circle. And ask questions (here for example) if you have doubts about something.

[GoddessCleoLover]

IMO David Harvey provides an excellent introduction to Marx's Capital.

[Delenda Carthago]

jyXOeIhwAvA

:grin:

(i have it:lol:)

[RedMaterialist]

So I want to buy a copy of the first volume of Das Kapital, but from what I've been told it is a hard read. I'm not sure if I'm ready or if there are any works specifically that I need to read. So far I've read the manifesto, and most of Theses on Feuerbach (will soon finish). Also, since there are a lot of bullshit versions out there I'd like to know which version by which publisher is the best.

Could you guys help me out?

Two things: buy a book (probably a Penguin edition) rather than try to read it on the internet. The internet MIA is the best source for Marxists, but using a computer screen to read is really hard.

You're right, it is a very, very hard read. There aren't any shortcuts. Youjust have to start into it and keep on going, then read again. The first seven chapters are probably the first section to start on.

[Danielle Ni Dhighe]

using a computer screen to read is really hard.
It is?

[cantwealljustgetalong]

several prominent Marxists economists recommend the Penguin edition, Kliman and Wolff included.

read Value, Price and Profit; and Wage Labour and Capital

[Comrade #138672]

@LOLseph Stalin: When I started printing articles and buying paperbacks, I have been able to do so much more reading.

[No_Leaders]

I second that notion. About trying to read books online, i usually print things out (as long as they're not incredibly long, so no Capital) haha. I have the Oxford World's Classics abridged version, and it's also in The Marx Engels Reader i have.

[Red Deck Wins]

Einkarl, I am doing the same thing you are doing, reading Marx's Capital Volume I. The people above who mentioned Professor David Harvey's introduction are 100% correct.

Do this: purchase the Penguin Classics version. This is the text Dr. Harvey uses to teach his free online course "Reading Marx's Capital". The RevLeft Consolidated Learning thread stickied on this forum contains a link to each class in the course. Read the text according to what Dr. Harvey assigns as if you were actually taking a college course, then watch the video for him to help you make sense of it.

I'm only on Chapter 3 and this resource has proved invaluable. In my first attempt on my own, I just read, read, read about halfway through and didn't get anywhere near the comprehension I'm getting from the course. Good luck in your pursuit!