The 5 books

[Hegemonicretribution]

This isn't a reading list, or even recomendations, rather this thread is a list of the five (or so) books that have influenced you most. That isn't to say those works that re-affirmed beliefs, or built upon what you know. I am reffering to those works that changed you as a person, even if the influence has been built upon, or become closer related to something that didn't have as big an impact.

Here are my 5 in no particular order.

1: No Logo. I read this in 2000 I think. (Globalisation:take it personally comes close). This book basically took my juvenile rejections of "big companies" and gave me information, insight and focus.

2: The Communist Manifesto: I read this shortly afterwards^. First real political work I ever read, and (as many people are with the first thing they read) I was completely bowled over. Everything made sense, and my general approach to life was no longer just an attempt at ethical living, I had a goal.

3: An Introduction to Philosophy of Science (can't remember which exact book, but it is still one of the most complete and concise philosophical introductions of any area I have ever read). This brought scepticism home to me. It also showed me the problems wth it and I began to see the world much more in the way I now see it. That is an existence where the concepts of truth and right and wrong began to lose importance... I can't really describe the empowering feeling, it is....well the book influenced me anyway.

4: Doors of Perception: I have been interested in hallucinegenics as long, if not longer than I have philosophy. Although not much of a political influence, this book brought so much home to me. It explained things I could never explain myself and showed the worth of drugs beyond that of your "air head hippy." The role of the brain and the science behind this is as interesting as the drug experiences themselves, if not more so for me.

5: Thus Spoke Zaranthustra: Outside choice, and I would not claim to be nihilist, or particuarly in search of the superman. Ths choice is a bit of a lie really because I have not even started the 4th part yet. Rather I used this because it was through bastardised simplified versions of Nietzsche that my understanding of ethics was most altered. I chose this text because it is the complete version of the ideas that influenced me.

What are yours?

[SonofRage]

1. A People's History of the United States by Howard Zinn: This totally opened my eyes as far as US history goes.

2. Social Anarchism or Lifestyle Anarchism: An Unbridgeable Chasm by Murray Bookchin

3. Workers' Councils by Anton Pannekoek

4. Post-Scarcity Anarchism by Murray Bookchin

5. A New World in our Hearts: 8 Years of Writings from the Love and Rage Revolutionary Anarchist Federation by Roy San Filippo (editor).

[Ginger Goodwin]

;)

[metalero]

1. The Murder of Allende and the end of Chilean way to socialism. Robinson Sanford. This book was very inspiring and helped me understand the political history of latinamerica, something I ignored until then.

2. The Communist Manifesto. It totally developed my class-consciousness and guided me out of alienation.

3. The Civil war in France Marx. Understanding of the marxist concept of the proletariat dictatorship.

4. Pablo Neruda's Memoirs (Confieso que he vivido) The life of a revolutionary poet, full of hope and militancy, from Spanish civil war to his death, shortly after the bloody coup in chile. Too much a poet to keep being alive after seeing his comrades and the people's hope crushed by fascism.

5. The state and the revolution Lenin. Great understanding of the revolutionary tasks of the proletariat; tha basics about organization and workers power.

[which doctor]

In no particular order

The Giver- Lois Lowry Failure of the utopia
Communist Manifesto- Marx+Engels Explanation of communism and it's goals
Of Mice And Men- John Steinbeck Poor men can't succeed and be happy
To Kill a Mockingbird- Harper Lee Racism in the American south
Romeo and Juliet- Shakespeare Classic love story that ends in tragedy

[Clarksist]

In the order I read them:

Animal Farm
Read this one in sixth and then seventh grade. All I could think about the whole time was a way to realize their goal, without all the fallbacks of the over-bearing authority. When I found out what they were attempting was "communism", I began to start flirting with the idea of being a communist.

Anarchist FAQ
Not really a book, but a very popular introduction to Anarchism. I read this in eighth grade, and while at the time I didn't fully understand it, I became a further flung leftist. My mind also started to come around to a way to fix the ideas of Animal Farm.

