Where do I start? Lots of help needed.

[Toothlessjoe]

Ok.

Just a quick bit of background information, incase it makes things a little easier. I'm 17, still in education, and have what one would call an "Active social life". Which, at my age, consists of nothing of relevance.

I'm very interested in Communism, as both a political and an economic theory/policy?

What I'm confused with, is where do I start? What would be some good books or writings to start with?

I'm guessing that a few of these may be in order:?

Class Struggle in France
The Communist Manifesto
On the Jewish Question
The German Ideology

I also have a copy of: Bolivian Diary. Didn't but it, someone came accross a few copies and gave me one.

With not a great deal of spare time, and not knowing much yet, what should I read first, in what order? Also, is there anything else I should read?

Thanks a lot guys/girls. I appreciate the time taken to read and respond.

[More Fire for the People]

I began out by reading the Manifesto, but started reading James Connolly and Eugene Debs aftewards, who are both a very easy read.

But remember, read the Communist Manifesto or the Principles of Communism beforehand, because it makes many other works easier to understand.

Earlier this year, I posted some articles for another new person.
You may enjoy them as well,
Revolutionary Unionism - By Eugene Debs (http://marxists.org/archive/debs/works/1905/revunion.htm)
Outlook for Socialism in the United States - By Eugene Debs (http://marxists.org/archive/debs/works/1900/outlook.htm)
The German Ideology - By Karl Marx (http://marxists.org/archive/marx/works/1845/german-ideology/index.htm)
The State and Revolution (http://marxists.org/archive/lenin/works/1917/staterev/index.htm)
If America Should Go Communist - By Leon Trotsky (http://marxists.org/archive/trotsky/works/1935/1935-ame.htm)

[Entrails Konfetti]

But isnt "Das Kapital" essential ?

[More Fire for the People]

Not really, Das Kapital is rather uncomprehensible and a headache waiting to happen, I read volume one once and I don't remember a thing.

[Entrails Konfetti]

Did you know anything about economics before you read it?

Because,I knew nothing about economics,and I'm like a bout a third through and I've learned so much.However in Marx's scientific way of investigating I find he rephrases so many damned things, or sometimes in one chapter he'll say pretty much what he said in the previous chapter.

But,yeah the Communist Manifesto you should definatelt start out with,it will give you a good idea of the platform of the party,it will tell you about the history of class struggle and kind of give you a good idea on how the first communist party worked.

[More Fire for the People]

The fact that Marx uses only science as the basis for the works of Capital, is what makes them un-interesting.

I would suggest reading a kind of cliff-notes to Marxian economics rather than read Capital in the beginning.

[Entrails Konfetti]

It is a bit over-analytical.

But,its too late for the cliff notes for me ,I'm afriad.

[Matthew The Great]

Das Kapital requires much patience while plowing through it. If you take your time and read it correctly it can be pretty rewarding.

[Severian]

There's a study group getting started in this thread (http://www.revolutionaryleft.com/index.php?showtopic=36310) to read & discuss "Socialism: Utopian and Scientific" by Engels. Another good introductory booklet, whether you're reading it on your own or discussing it with others.

[danny android]

i personally prefer reading fiction books. different satires and what not. i find that i can comprehind them a lot easier. books by george orwell are some of my favorites. my favorite modern satirist is deffinitly chuck palahniuk. I do have a copy of the communist manifesto and have read it. but it was very verbose and pretty hard to read but i did understand it. i would like to get a copy of das kapital but haven't yet. Another good author that i suggest is abbie holfmann.

[Roses in the Hospital]

i personally prefer reading fiction books. different satires and what not. i find that i can comprehind them a lot easier. books by george orwell are some of my favorites. my favorite modern satirist is deffinitly chuck palahniuk. I do have a copy of the communist manifesto and have read it. but it was very verbose and pretty hard to read but i did understand it. i would like to get a copy of das kapital but haven't yet. Another good author that i suggest is abbie holfmann

The problem with fictional political works is often the message becomes confused or distorted with different inerpretations of the allagory. You only have to look at the conflicting view of Orwell's politics in one of the threads in litrature and film to realise this...

[resisting arrest with violence]

Originally posted by [email protected] 6 2005, 09:31 PM
Ok.

Just a quick bit of background information, incase it makes things a little easier. I'm 17, still in education, and have what one would call an "Active social life". Which, at my age, consists of nothing of relevance.

I'm very interested in Communism, as both a political and an economic theory/policy?

What I'm confused with, is where do I start? What would be some good books or writings to start with?

I'm guessing that a few of these may be in order:?

Class Struggle in France
The Communist Manifesto
On the Jewish Question
The German Ideology

I also have a copy of: Bolivian Diary. Didn't but it, someone came accross a few copies and gave me one.

With not a great deal of spare time, and not knowing much yet, what should I read first, in what order? Also, is there anything else I should read?

Thanks a lot guys/girls. I appreciate the time taken to read and respond.
Lenin's The State and Revolution is all you need, my friend. But you should be aware that what Lenin implemented in the Soviet Union was altogether different than what he set forth in his book The State and Revolution.

I emailed Dr. Noam Chomsky who knows about these things. Here is the exchange

Me: I hope you can clear this matter up for me. I heard you said you disagree with the political system Lenin & Trotsky implemented in the Soviet Union but you admire Lenin's State And Revolution. I read that book some time ago and it inspired me. Why didn't Lenin implement those ideas in the Soviet Union? Was it because the allies invaded the country? Thanks a lot.


Dr. Noam Chomsky: One can speculate about Lenin's motives, but the fact is that his veering to the left, as in State and Revolution and the April Theses, was during the months when he was trying to gain popular support, April-October 1917. Some of the scholarly literature concludes, not implausibly in my view, that this was a kind of campaign oratory. Quite different from his stand before, or actions afterwards. The destruction of popular forces preceded the intervention.

Me: Thanks for that message. One more thing. Is that work of Lenin--- State and Revolution a very important one? I mean can those theories apply to the USA?

Dr. Noam Chsomky: It's a very good book -- with the provisos I mentioned. The "theories," such as they are, are standard left libertarian, and are applicable anywhere, in my opinion.


Here is more info. on Dr. Noam Chomsky (any book by Chomsky are essential reading too like Manufacturing Consent, What Uncle Sam Really Wants, Year 501: The Conquest Continues, Necessary Illusions):

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Noam_Chomsky

[CEWS]

I suggest you read the Anarchist FAQ (http://www.infoshop.org/faq). Anarchism includes communism. It also has good critiques of State capitalism.

[workersunity]

ive read the communist manifesto at least 5 times, and have 4 copies of it, i learn more everytime

[danny android]

Originally posted by Roses in the [email protected] 8 2005, 08:15 AM

i personally prefer reading fiction books. different satires and what not. i find that i can comprehind them a lot easier. books by george orwell are some of my favorites. my favorite modern satirist is deffinitly chuck palahniuk. I do have a copy of the communist manifesto and have read it. but it was very verbose and pretty hard to read but i did understand it. i would like to get a copy of das kapital but haven't yet. Another good author that i suggest is abbie holfmann

The problem with fictional political works is often the message becomes confused or distorted with different inerpretations of the allagory. You only have to look at the conflicting view of Orwell's politics in one of the threads in litrature and film to realise this...
i know this is true but i still prefer to read them.

[KptnKrill]

Originally posted by [email protected] 8 2005, 10:14 PM
I suggest you read the Anarchist FAQ (http://www.infoshop.org/faq). Anarchism includes communism. It also has good critiques of State capitalism.
Yah that is a good read. Or atleast a look over.