Books

[Publius]

Name some decent ones.

Make sure they aren't boring. I can tolerate dense books on economics and politics but communist literature seems like mostly unescessary verbiage: At least the other stuff has a practical purpose.

I'm looking for something decently written, not the Communist Manifesto or some similair treatise on a bunch of verbose topics written by self-important intellectuals.

[Sabocat]

If you haven't read it already, you may find "A Peoples History of the United States" by Howard Zinn pretty interesting. It's companion is "Voices of a Peoples History of the United States".

I am currently reading Red Acropolis, Black Terror. It's an interesting look at the Greek Civil War.

The Great Unravelling by Paul Krugman was an interesting read about the U.S. economy. More of a collection of his articles, etc. but interesting.

A Civil Action. A true story of a neighborhood poisoned by Beatrice and another chemical company. Chemicals seeped into the groundwater causing a huge portion of a neighborhoods children to come down with leukemia and other assorted ailments. The book outlines the case. With the current issue regarding tort reform and class action suits, I would recommend people revisit this book.

Not knowing what you're interested in reading, for something light, but enjoyable, you might try Shackleton's Boat Journey. An incredible true story of an Antarctic rescue in a small open boat.

[comrade_mufasa]

The Hairy Potter books are very good :lol:

[NovelGentry]

There's a story in this book:

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detai...468825?v=glance (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0026863553/002-5810944-8468825?v=glance)

titled something like "My Pet Goat." I heard it's nearly impossible to put down, even if the country you live in and are the President of is under attack.

On a more serious note, you may consider him a "self-important intellectual" but Reminiscence of the Cuban Revolution is a damn good book.

Democracy Matters by Cornell West
Dostoyevski's Notes from the Underground
José Marti - Selected Writings (any print of selected writings)

Recommended Poets:

Pablo Neruda
Allen Ginsberg

[RedLenin]

Read "ABC of Communist Anarchism" by Alexander Berkman. Very easy to read, informative, and entertaining. The best introduction to my political ideology out there. Also read "Hegomony or Survival: Americas quest for global dominance" by Noam Chomsky. It may make you look at America in a new light.

ABC of Communist Anarchism (http://dwardmac.pitzer.edu/Anarchist_Archives/bright/berkman/comanarchism/whatis_toc.html)

Hegomony or Survival: Americas Quest for Global Dominance (http://www.powells.com/cgi-bin/biblio?inkey=8-0805076883-0)

[Objectivist]

Originally posted by [email protected] 9 2005, 10:04 PM
The Hairy Potter books are very good :lol:
What do you mean by this?

[Publius]

I feel so smart.

I've read Notes from the Underground. I need to finish reading the rest of Dostoevsky's works. Thus far I've made it through Crime and Punishment, Notes, The Double, The Brothers Karamazov and part of the The Gambler.


I own "A People's History" but I prefer my history books to be factually accurate and non-revisionist.


I think Chomsky would be the quint-essential "self important intellectual" but I might check that out. It looked cool in Borders a few months ago.


After seeing Cornel West speak on C-Span a few weeks ago, I will definitely purchase that book. Regardless of political persuasion, that guy is smart. Savvy public speaker as well.


Jose Marti? Zach de la Rocha quotes him a lot. I like Rage but dislike Zach. I may check him out.


I sincerely doubt I'll read any Krugman because even a moron like me knows more about things than he does.



Next up on my list is probably Faust by Goethe and maybe some Freidman.

I need to read that copy of Anthem by Ayn Rand lying around as well. Purchased it before realising how boring Atlas Shrugged was. I can do a 1000 pages in a week without putting much effort in it but Atlas Shrugged took me over a month. Must be the monotony. Good buck but 600 pages and a dozen sub plots to long. The entire character of Hank Rearden could be cut out of that book, honestly.

[Publius]

Slight side note: Dostoevsky hated leftists politics, socialist, progressive, nihilist or communist.

Of course I think he didn't like Jews either but oh well.

[Invader Zim]

What kind of topic are you after? Fiction, biographies, essays, topical historical works, etc?

Well on that basis some books I have enjoyed, ranging from political commentry, to cheesy fiction (I will refrain from adding too many classics that no doubt you have already read): -

George Orwells essays,
Ian Rankin (best crime fiction author I have read)
The Sherlock Holmes Collection (usually in multiple volumes)
Chivalry by Maurice Keen
Practically any Bernard Cornwell novel
Wellington at Waterloo by Jac Weller
Flashman by George MacDonald Fraser
Red Dragon by Thomas Harris

Well thats eight to be going on with.

[Publius]

Anything really. I like reading.

Books on socialism would be good but I'm open to anything.

[NovelGentry]

Slight side note: Dostoevsky hated leftists politics, socialist, progressive, nihilist or communist.

Of course I think he didn't like Jews either but oh well.

So did Hitler, but I've read a decent amount of Mein Kampf

[Publius]

Hitler quite liked nihilism or at least, a nihilist, in Nietzsche.

[Dr. Rosenpenis]

Anything by Angela Davis is great. She doesn't write with the pretentious and smug tone of many of these "self-important intelectuals" that you dislike so much.