The Communist Manifesto
This was what "sealed the deal" for me being a leftist. I had finally found the text which would bring me the closest I had yet been to someone thinking all the thoughts that were whirling in my head. After I read the Manifesto... there was just no stopping me.

Days of War, Nights of Love
Good ole Crimeth Inc., their romantic and idealist lifestyle coupled with realistic and undying logic made me consider the world such a different place. From then on, I was beginning to become more and more who I am now, and just skimming through it, I always feel right at home. The adventure Crimeth Inc. makes life makes this a must have for sure.

State and Revolution
I was never a leninist, and I am not one now. But in State and Revolution, Lenin did help me understand and grasp Marxism to the point where for the first time I finally knew what it was completely. And also, has me coming back and rethinking my more Anarcho-Communist thoughts time and time again.

[Monty Cantsin]

1) “Revolutionary Cuba” by Terence Cannon. It’s basically a summary of Cuban history from just before the war of independence till the 1980’s. It could be viewed as Cuban propaganda written by a westerner but I was amazed by the gains in education and health which though always curious put me on the part of becoming a radical.

2) “Karl Marx selected writings”. This was just a series of Marx writings from his early stuff to latter stuff crammed into one book. Very interesting very well put together and turned me on to a lot of ideas. Coincidently I got it off the same person I got Cannons book from...brainwasher.

2) “The age of reason” by jean-Paul Sartre. I’m not a French existentialist I just really like their literature. It puts forward his philosophy on being, nothingness and freedom in a different form of communication which is pretty interesting.

4) “All that is solid melts into the air” by Marshall Berman. What can I say great book everyone should read it. It’s about the experience of modernity, proposing a kind of ultra-modernism. Analysing how capitalist modernism has affected his life and the life of everyone over the last cupel hundred years.

5) “Marx’s early writings on society and philosophy”. Again one of those composite books but it’s a great one. Having stuff from his early liberal days to the poverty of philosophy.

[Sankara1983]

In order:

1. Upside Down (Eduardo Galeano)
This book completely altered my world view, challenging me to think outside the framework of the status quo.

2. A Small Place (Jamaica Kincaid)
One of the very few books I read over and over again. A very powerful indictment of colonialism, and a more subtle indictment of capitalism itself. Kincaid knows this first hand, being a native of Antigua, a country run until very recently by a corrupt mafia known as the Bird family.

3. Thomas Sankara Speaks (Thomas Sankara)
The basis of much of my political philosophy. Sankara was perhaps Africa's most honest and dedicated revolutionary figure and democratic thinker, on the level of Ben Bella, Cabral, Tongogara, and others, but he was assassinated in an October 15, 1987 coup organized by one of his "friends."

4. No Logo (Naomi Klein)
Powerful exposé of globalization and its disastrous effects.

5. Clash of Fundamentalisms (Tariq Ali)
An excellent overview of the Islamic world, especially its politics and literature. Chapters on the development of Islam, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Iran, Afghanistan, Kashmir, Indonesia, Iraq, and others. Very interesting because of his high-level connections to various political figures. Makes it clear that the Islamic fundamentalists of Iran were never interested in left-wing politics and in fact brutally repressed their followers. "The case of Anwar Shaikh" is a compelling account of free thought in Islam.

[Scars]

1) Quotations of Chairman Mao Zedong (The Little Red Book):
Although I am no longer a 'classical' Maoist (I'm now more inspired by certain parts of Maoism, instead of being a Maoist) I still find this books quite inspirational and I still read it often. In addition this was the book that probably sealed my 'conversion' from Anarcho-Communism to Communism.

2) The Communist Manifesto:
A no brainer really, although when I first read it I didn't understand a lot of it (hey, neither did Ho Chi Minh :lol: ), particularly the more 'deep' economic stuff, but it did strike a cord with me- partiuclarly in regards to the alienation of the proletariat and the necessity of revolution.

3) The Principles of Communism:
Laid out the bare bones for many of my thoughts and I still refer to now and again, especially when I'm having a mental block in regards to my writings about Marxism.

