Recommended books for starters

[Jbonga]

Hey i've been lurking in this forum for about a week now reading the various discussions and what not. How ever I was wondering what types of books would you guys recommended for a beginner. So far i've come up with the Communist Manifesto but theres so many different books I don't know where to start.

Thanks

[Comrade Kurtz]

Imperialism by Lenin is often cited as an essential text.

[homeo_apathy]

read everything...articles on the net and books, google ' communism' ...doesn't hurt,... so much crap to read out there

[KC]

Principles of Communism - Engels
Wage Labour & Capital - Marx
Value, Price & Profit - Marx
The German Ideology - Marx
The State & Revolution - Lenin
Imperialism: The Highest Stage of Capitalism - Lenin

[rebelworker]

Before reading alot of theory (though a little dosnt hurt), I highly recomend reading some history of Radical movements. Personal accounts are often very moving and educational.

Theory is only good if it helps you deal with reality.

I recomend:

"The Poll Tax Rebellion" By Danny Burns. Great fairly unbiased leftist account of one of the industrialized worlds most recent mass rebellions.

"Detroit: I do mind dying" follows the radical Black autoworkers movement in the factories of Detroit during the late 60'searly 70's.

"The Bolsheviks and Workers Control" (http://www.spunk.org/texts/places/russia/sp001861/bolintro.html) by Maurice Brinton is an increadible account and analysis of the revolutionary workers movement and the struggle against ther growing burocracy during the Russian Revolution.

Alot of good shit ou about the 60's in the US. soemthing about the panthers or "Outlaw Woman" by Roxanna Dunbar, she was at alot of important events especially in the feminist and anti imperialist movements. "The Sixties" by Todd Gitlin is a fairly good overview from the perspective of the Student/ anti war movement.

For films I recomend:

Harlan County USA (miners strike, may be hard to find)
Berkely in the Sixties ( good anti war/ student overview, fairly easy to find)
Finally got the news (League of Revolutionary Black Workers, hard to find)
All Power to the People: the black Panther Party and Beyond (Best of the Sixties)
Noam Chomsky: manufacturing Consent (MUST WATCH, in every library)

Hope this helps...

I could suggest a lots more if you want

[Rosa Lichtenstein]

Check out this thread:

http://www.revolutionaryleft.com/index.php?showtopic=55267