Anarchist Literature

[flaming bolshevik]

What would be essential literature for someone new to anarchism?

[BIXX]

What would be essential literature for someone new to anarchism?

Depends on the type of anarchism that you want to look into.

My recommendations (egoist anarchism): everything by Renzo Novatore, the ego and it's own by Max Stirner, the rebels dark laughter by Bruno Filippi (it's a collection of his writings).

Kropotkin is good for anarchist communism.

Bakunin has some good theoretical work, one of my favorites being "God and the State".

[Sasha]

Berkmans ABC of anarchism (free download on libcom)

[ProletariatPower]

Although it's more about Anarchist history than theory, Homage to Catalonia by George Orwell is definitely worth a read.

[Dr Doom]

anarchy - malatesta
at the cafe - malatesta
nationalism and culture - rudolf rocker
anarchy in action - colin ward
Black Flame: the revolutionary class politics of anarchism and syndicalism - Lucien Van Der Walt and Michael Schmidt

[NoOneIsIllegal]

There are some easy, small works that get to the basics like Bakunin's "God and the State" and Berkman's ABC's of Anarchism. However, if you want some really good literature that is far more explanatory, check out Black Flame: The Revolutionary Politics of Anarchism and Syndicalism. I had read a lot of Marxist and anarchist literature for years, but that was the book that pretty much sold it (anarchism) to me.

Rudolf Rocker's "Anarcho-Syndicalism" is a good piece too; flows real well, and is an important piece to read to see a voice from the ground of the time when syndicalism was a major force in Spain.
I never really cared for Kropotkin's other works, but the Conquest for Bread is good. It should be cheap, and relatively easy to fly through.

[The Garbage Disposal Unit]

Damn, no books from this decade?
Even from the last couple decades?
That's rough.

Uh . . . I've heard Cindy Milstein's Anarchism and Its Aspirations positively reviewed by a few "new to anarchism" folk.
Similarly, Undoing Border Imperialism, by Harsha Walia is excellent according to my partner, though, again, haven't gotten to it myself.


Hrm. I'm not at home - Ima hit up my bookshelf and get back to you.

[Os Cangaceiros]

Black Flame is from this decade.

Or the last ten years, anyway.

[Os Cangaceiros]

My favorite anarchist works:

Black Flame, as previously mentioned.

Anarcho-Syndicalism: Theory and Practice by Rocker, also previously mentioned.

The Basic Bakunin. Compilation of Bakunin's works. I was surprised by how smart Bakunin was, honestly...his reputation as a left-wing thinker should be higher than it is, IMO, esp. among anarchists. I've heard that Bakunin on Anarchy is a better compilation of his writings, though.

Anarchism and the National Liberation Struggle by Alfredo Bonanno is interesting too, as are some of his other writings (Errico Malatesta and Revolutionary Violence, The Anarchist Tension, etc)

[exeexe]

What is Property? An Inquiry into the Principle of Right and of Government
Proudhon, Pierre Joseph

Maybe also this book, havent read it though but its quite new
http://www.routledge.com/books/details/9780415596886/