4) The Platform (Nestor Makhno):
I'm not an Anarcho-Communist, nor am I a Libertarian-Communist; but I found many of the ideas within the pamphlet interesting, especially in regards to volunarism and (the paradox of) libertarian organisation.

5) The Prison Notebooks (Antonio Gramsci):
I haven't read the WHOLE lot, but I admire Gramsci greatly. His theroy of Cultural Hemegony has shaped my thought greatly, as has his works regarding philosophy, history and worker councils.

I've been effected by many, many other books and my ideas aren't accuratley reflected in any of these books. Kinda sad really.

[SonofRage]

--posted this in the wrong section---

[Commie Rat]

Price Value And Profit - Fredrick Engles
The Communist Mannifesto- Karl Marx
Days Of War Nights Of Love - CrimethInc
McLibel - Associated Press
Catch 22 - dont know name

[rioters bloc]

Originally posted by CommiRat
Catch 22 - dont know name

joseph heller

edit: added commierat's quote

[YKTMX]

Ten Days That Shook the World - Jack Reed
A History of the Russian Revolution - Trotsky (just a brilliant, brilliant book)
Redemption Song - Mike Marquese
State Capitalism in Russia - Tony Cliff
The Sublime Object of Ideology - Slavoj Zizek

[Led Zeppelin]

Price Value And Profit - Fredrick Engles

Value, Price and Profit was written by Marx, not Engels.

[Bannockburn]

1)Discipline and Punish: The Birth of the Prison Micheal Foucault
2)An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding: David Hume
3)Anarchism: A Documentary History of Libertarian Ideas Vol 1 and 2: Robert Graham
4)Globalization and the Decline of Social Reform: Gary Teeple
5)Empire/Multitude: Micheal Hardt and Antonio Negri

[Tekun]

1: The Autobiography of Malcolm X

2: The Communist Manifesto

3: Animal Farm

4: Popol Vuh

5: Manifesto

[Nothing Human Is Alien]

1. The Communist Manifesto

2. Wage-Labor and Capital - Marx

3. Pedagogy of the Oppressed - Freire

4. Che Guevara Reader

5. The Civil War in France - Marx

[Nothing Human Is Alien]

3. Thomas Sankara Speaks (Thomas Sankara)
The basis of much of my political philosophy. Sankara was perhaps Africa's most honest and dedicated revolutionary figure and democratic thinker, on the level of Ben Bella, Cabral, Tongogara, and others, but he was assassinated in an October 15, 1987 coup organized by one of his "friends."

Good book, good man; but do you support the way he took power?

[rioters bloc]

1. The Clash of Fundamentalisms by Tariq Ali

great book - compares Islamic and American fundamentalism. post-september 11 analysis.

2. Quiet Rumours: An Anarcha-feminist Reader compiled by Dark Star

what it says: an anarchafeminist reader ;) lots of cool essays like 'the tyranny of tyranny', 'anarchism: the feminist connection', etc.

3. Culture and Imperialism by Edward Said

again, what it says - an exploration of western imperialism through the imposition of culture.

4. In the Skin of a Lion by Michael Oondatje

fiction. incredibly beautiful writing. every time i read it i interpret it differently - sometimes as a postmodern text, sometimes post-colonial, sometimes Marxist.

5. Green Political Thought by Andrew Dobson

don't always agree with everything in this book, but was probably the first book i read that really opened my eyes to the path of environmental destruction that this world is racing along.

[I'm the red under your bed]

1.Guerilla warfare-Che guevara
taught me how to fight
2.Night watch-Terry pratchett
taught me who to fight for
3.Karl Marx on socialism-Karl Marx
gave me a reason to fight
4.State and revolution-Lenin
taught me the right way of going about it(fighting)
5.Of mice and men-Steinbeck
Taught m that,united we are strong, divided we are weak.The term individualism is only another word for selfishness.

[praxis1966]

In order:

1) Pedagogy of the Oppressed--Paolo Freire

Great theoretical and practical guide of how an individual can liberate his consciousness and co-operatively the masses can liberate theirs through proper education and self-examination.

