Best way to grasp communism?

[Fairfax]

I sometimes find it difficult to grasp a lot of concepts in communism due to the language, I don't have the best vocabulary in the world but have had a dictionary beside me whilst trying to get through things such as the communist manifesto.

I completely understand that I'll probably just have to do it however long it takes me to fully understand and looking up every word I come across that is alien to me.

However, I was just wondering if there are any documents/texts that the average person would have no trouble understanding? Obviously in time I'll be more knowledgeable but was seeking some sort of beginner introduction of some sort.

Thank you.

[reb]

Capitalism and Communism by Gilles Dauve 1972. It should be a good start for most people new to marxism in that it presents a collection some of the more important subjects in one document. I for some reason can not post links but just google the information I have provided.

[Fairfax]

Thank you for the recommendation. I shall definitely look into that :)

[The Idler]

Oxford University Press
Anarchism: A Very Short Introduction by Colin Ward
Communism: A Very Short Introduction by Leslie Holmes
Socialism: A Very Short Introduction by Michael Newman
Marx: A Very Short Introduction by Peter Singer
Engels: A Very Short Introduction by Terrell Harver

Icon Books/Pantheon/Totem
Introducing Marx by Rius
Introducing Marxism by Rupert Woodfin and Oscar Zarate

Graphic Guides
Marx's Das Kapital for Beginners by Michael Wayne, illustrated by Sungyoon Choi (Steerforth)
The Communist Manifesto Illustrated: Chapter 1 by George Rigakos (Red Quill, 2010)
The Communist Manifesto Illustrated: Chapter 2 by George Rigakos (Red Quill, 2011)
The Communist Manifesto Illustrated: Chapter 3 by George Rigakos (Red Quill, 2012)

[reb]

The very short introduction books are terrible. The only thing they might be good for is a brief biographical overview but their descriptions on socialism are awful. There is better stuff on the internet that you can get for free.

[reb]

Thank you for the recommendation. I shall definitely look into that :)

Just remember that communism is not rocket science and it is not difficult. You do not need to have hidden knowledge from a cult leader to understand it. If someone is making something difficult it will usually be because they either don't really know what they are talking about and they are following some state dogma without really thinking about it. One of the better things that I can also recommend is that you go to prole.info and have a look at their graphic guides and their pamphlets.

[adipocere]

CPUSA hosts The little School of Marxism: ABC's (http://tx.cpusa.org/school/index.html) which covers basic principles broken into a seminar style. You might find parts of it helpful.

[Fairfax]

I appreciate the information given thus far and I shall read as much as I can from the texts/websites provided. Hopefully by doing this I can have a strong foundational knowledge of commumism so I can really get into the thick of it :)

[Rural Comrade]

Explain primitive communism with out using communism. Mention how life was way back when societies had formed but anything higher hadn't. Then slowly fill them in on the vocabulary of Marxism. I'm already doing the latter to a friend of mine.

[Prometeo liberado]

Start with chapter 5 of David Graber book, Debt The first 5,000 years. Very simplistic. Then Marx's pamphlets or Marx for beginners. Whatever you do ground yourself in the science and not some Romanticism.

[Fairfax]

Whatever you do ground yourself in the science and not some Romanticism.

By this do you mean to not sort of just fall in love with the idea of it, but actually study the hard facts of how and why it can work?

[tuwix]

I sometimes find it difficult to grasp a lot of concepts in communism due to the language, I don't have the best vocabulary in the world but have had a dictionary beside me whilst trying to get through things such as the communist manifesto.

I completely understand that I'll probably just have to do it however long it takes me to fully understand and looking up every word I come across that is alien to me.

However, I was just wondering if there are any documents/texts that the average person would have no trouble understanding? Obviously in time I'll be more knowledgeable but was seeking some sort of beginner introduction of some sort.

Thank you.

Communism is system where everything beside personal things is common. It is as simple as that. The complex thing is how to get it in industrial age.
But there are communist societies on this planet now. Primitive ones, but communist nonetheless. Below, there is short movie presentng a one, but click on CC button to see English subtitles. :)

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[Alan OldStudent]

I sometimes find it difficult to grasp a lot of concepts in communism due to the language, I don't have the best vocabulary in the world but have had a dictionary beside me whilst trying to get through things such as the communist manifesto.

I completely understand that I'll probably just have to do it however long it takes me to fully understand and looking up every word I come across that is alien to me.

However, I was just wondering if there are any documents/texts that the average person would have no trouble understanding? Obviously in time I'll be more knowledgeable but was seeking some sort of beginner introduction of some sort.

Thank you.
It's great you're trying to read this stuff with a dictionary in hand. It's difficult, I know, but it encourages thought. A lot more will stick in your head because of your efforts.

The one thing I can advise is to ask yourself if something makes sense to you. If it does, well and good. If it doesn't, don't accept it. None of us has all the truth, and all we have is our ability to think, to observe, and to draw rational conclusions.

Regards,

Alan OldStudent
The unexamined life is not worth living--Socrates

[Fairfax]

It's great you're trying to read this stuff with a dictionary in hand. It's difficult, I know, but it encourages thought. A lot more will stick in your head because of your efforts.

The one thing I can advise is to ask yourself if something makes sense to you. If it does, well and good. If it doesn't, don't accept it. None of us has all the truth, and all we have is our ability to think, to observe, and to draw rational conclusions.

Regards,

Alan OldStudent
The unexamined life is not worth living--Socrates

Thank you! This will help me to keep going with it until some concepts 'click' within me and I'll get it.

Looks like me and my trusty dictionary will be companions for a little while still :)