Need some recomendations

[Zmal]

My knowledge of socialism is saddly limited. I really like the general idea behind it but I need more specifics. I've seen plenty of books on the subject but honestly the volume of books writen on the subject is overwhelming. I've seen plenty of online study courses but I'd much prefer real books. So what I need is a few books that will represent sorta of a starting point for learing about socialism/communism. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks
Zack

[redstar2000]

Three short works that I always recommend...

Value, Price and Profit by Marx

Wage Labor and Capital also by Marx

These are both "popular" explanations of Marxist economics.

The Origins of the Family, Private Property, and the State by Engels.

This is slightly longer and more difficult reading than the first two works.

The Anti-Duhring by Engels.

Eugen Duhring was a "celebrity philosopher" of the 19th century who has since been completely forgotten. But Engels used Duhring as a "foil" to explain Marxist views on a whole series of questions. This is a book where you can skip the boring parts without loss of understanding.

:redstar2000:

The Redstar2000 Papers (http://www.redstar2000papers.vze.com)
A site about communist ideas

[Pedro Alonso Lopez]

I would recommend the German Ideology for a good exposition of how capitalism leads to class antagonism.

[Wenty]

If you're really a beginner read a bio on marx. One by Francis Wheen is especailly good and non biased.

[redstar2000]

The German Ideology???

That's a bastard of a book to recommend to a beginner...in fact, I don't think it was even published until well after Marx's death. His remark about it was that he had abandoned it "to the criticism of the mice".

I think he was right.

:redstar2000:

The Redstar2000 Papers (http://www.redstar2000papers.vze.com)
A site about communist ideas

[cubist]

the communist manefesto as well has a good introduction to marx init and also defines true communism with out cAPITALIST INPUT

[Agent provocateur]

Fuck all that. The only book you need is the State and Revolution by Lenin

[Wenty]

that book is crap. He just quotes long passages from Marx and Engels. Besides his prose is rubbish, he used the book as an excuse to have a go at at Kautsky.

[Louis Pio]

Since you are a beginner I will suggest this since it explain the basics in a easy way.

What is Marxism? (http://www.marxist.com/Theory/what_is_marxism.html)

Also this one is good What is Historical materialism? (http://www.marxist.com/Theory/study_guide2.html)

What is dialectical materialism? (http://www.marxist.com/Theory/study_guide1.html)

What is globalisation? (http://www.marxist.com/Economy/what_is_globalisation_mb.html)

That should give you something to read :)