2) Hegemony and Revolution: A Study of Antonio Gramsci's Political and Cultural Theory--Walter L. Adamson

Comprehensive look at the great Italian socialist's life's work (was also very formative for me). Also gives some valuable historical insights into inter-war Italy.

3) The Autobiography of Malcolm X--Co-Written by Alex Haley

What can I say? Malcolm's my hero.

4) The Black Panthers Speak--Edited by Philip Foner

The only way to hear the Panthers: in their own words. Even contains some writing by Tupac's mother, Afeni Shakur.

5) A People's History of the United States--Howard Zinn

Invaluable resource for American leftists of all stripes; destroys whatever illusions about America's past one may be operating under due to the lies perpetrated in public schools here.

[Delirium]

100 Years Of Solitude- Gabriel Garcia Marquez
Animal Farm- George Orwell
1984- George Orwell
Tracker- Tom Brown Jr.
The Search- Tom Brown Jr.

I have to mention A People's History also but it really diddnt change me just reaffirmed my cynical nature.

[Craig]

1. What is Property? by Pierre-Joseph Proudhon
"The civilized laborer who bakes a loaf that he may eat a slice of bread, who builds a palace that he may sleep in a stable, who weaves rich fabrics that he may dress in rags, who produces every thing that he may dispense with every thing, -- is not free. His employer, not becoming his associate in the exchange of salaries or services which takes place between them, is his enemy."

Proudhon is the father of political anarchism. Even Marx, who later criticized him viciously, was heavily influenced by Proudhon's views on private property.

2. Cat's Cradle, by Kurt Vonnegut
Just a great work of fiction by the United States' greatest living author. Vonnegut is notable for his anti-war views and is a self-described socialist. Any of his works are amazing. Also check out Slaughterhouse Five or Mother Night, or even Deadeye Dick.

3. 1984, by George Orwell
Mandatory reading.

4. The Illuminatus Trilogy, by Robert Anton Wilson and Robert Shea
This is just the craziest piece of science fiction, conspiracy theory, drug culture, and politics all rolled into one insane fucking book.

5. God and the State, Mikhail Bakunin
This pamphlet is a good introduction to Bakunin, one of the most influential anarchists and a contemporary (and enemy) of Marx.

[Pilgrim]

My top choices:

1. 'Homage To Catalonia' by George Orwell. I rate this as Orwell's best political work. It showed up Stalinism for what it is, and was pivotal in causing me to turn Anarchist, especially for its portrayal of power seekers (and political parties generally) and how far they wil go to achieve their goals.

2. 'Anarchy's Cossack' by Alexander Skirda. Tells the story of Ukrainian Anarchist Nestor Makhno and the Makhnovschina movement. Another shining example of betrayal by the Leninists for their own ends. Also provides an interesting look at the political scene during the Russian Revolution and subsequent civil war.

3. Either 'Direct Action' by Ann Hansen or 'How It All Began' by Michael 'Bommi' Baumann. Both are fascinating example of people who chose to go beyond even the bounds of conventional direct action, adopting arguably terrorist methods to achieve their goals, Baumann as part of the West German 'June 2nd Movement' and Hansen as a member of the 'Squamish Five'. Both books also provide an assessment of the achievements and failures of the two groups, and an analysis of the limits of violence as a form of protest.

4. 'Steal This Book' by Abbie Hoffman. One of the first books I read with a seemingly Anarchist flavour to it. I was a member of the British SWP at the time, and 'Steal This Book' struck me as being infinitely more interesting than anything the SWP had to offer and pointed me towards Anarchism. Dtaed in may ways, but definitely still worth reading.

5. 'Michael Collins' by Tim Pat Coogan. One of the best biographies of Irish revolutionary leader Michael Collins' life and work. Detailed, comprehensive, well researched and well written, this is a fascinating look at one of the best known revolutionaries of the last century.

[DISTURBEDrbl911]

In no particular order:

Steal This Book by Abbie Hoffman

The Communist Manifesto by Karl Marx

People's History of the United States by Howard Zinn

Animal Farm by George Orwell

Hegomy or Survival by Noam Chomsky

I think that is it, there may be a few changes I would make, this list is just off the top of my mind.

