The communist manifesto

[Subversive Pessimist]

I've noticed that many people suggest to newbies that they should read the communist manifesto. Personally, I didn't find the manifesto interesting or worthwile reading at all. If I were to recommend any books, it would be:

THE STATE AND THE REVOLUTION, by Lenin
REVOLUTION BETRAYED, by Trotsky
DAS KAPITAL - by Marx


These are three very different books, written by three different persons, and I consider it worth the time and effort spent.

I think it's a shame that new people should read something useless when the chance is that they were interested in communism, so I think it's relaly important that they read something exciting and interesting especially the first days.


Don't know about you, but to me it has become almost like a bible: "If you're going to get to know christianity, you MUST read the bible!", compared to "If you're going to understand communism, you MUST read the communist manifesto!"

When there have been so much written on communism, I think it's time we revaluate what we should recommend to beginners.

So I guess the questions are:

Is there anyone who agree that the value of the communist manifesto is exaggerated? What works or articles would you recommend reading to newbies?

Ugh, did I post this in history? :rolleyes:
Could somebody move it to theory?

[monkeydust]

I'd agree that the Manifesto is very much overrated.

But it's by far the most accesible of Marx's works. If I came to Communism the first time by reading Das Kapital I'd be very much put-offl; it's far to complex for a beginner, the fact that the earlier sections are the most complicated makes this issue all the worse.

[The Sloth]

Das Kapital is far, far, far too complex for a beginner.

If I'd want to get someone interested in communism, I definitely would recommend the Manifesto; while it isn't detailed, or anything, it explains a little bit the goals of communists.

But most likely, I'd direct them to www.cpusa.com I became more interested in communism after reading their FAQ a while back; it's simple to understand, especially since most "beginners" don't know much about politics, economics, etc.

[Hiero]

I was questioning about communism, then i read the manifesto and while i did not get all of it the passion of the book got me into it and i called myself a communist then on. Principles of communism on WWW.Marxist.org by Engels is best for beginers

[Lacrimi de Chiciură]

um, I went to cpusa.com and it was "Computer Professionals USA"

[Misodoctakleidist]

The State and Revolution is an awful book, one of the worst I've read for years. Revolution betrayed is worse.

Das Kapital is definately worth reading if you understand it, I would also recomend The German Ideology.