Marxian economics

[Brutus]

I have recently realised that I am woefully underread when it comes to the above subject. My current knowledge consists of snippets I have picked up from un-recallable places. Anyways, I would appreciate books, articles, pamphlets, etc. on economics. I have tried to read Das Kapital but it was... An intellectual Fort Knox.
Thanks in advance

[Vladimir Innit Lenin]

Check the Economics sub-forum, I've got a FAQ thread for basic Marxian and non-Marxian economics, and also me and previous mods have compiled a list of useful (and accessible) resources.

Happy reading :)

[RedMaterialist]

I have tried to read Das Kapital but it was... An intellectual Fort Knox.
Thanks in advance

I think it's an intellectual Mt. Everest. I've been reading it for years and I'm still in the foothills.

[Fred]

I have recently realised that I am woefully underread when it comes to the above subject. My current knowledge consists of snippets I have picked up from un-recallable places. Anyways, I would appreciate books, articles, pamphlets, etc. on economics. I have tried to read Das Kapital but it was... An intellectual Fort Knox.
Thanks in advance

Value, Price and Profit might be a little easier to get a handle on.

[audiored]

I have tried to read Das Kapital but it was... An intellectual Fort Knox.
Thanks in advance

Have you tried the audio version on librivox? librivox(dot)org/capital-volume-1-by-karl-marx/

You could use David Harvey's videos to help understand the text.

Also:
marxists(dot)org/archive/dunayevskaya/works/1979/outline-capital/index.htm

Also:
reddit(dot)com/r/capitalstudy/
It is rather quiet. But if you're reading and want to ask questions...

[The Idler]

Three historical writers who have attempted to shed light on Marxian economics
Kautsky
Mandel
I. I. Rubin

also some pamphlets
Marxian Economics - World Socialist Movement (http://www.worldsocialism.org/spgb/pamphlets/marxian-economics)

also audio
Marxism For Beginners Part 2 | The Socialist Party of Great Britain (http://www.worldsocialism.org/spgb/audio/marxism-beginners-part-2)

Some aspects of Marxian Economics - World Socialist Movement (http://www.worldsocialism.org/spgb/catalog/pamphlets/some-aspects-marxian-economics)

[Nikolay]

I think it's an intellectual Mt. Everest. I've been reading it for years and I'm still in the foothills.

Your description of it being an intellectual Mt. Everest is spot on. I skimmed through some of the pages of all three volumes, and I got a headache. Someday I would like start reading Capital in its entirety.

[Fakeblock]

kapitalism101's law of value series is a great introduction. Obviously it doesn't have the depth of Capital, but it's pretty good anyway.

[SonofRage]

I read volume 1 a few years back with my Bring the Ruckus local. The combination of Dunayevskaya's study guide and Harvey's lectures made it much more doable.

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 4

[Sea]

I cannot recommend David Harvey's lectures (http://davidharvey.org/reading-capital/) highly enough. They're great. He takes the time to point out a lot of things that you might otherwise miss and points out things that Marx alludes to but doesn't elaborate on directly, and that alone is invaluable.

The first few chapters are unquestionably the hardest. After that, however, I found it to be a rather enjoyable read. Once you get acquainted with Marx's method of analysis and the way he formulates his arguments, you may want to go back and read the first few chapters again.

If you treat Capital like light reading, it's going to seem a lot harder than it really is. Just take the time to understand what you read, and don't be afraid to re-read things when you have to.

[GiantMonkeyMan]

This might seem dumb but is there a significance with the term 'marxian'? Is it synonymous with 'marxist'?

[Brutus]

This might seem dumb but is there a significance with the term 'marxian'? Is it synonymous with 'marxist'?

Marxian tends to be an adjective (although it can be used as a synonym for marxist- see John Reed example further on), whereas marxist is a noun. If you read Ten Days That Shook the World, you'll see that John Reed refers to 'the Marxians'.

[svenne]

Just do it. Read Capital. It's a beast, but much of that comes from the size. The first, hard, chapters may take a couple of tries though. I guess the best thing is to read it once, realize that you haven't understood squat, and then re-read the first chapters a couple of times (until you suddenly feel that you understand what Marx was going at), then you read an abridged version (to freshen up the knowledge again, try doing it in another language as a bonus if you're bi-lingual), and then read it again. And weep at the 500 hours you're never getting back.

[Sea]

. I guess the best thing is to read it once, realize that you haven't understood squatUh, no. If you don't understand what you're reading, drop the book immediately and figure out what it is that you don't understand, ask questions, and go back and understand it. If you plug through it despite not understanding it, you're only making it more confusing for yourself.

[svenne]

Uh, no. If you don't understand what you're reading, drop the book immediately and figure out what it is that you don't understand, ask questions, and go back and understand it. If you plug through it despite not understanding it, you're only making it more confusing for yourself.

I'd say your way works to a certain degree, before someone just drops the book to never come back. The advantage with continueing after not understanding squat is that often, you'll understand more or get a better explanation later in the book. Marx has a tendency to repeat himself and his findings. Even if you don't understand, even after reading the whole thing, you'll a least have a good idea about what to read before rereading Capital.

[TaylorS]

Capital is a monster of a read. I'm currently prepping myself by reading David Harvey's Companion to Marx's Capital before I attempt the actual book.

[Tim Redd]

Engels has a series of 2 or 3 books called, (wait for it) Synopsis of Capital that is a great popular intro to Capital.

[Brotto Rühle]

Read capital yourself, read wage labour and capital, read the stuff that would have made vol 4. Don't wait for everyone here to explain it to you. Be sure to make notes. There are guides/outlines to capital if you're interested.

[Tim Redd]

Read capital yourself, read wage labour and capital, read the stuff that would have made vol 4. Don't wait for everyone here to explain it to you. Be sure to make notes. There are guides/outlines to capital if you're interested. You could also read Marx's Wages, Prices and Profit. But again for a summary of Capital I suggest Engels' series Synopsis of Capital. Much shorter read than Capital One.

[Lord Hargreaves]

I'd suggest Mandel's introduction:
http://www.marxists.org/archive/mandel/1967/intromet/index.htm

and the book by Fine and Saad-Filho:
http://davidmcnally.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/Marxs-Capital.pdf