Should we be encouraging wide-reading

[Roses in the Hospital]

We often have new members asking what they should be reading to enhance their understanding of the left, and the normal responce is to recommend the standard Marx, Trotsky, Che etc. texts. But, I feel we should be encouraging an understanding of politics generally, so that they have a fuller understanding of the issues involved. Should, therefore, we be recommending the likes of Machiavelli, Mill etc. alongside the standard leftist texts, or do we risk loosing potential converts?

[Raisa]

I think while later it is cool to get people to read the writing of machiavelli and such people need to know what the meaning of socialism and communism really is in the first place. After that then communist theory is important because it descusses methodology of attaining communism.

I think we should encourage people to read about anything when they dont know what it is.
When you come across the word machiavellian ,then go find out who machiavelli is. I bet thats what alot of us did.

[redstar2000]

The more kids read, the more they know.

The more they know, the harder it will be for our enemies to manipulate them and use their youthful enthusiasm for their own purposes.

I have no objections at all to "newbies" reading any serious political writings...it will help more than it will "harm".

And I don't even like the idea of "converts"...serious revolutionaries need to be thinkers, not (ugh!) believers.

:redstar2000:

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

[Essential Insignificance]

We often have new members asking what they should be reading to enhance their understanding of the left, and the normal responce is to recommend the standard Marx, Trotsky, Che etc. texts. But, I feel we should be encouraging an understanding of politics generally, so that they have a fuller understanding of the issues involved. Should, therefore, we be recommending the likes of Machiavelli, Mill etc. alongside the standard leftist texts, or do we risk loosing potential converts?

Expanding knowledge is always a "good thing"... regardless of the content involved.

Politics is one of those subjects that are, "at the drop" of a historical development, irrelevant and unrelated to the current conditions.

Some of the political theorist's that are still read today, wrote their works over two thousand years ago... which makes a lot of them a tedious and inapt exercise to read and study -- which shouldn't happen!

I've read Machiavelli, Hobbes and Rousseau; but I've never bothered with Plato, Aristotle or Mill. And in my opinion they're all extraneous and unconnected with todays conditions.

But it's definitely better to have read them, then not to have read them. My suggestion would be to not employ to much time into them.

Never should we encourage dogmatism or bigotry!

[RedAnarchist]

Education through literature is far better than capitalist examination education. All literature, no matter what our values are, is to someone a valid expression of thought.

[chebol]

If new members or associates are asking what to read to further their understanding of progressive or socialist history or thought, then don't send them to Macchiavelli- send them to Mandel, or Marx, or Mariategui, of course, if they want to read Macchiaveli or Mills, then noone should try to stop them. That would be ridiculous. But they ought to be offered any help they need in absorbing whatever they read, so they can foster a marxist analysis of history and poiltics.

And I'm with Redstar on this one too, we need to create able thinkers, who can analyse the world around them and react accordingly; rather than Believers- from these sects are made, and from these- cults. However, I don't believe that that is the way in which Roses in the Hospital (forever delayed, etc...) meant it. It is possible that the term is too laden with meaning to be used conveniently in discussion, however.

[komon]

to response in your question i say yes.
because i don't want to burn books and ideas t.....
we can speak to each other and read so why not?

be and stay critic .

[che's long lost daughter]

I very much agree but I think that the reading should not be limited only to leftist books/articles etc. I think it would be better if reading on things related to being right-wing would also be done. That way, people would be able to compare the differences and would have a better ground for their beliefs.

[commiecrusader]

If reading is only encouraged of leftist articles/books, then we are in danger of moving towards some sort of censorship, which is always harmful to any movement in the long run. If something is forbidden, it always looks a more attractive idea. There is always the urge to discover why it is forbidden. I hate to refer to the bible, but its the whole eve and the apple thing.

[RevolverNo9]

Of course. It is up to the individual to make the informed desicison for themselves. We of course have a duty to educate especially about subervservie and leftist literature which in reecnt times especially as been smothered by the Capitalist world. Yet we should still encourage a wide reading of everything. All knowledge is a strength, one has to decide how they are to use this.

I strongly disagree with Essential Insignificance when he says that reading Mill, Plato and Aristotle is irrelevant today. Mill especially is entirely apt to the reader of today- he is the greatest writer on liberalism. Could he see what liberalism wouold become in our world today and would he approve? I don't know. As for Aristotle and Plato, just because for example the latter's Republic seems ridiculous to the modern reader (see Brave New World) does not negate the fact most Western thought has roots in these men. If you want to understand our society deeply, then these are people you need to read.

[Arnau]

Aye, agree with the idea that all knowledge and reading is valid to develop ones understanding of the wolrd in general regardless of political ideology.

But on this website, being a reunion space for leftists all over the world.
I think that in terms of reading and informing oneself, generally on global leftist ideology it is probably a good idea to start with:

The Communist Manifesto by Karl Marx and Friderich Engels. Thats what personally got me started and awakened in the understanding of the rejection of the Capitalist establishment, and the start of the workers struggle for a just and equal society.

This may not be a highly varied proposition involving many different and diverse thinkers like suggested in other posts of this thread. But for someone who's really just getting started it sometimes helps to give a specific suggestion/example.

P.S. language-wise you will find the ABC of Anarchist Communism by Alexander Berkman a little less challenging, but just as informing.