[Sabocat]

I own "A People's History" but I prefer my history books to be factually accurate and non-revisionist.


:lol:

[Essential Insignificance]

Hitler quite liked nihilism or at least, a nihilist, in Nietzsche.

Wrong... and disgustingly wrong at that!

It's commonly held amongst "scholars" that Hitler never read Nietzsche... and nor did any of the other Nazi's "chiefs" -- with the exception of Gobbles.

Hitler, in 1934, actual had a photograph published of him "gazing at the bust" of Nietzsche while on a visit to the Nietzsche Archives in Weimar.

Most "groups" try to "authenticate" their beliefs with the "backing" of venerated intellectuals -- in this case Nietzsche.

Incrimination by association, uh?

While some of Nietzsche's ideas can be "interpreted" in such a way to conform to the Nazis principles -- the differences are much greater and pronounced then the similarities.

Nietzsche was both anti-German (he favored slaves and especially poles) and anti-nationalist.

One of the reasons for his "fall-out" with Wager (his "fatherly-figure") was because of Wager's anti-Semitism.

[The Garbage Disposal Unit]

Dense and theoretical!
Guy Debord - Society Of The Spectacle (Availabe at ww.bopsecrets.org)

Science Fiction?
Ursala K. Le Guin - The Dispossessed

True stories from th' front lines.
George Orwell - Homage To Catalonia


(Wagner, not Wager, EI)

[CommieBastard]

Anything by Orwell is very good in my opinion.
The man was a monumental genius, and used this genius to artistically express his compassion, and his analysis of capitalist society as it stood in his day.
Down and out in paris and london
a road to wigan pier
homage to catalonia

Another great writer in roughly the same political vein, but of a different type, is Bertrand Russell. He has a lot of interesting things to say, and his vision of ways in which society could be improved, and how it fails, is an intriguing one.
I particularly like 'In Praise of Idleness' (not about what you may think it's about)
There's a book of his about happiness which is good too, but i've forgotten what it's called and don't have it to hand.

If you are interested in the origins of political society as it stands, and the foundational concepts underlying it, then I recommend a few particular political philosophers of the past.
Check out Hobbes, Locke and Rousseau for sure. They definately give a good understanding of the chronology that lead to hegel and then marx.
Other authors you may find interesting in this vein are Burke and Paine, though they are less theoretical and more polemical.
Another interesting writer in roughly the same vein, but from a woman's pov is Wollstonecraft.

[comrade_mufasa]

Originally posted by Objectivist+Feb 9 2005, 08:02 PM--> (Objectivist @ Feb 9 2005, 08:02 PM)
[email protected] 9 2005, 10:04 PM
The Hairy Potter books are very good :lol:
What do you mean by this? [/b]
It was a joke. I know the books very well becouse my house is like a daycare. God, I hate them so much :angry:

[Publius]

Wrong... and disgustingly wrong at that!

It's commonly held amongst "scholars" that Hitler never read Nietzsche... and nor did any of the other Nazi's "chiefs" -- with the exception of Gobbles.

Hitler, in 1934, actual had a photograph published of him "gazing at the bust" of Nietzsche while on a visit to the Nietzsche Archives in Weimar.

Most "groups" try to "authenticate" their beliefs with the "backing" of venerated intellectuals -- in this case Nietzsche.

Incrimination by association, uh?

While some of Nietzsche's ideas can be "interpreted" in such a way to conform to the Nazis principles -- the differences are much greater and pronounced then the similarities.

Nietzsche was both anti-German (he favored slaves and especially poles) and anti-nationalist.

One of the reasons for his "fall-out" with Wager (his "fatherly-figure") was because of Wager's anti-Semitism.

I stand corrected.

[Essential Insignificance]

(Wagner, not Wager, EI)

Yes... of course! :D

[synthesis]

You might find Chomsky's collections of speeches and interviews an easier read or at least less of a "self-importantly intellectual" tone. Try "What Uncle Sam Really Wants", "Secrets, Lies, and Democracy", or "Power and Terror."

All very relevant, all easily digestable.

[Don't Change Your Name]

Originally posted by Virgin Molotov [email protected] 10 2005, 12:16 PM
True stories from th' front lines.
George Orwell - Homage To Catalonia
That one's here for free: http://www.george-orwell.org/Homage_to_Catalonia/index.html

It's good

[Taiga]

Communist science-fiction is pretty interesting. ;) :lol:
I would advise you "Andromeda Nebulae" by Ivan Ephremov and any books by Strugatsky brothers. Though I have no idea if they exist in English.

[dakewlguy]

The End of Nature by Bill McKibben is very interesting. It discusses global warming and its implications, but interestingly the second half of the book looks at more philosophical questions posed by the problem of global warming, and what future possibilities there are to tackle the problem.

[Raisa]

I love the book " i want to buy a vowel" Its one of my favorites. Just cause its a cute book that makes me laugh.

[guerillablack]

The Spook Who Sat By the Door

[Urban Rubble]

Well, if you're looking for Socialist literature, have you ever read Upton Sinclair's "The Jungle" ? Really good book for anyone with a heart, regardless of political persuasion.

