A book all cappies should read

[Zingu]

Since many cappies here seem too ignorant to see the point in our arguements due to the fact that they have no idea of basic Marxist theory, I propose the following book. It is in COMIC BOOK FORMAT and uses simple words in case you can't manage Marx's elegant vocabulary.

It will give you a basic insight of our ideology....

I present.......


http://images.amazon.com/images/P/0375714618.01.LZZZZZZZ.jpg


You can likely find it in your local library.

I read it 3 years ago, and it was what introduced me to Marxism.

[bed_of_nails]

That is oddly funny. Political beliefs in comic book form... Next we will have to generate our own super heros complete with villains and sidekicks.

Does the book cover every aspect of Marxism, or only key points?

[JazzRemington]

Is this from Writers and Readers Publishing? They have a similiar book. I would recommend their books. I've read their Chomsky for Beginners and I thought it was a good introduction.

EDIT: nevermind. THey don't have a similiar book.

[Zingu]

Originally posted by [email protected] 4 2005, 04:35 AM
That is oddly funny. Political beliefs in comic book form... Next we will have to generate our own super heros complete with villains and sidekicks.

Does the book cover every aspect of Marxism, or only key points?
It illustrates the basic ideas of Marxism, explains who Marx was, his life, the theory of how society has developed; religon as a social construct, alienation and wage slavery. The rise of the burgeoise, Dialectics, surplus vaule, a summarization of the Communist Manifesto ect.


Covers the main three parts of Marxism at a basic level:

Historical Materialism, Marxist Econonmics and the Philosophy of Marx, doesn't dive much into detail of Dialectical Materialism though...

[NovelGentry]

If they feel they can deal with a larger vocabulary after this and more advanced ideas I recommend:

http://images.amazon.com/images/P/0192854054.01.LZZZZZZZ.jpg

[praxus]

Have you ever read any capitalist works? If so then you know that your insults about vocabulary are uncalled for.

[progressive thinker]

I think I saw that in the bargin bookpile at my local Barnes and Nobles.

[NovelGentry]

I've read select portions of The Wealth of Nations. Do you consider that capitalist? It's a big book, give me time. I read piece by piece usually when I go to a book store for books that I consider for "research purposes" only. Really, I've probably read just as much capitalist writing as communist, I simply don't own the books, as I leave those at the bookstore. Depending on how much I actually buy into some of the bullshit it's spewing, I often won't finish it. Why should I waste my time, and for that matter my money, on books which which are based on false premise anyway?


I think I saw that in the bargin bookpile at my local Barnes and Nobles.

Probably. I've actually never found a Marx book or a book on Marx at any Barne's and Noble's in my area with the exception of the bargain bin or a "banned books" table that had stacks of The Communist Manifesto on it. They simply don't seem to carry his work outside of those places. I suggest borders, personally, I've always had a better experience in general there. And they always have a distinguished and separate political science and well organized social science section in comparison to B&N.

[progressive thinker]

Originally posted by [email protected] 5 2005, 04:39 AM
I've read select portions of The Wealth of Nations. Do you consider that capitalist? It's a big book, give me time. I read piece by piece usually when I go to a book store for books that I consider for "research purposes" only. Really, I've probably read just as much capitalist writing as communist, I simply don't own the books, as I leave those at the bookstore. Depending on how much I actually buy into some of the bullshit it's spewing, I often won't finish it. Why should I waste my time, and for that matter my money, on books which which are based on false premise anyway?


I think I saw that in the bargin bookpile at my local Barnes and Nobles.

Probably. I've actually never found a Marx book or a book on Marx at any Barne's and Noble's in my area with the exception of the bargain bin or a "banned books" table that had stacks of The Communist Manifesto on it. They simply don't seem to carry his work outside of those places. I suggest borders, personally, I've always had a better experience in general there. And they always have a distinguished and separate political science and well organized social science section in comparison to B&N.
Honestly, when you read Wealth of Nations you could apply for a business degree.

I have a copy of the Communist Manifesto, and Mao's little red book(I forget the exact name of it). Manifesto I got for free from a friend who took a class in it. But one of the best books I've read is by Jean Francois Revel, How Democracies Perish. Its an interesting timeline back to the USSR and how the feeling during that age was one of despair and grief.

Another author who has been on my reading list for a long time is Tocqueville. I more recently started reading C.S. Lewis and I can already feel the hissing that begins. But really, where would Christian philosophy be without him?

[NovelGentry]

Honestly, when you read Wealth of Nations you could apply for a business degree.

You saying I should take a stab at it?

Have you ever seen that commercial where the lady from shipping goes up to the new guy in the office and says "We need your help." The guy gets real proud about them needing his help, and the guy says "I do have an MBA". Then she says something along the lines of, "perfect," and hands him a bunch of stuff that need to be packages or enveloped or something like that and the guy.

That's a great commercial. Indeed capitalism does make me smile sometimes.


I have a copy of the Communist Manifesto, and Mao's little red book(I forget the exact name of it).

I am actually fairly new to communist literature, still very much in the discovery stage. I've yet to read Mao's little red book, but primarily because I disagree with very fundamental ideas of Maoism. Indeed I will read it someday, but the breadth of Marx's work is my focus right now. Alongside that I've read a number of selected pieces from people amongst the formation of the USSR. I've also read a number of essays by Che, and also critiques of the Cuban revolution and what you would call Cuban "communism."

What strikes me as odd is you say you have a copy of the Manifesto, and I can presume you've read it, yet you have such a warped interpretation of what communism is. Indeed, even if you were to look to the USSR born out of Lenin, his work too would exclaim very much the same things that we are. That what he was achieving and what the USSR was, was an attempt at socialism. Communism itself would have to form out of a socialism's success first.



But really, where would Christian philosophy be without him?

In much the same place with one less poster boy convert.

[truthman]

Originally posted by [email protected] 5 2005, 05:24 AM

But really, where would Christian philosophy be without him?

In much the same place with one less poster boy convert.
Quite a different place. And definitely not as accesible.

[NovelGentry]

Quite a different place. And definitely not as accesible.

Maybe the formal "Christian philosophy," if such a thing exists, would have been in a different place. But regardless of how high anyone wants to hold any philosopher including the likes of Marx, there will always be differeing opinions as well as personal stances that might exist regardless of the works.

In what way did his writing make it more accessible other than adding more on the subject?