Required Reading

[kayanow]

Really I am looking to learn more about communism in theory and practice. I'm relatively ignorant on communism- I'm a polisci major from an American university and we really didn't learn much about it in depth.

If anyone could give me some of the most important works to read I would really appreciate it.

[BIG BROTHER]

well you should start with this books:

Communist manifesto by Karl Marx and Frederick Engels (ovbiosly): http://www.socialistalternative.com/publications/cmanifesto/

Socialism in the 21st century by Hannah Sell would be good for you:
http://www.socialistalternative.com/publications/s21/

The workshop talks- Socialism made easy by James Connolly is also good for beginners:
http://www.socialistalternative.com/publications/workshop/

after that I would recomend more dificult reading like, Lenin's "What is to be done", Trotsky's " The revolution betrayed, and anything else you can get your hands on.

[shorelinetrance]

state and revolution - lenin

[Rosa Lichtenstein]

Try some of the links listed here:

http://www.revleft.com/vb/frequently-discussed-topics-t62635/index.html

[gla22]

Read the communist manifesto, and The Grundisse. Read Capital only if you are interested in in depth economics. i also recommend reading no gods No masters to get an anarchist perspective.

[Rosa Lichtenstein]

GLA22, I think the Grundrisse is a little difficult for beginners. Far better is 'Wage, Labour and Capital'.

http://www.marxists.org/archive/marx/works/1847/wage-labour/index.htm

[Cult of Reason]

For Anarchism, the best resource out there at the moment is probably the Anarchist FAQ:

www.infoshop.org/faq

[Magdalen]

Other than the obvious Communist Manifesto, V.I Lenin's Imperialism, the highest stage of capitalism and Imperialism and the split in socialism are both very useful.

[#FF0000]

F. Engels Principles Of Communism is really good, I think. It's stickied at the top of this part of the forum.

Also: the ABC Of Anarchism by Alexander Berkman if you're going into Anarchism.