Actually, Upton Sinclair has alot of good stuff. I also reccomend the Lanny Budd series. It's a series of 11 books detailing the life of Lanny Budd and the Budd family. Lanny is a fictional character, but the rest of the book is historically accurate.

The books are just the story of Lanny's life begging with his birth in 1900. He's an American who grew up in Europe, the son of a powerful American munitions manufacturer. Through Lanny's eyes you see the horrors of WW1, the conference of Versailles where he works as secretary for some important Americans. Later in the books Lanny becomes a spy for FDR's government, despite his light Socialist beliefs (he is constantly called a "pink" in the book).

I don't know, the books are too broad to summarize. You see Lanny doing everything from befriending Hitler and Goebells as a spy, getting trapped in Hong Kong during the war and having to trek through revolutionary China to escape, meeting with Stalin, all kinds of crazy stuff. I haven't read them all but they are some of the best books ever.


HA ! I'm glad to finally see a Right winger admit how fucking TEDIOUS Ayn Rand's writing is.

[Right_is_right]

My favourite books are these:
Bible
Sun Tzu Art of War
Romance of Three Kingdoms
7 Habits of Highly Effective People

Out of these Sun Tzu may help you fight the communists :lol:

[Pedro Alonso Lopez]

The Complete Bullshit Collection of Ayn Rand's collected shite books would be faboulous.

[t_wolves_fan]

Liar's Poker, about bond trading in the early and mid-80's, is hilarious and sad at the same time.

You anti-capitalists would absolutely love ut.

[Zingu]

Soviet Science Fiction is a good read if you want something out of the ordinary.

"Moscow 2024" by Vladimir Voinovich is a good read, its a paradoy on Orwell's 1984.



Other books would include "Jennifer Government".

[Commie Girl]

Paris 1919 : Six Months That Changed the World
by MARGARET MACMILLAN

[Professor Moneybags]

Originally posted by Pedro Alonso [email protected] 22 2005, 11:50 PM
The Complete Bullshit Collection of Ayn Rand's collected shite books would be faboulous.
Those aren't really your kinds of books, Pedro; no pictures.

[Pedro Alonso Lopez]

Hilarious reply, I plan on writing it down.

[{GR}Raine]

Candide - Voltaire
Utopia - Sir Thomas More
Anything of Anton chekhov.
Ayn Rands books are interesting.
Blankets - Craig Thompson
Goat: A Memoir - Brad Land
Age of Spiritual Machines: When Computers Exceed Human Intelligence - Ray Kurzweil.

Have fun.

[Vinny Rafarino]

Well, if you're looking for Socialist literature

He's looking for nothing more than a chance to stroke his own ego by pretending to be a diamond in a pile of shit.


I feel so smart.

A dubious statement such as this must force me to remind you that feelings can be quite misleading.

[dakewlguy]

Here's some recommended reading: actual scientific research into society.

[Hodgeh]

Originally posted by [email protected] 11 2005, 04:13 AM
You might find Chomsky's collections of speeches and interviews an easier read or at least less of a "self-importantly intellectual" tone. Try "What Uncle Sam Really Wants", "Secrets, Lies, and Democracy", or "Power and Terror."

All very relevant, all easily digestable.
Yeh, Noam has some good stuff.


Whoever mentioned works by Chekhov gave a good suggestion. He's got some great short stories, you can probably find a collection of his better works at the library.

[TheKwas]

Ursala K. Le Guin - The Dispossessed (This one was already said, but it's a good one)
Anything by Orwell

And for purely Economic reading:
Friedrich Hayek-The Road to Serfdom
Keynes- A Tract on Monetary Reform
Milton Freidman - Capitalism and Freedom
Micheal Albert - ParEcon: Life After Capitalism
John Kenneth Galbraith - The New Industrial State


Of all of the above, I would recommend Galbraith the most, quite possiblely the most under-rated economist of all time, followed by Micheal Albert's work on ParEcon.

[Professor Moneybags]

Originally posted by Pedro Alonso [email protected] 23 2005, 09:47 PM
Hilarious reply, I plan on writing it down.
(Notice that he didn't deny it.)

[Non-Sectarian Bastard!]

(Notice that PM is extremely childish and only able to cheap-shots.)

[Professor Moneybags]

Originally posted by Non-Sectarian Bastard!@Feb 25 2005, 05:03 PM
(Notice that PM is extremely childish and only able to cheap-shots.)
I don't see your critique anywhere. It can't be any less evasive than Enigma's, although I won't be putting any money on it.

[Non-Sectarian Bastard!]

It wasn't on Enigma. It was a reaction on your reply to Pedro Alonso Lopez.

[Pedro Alonso Lopez]

Originally posted by Professor Moneybags+Feb 25 2005, 04:48 PM--> (Professor Moneybags @ Feb 25 2005, 04:48 PM)
Pedro Alonso [email protected] 23 2005, 09:47 PM
Hilarious reply, I plan on writing it down.
(Notice that he didn't deny it.) [/b]

Insightful, I will write this down too, you are a goldmine for knowledge.