[emma_goldman]

1984

Animal Farm

Understanding Power

Chomsky on Anarchism

Slaughterhouse Five

[which doctor]

I found Burn Collector by Al Burian to be a remarkably influential book

[More Fire for the People]

1. The Communist Manifesto — introduced me to 'scientific socialism' and radicalism. This book significantly turned me away from utopian socialism .
2. [i]The State and Revolution — the book that shaped the way I view the dictatorship of the proletariat and the construction of a communist society.
3. The Transitional Programme — while now I have issues with a great many parts of this book I would have to say it has left its mark upon me. It is, IMO, an essential Leninist text on how to move from capitalism to socialism.
4. The Mars Trilogy — I read these books when I was 12-14. Guess what? The author of this book was a social democrat / democratic socialist :) I essentially incorporated his beliefs [as expressed in the book] as my own.
5. Iraq : The Borrowed Kettle — not particulary an amazing work but it introduced me to Slavoj Zizek. I am impressed by his unique combination of Hegelian-Marxism, Leninism, and Freudo-Lacanian psychology. Zizek has left me with a lot of important concepts.

[redhmong]

1) Quotations of Chairman Mao (The Little Red Book)

2) The Communist Manifesto, Marx and Engels

3) Che Guevara, forget the writer

4) Das Kapital, Marx

5) Collections of Ma Zedong, Mao Zedong

[BurnTheOliveTree]

1. The End Of Faith. - Sam Harris
2. The Best Democracy Money Can Buy - Gregory Palast
3. Hegemony Or Survival. -Noam Chomsky
4. The Pig That Wants To Be Eaten - Julian Baggini
5. The Philosophy Gym - Stephen Law.

-Alex

[ItalianCommie]

1)'The Communist Manifesto'by Karl Marx and Friederich Engels
I read it several times when I was 13, and that changed my whole life. I suddenly took a decisive turn to the left. I suddenly knew how to save humanity as a whole.
2)'Guerrilla Warfare' by Ernesto 'Che' Guevara
I also read this when I was 14 or so, and taught me how to fight, and take cover when necessary. How to stand my ground.
3)'Lettere dal Carcere' by Antonio Gramsci(in English they are known as the Prison Notebooks)
I read this a year or so ago and has helped me comprehend Marxism as a whole, and has tied me to the Praxis philosophy.
4)'The Catcher in the Rye' by J.D.Salinger
Taught me not to be afraid of being different. Gave me courage. Now I tell myself:'Yeah, maybe in the end I'll end up in a mental facility, but at least I'll always have been myself.'
5)'The Lord of the Rings' by J.R.R.Tolkien
Taught me not to give up, no matter what.

[RevolutionaryMarxist]

(No Order, I'm not good at ranking things)

1.) God and the State/The Antichrist by Bakunin/Nietzsche - these two different books go hand and hand for understanding, and both influenced me equally in my stance against all forms of goverments and religions.

2.) The State and Revolution, Lenin - The Most interesting and well-written work of Lenin by far, it helped me see clearly the anarchist society after socialism that Lenin said Marx had predicted, and the weak theory of the Social Democrats.

3.) A People's History of the United States/ A People's History of Ancient Rome - These two people's histories really opened my eyes to the historical validity of socialism and the strength it possessed, and the absolute brutality and disgusting methods of the ruling classes of all eras. I noticed how the US System at creation mimicked that of Rome - (Follows US;Rome - Two Presidents (Original Constitution) = Two Consuls, Elected House = People's Tribunes, Hereditary Senate = Hereditary Senate)

4.) The Communist Manifesto - I read this around 14, and before that I was a hardline Anti-Communist (Radical Christian too), let alone Activist too, but once i read it to see 'what my enemies were thinking' then I realized how wrong I was - and that began me on my path along socialism.

5.) Stalin and his Hangman: The Tyrant and those who killed for him by Donald Rayfield - This book showed me the absolute dispicablity of Stalin and his brutal repression of all workers, socialist, communist, and other movements. Very Good Volume, and very well researched.