Mao's little red book

[4thInter]

What are some key points in his book, how long is the book, and was he pro bureaucracy or pro democracy?

[Brutus]

The book is just quotations of Mao, made by Deng Xaoping during the cultural revolution to popularise Maoism and foster the Mao cult.

[Ethics Gradient, Traitor For All Ages]

Its literally just a bunch of out of context quotes from his writings and speeches organized into some vague categories. It may have held significance for participants in the cultural revolution, but reading it today, it's hard to see why people drew inspiration from it, particularly people in the west.

[Maraam]

Pro or anti-bureaucracy isn't really a definable opinion, and you'll not be able to pull much about bureaucracy from the little red book, it is largely just sporadic quotes on various issues. For a flavour of Mao's thought in full, the best starting points (imo) are On Practice, On Contradiction, Combat Liberalism and Oppose Book Worship, all of which can be found on MIA.

[DDR]

To better understand Mao I recommend:

A Single Spark Can Start a Prairie Fire (https://www.marxists.org/reference/archive/mao/selected-works/volume-1/mswv1_6.htm)
Oppose Book Worship (https://www.marxists.org/reference/archive/mao/selected-works/volume-6/mswv6_11.htm)
On Practice (https://www.marxists.org/reference/archive/mao/selected-works/volume-1/mswv1_16.htm)
On Contradiction (https://www.marxists.org/reference/archive/mao/selected-works/volume-1/mswv1_17.htm)
Combat Liberalism (https://www.marxists.org/reference/archive/mao/selected-works/volume-2/mswv2_03.htm)
The Chinese People Cannot be Cowed by the Atom Bomb (https://www.marxists.org/reference/archive/mao/selected-works/volume-5/mswv5_40.htm)
U.S. Imperialism is a Paper Tiger (https://www.marxists.org/reference/archive/mao/selected-works/volume-5/mswv5_52.htm)
Concerning ‘Economic Problems of Socialism in the USSR’ (https://www.marxists.org/reference/archive/mao/selected-works/volume-8/mswv8_65.htm)
Critique of Stalin’s ‘Economic Problems of Socialism in the USSR’ (https://www.marxists.org/reference/archive/mao/selected-works/volume-8/mswv8_66.htm)
On the Correct Handling of Contradictions Among the People (https://www.marxists.org/reference/archive/mao/selected-works/volume-5/mswv5_58.htm)
Where Do Correct Ideas Come From? (https://www.marxists.org/reference/archive/mao/selected-works/volume-9/mswv9_01.htm)
Talk on Questions of Philosophy (https://www.marxists.org/reference/archive/mao/selected-works/volume-9/mswv9_27.htm)

Also TheGodlessUtopian's M-L-M study guide (http://www.revleft.com/vb/marxism-leninism-maoism-t175401/index.html) is really helpful


The book is just quotations of Mao, made by Deng Xaoping during the cultural revolution to popularise Maoism and foster the Mao cult.

It was Lin Biao's. Deng, unluckly, was almost killed during the Cultural Revolution.

[The Intransigent Faction]

Its literally just a bunch of out of context quotes from his writings and speeches organized into some vague categories. It may have held significance for participants in the cultural revolution, but reading it today, it's hard to see why people drew inspiration from it, particularly people in the west.

I dunno, some of it has stuck with me over the years, regardless of who said it:


A Communist must never be opinionated or domineering, thinking that he is good in everything while others are good in nothing; he must never shut himself up in his little room, or brag and boast and lord it over others.

As far as trying to grasp a political program out of it, though, yeah, there are better sources.