recommended anarchist reading ?

  1. scarletghoul
    scarletghoul
    What books or articles or whatever do you guys recommend I check out to learn more about Anarchism? Most of what I've read is just history, so my knowledge of Anarchist theory is limited. History is fine too though. I'm particularly interested in East Asian Anarchism, and also feel like I should read some Bakunin perhaps.
  2. blake 3:17
    blake 3:17
    Emma Goldman's Anarchism and other essays
  3. Искра
    Emma Goldman is important, but only after you read some more basic anarchist stuff.

    Here's what I recommend you:

    For every n00b: Alexander Berkman: What is Anarchism?

    Then:

    Peter Kropotkin: The Conquest of Bread
    Peter Kropotkin: Communism and Anarchy
    Mihail Bakunin: Statism and Anarchy (I couldn't find link for this, you can buy it in every anarchist bookstore. This is his capital work. But regarding his writings on this subject (state & anarchy) you could check: Stateless Socialism: Anarchism)

    This are some basic. I didn't put Proudhon or Stirner, because they are not real anarchists in my opinion. (We can discuss this somewhere else if somebody has something against this statement.)

    If you want to understand anarchism further more here are some anarcho-syndicalist texts you need to look at, because at the end of the day anarcho-syndicalism is the only "tendency" of anarchism which have revolutionary potential.

    Brighton Solidarity Federation: What is anarcho-syndicalism?
    Statutes of Revolutionary Unionism (IWA)
    Rudolf Rocker: Anarcho-Syndicalism (if you are to lasy to read the whole book read at least chapter: The Methods of Anarcho-Syndicalism)
    Anarcho-Syndicalism in Puerto Real (prof that anarcho-syndicalism is still relevant, even in 21st century)

    And if you want to understand Anarcho-Syndicalist view on other anarchists methods and tactics you should read this: G.P. Maksimov: Constructive anarchism Good thing about this text is that that publisher put original documents which Maksimov criticizes, so you will be able to read them and learn about other anarchists tendencies.

    It's shame that book by Serbian Hungarian Laslo Sekelj isn't translated into English, because it's really nice book and it will help you to learn what's anarchism.

    Regarding Eastern anarchism, hm... well Koran anarchists are reactionary nationalists and regarding Japanese comrades you should check Shūsui Kōtoku.

    If you are interested I can give you few anarchists texts about history of anarchism and critics of Bolsheviks.
  4. scarletghoul
    scarletghoul
    Thanks so much. I'll get to reading them after I've finished reading all my Stalin stuff.

    Why do you think only Anarcho-Syndicalism has revolutionary potential?
  5. bonjin
    bonjin
    What are your thoughts about Michael Schmidt's "Black Flame: The Revolutionary Class Politics of Anarchism and Syndicalism?"
  6. tophat
    tophat
    The Afed put out a pamphlet on the state of anarchism in Japan I think - haven't read it but generally they're pretty good so may be worth a read if you're interested in eastern anarchism.
    Following Colin Ward's recent death, I picked up a copy of his Very Short Introduction to Anarchism and was impressed - a very concise introduction for absolure beginners.
    I know you've read history, but Peter Marshall's Demanding the Impossible: A History of Anarchism is a very broad minded ecumenical work that I recommend.
  7. Искра
    What are your thoughts about Michael Schmidt's "Black Flame: The Revolutionary Class Politics of Anarchism and Syndicalism?"
    the best book I ever read in my life
  8. Искра
    The Afed put out a pamphlet on the state of anarchism in Japan I think - haven't read it but generally they're pretty good so may be worth a read if you're interested in eastern anarchism.
    Following Colin Ward's recent death, I picked up a copy of his Very Short Introduction to Anarchism and was impressed - a very concise introduction for absolure beginners.
    I know you've read history, but Peter Marshall's Demanding the Impossible: A History of Anarchism is a very broad minded ecumenical work that I recommend.
    I dislike this two books, Ward's and Marchall's, because of their perspective on historical development of anarchism. I don't find it true... and I started to write an article on this subject... it's call "Cleaning up the porch"
  9. tophat
    tophat
    I kind of agree - it's overly focused on more romantic/individualist types of anarchism. Michael Schmidt's Black Flame: The Revolutionary Class Politics of Anarchism and Syndicalism that someone already mentioned is good and serves as an antidote to that (I think you'd like it Jurko...). They're good reads nonetheless.
  10. Искра
    Look up I said that I have read it I'm now discussing it with comrades
    I was very happy when I found it since a lot of ideas from that book were already in my head
  11. Veg_Athei_Socialist
    Veg_Athei_Socialist
    The ABC Of Anarchism by Berkman is a great place to start followed by Guerin's Anarchism: From Theory To Practice.
  12. WeAreReborn
    WeAreReborn
    I recommend Anarchism : A History of Libertarian Ideas and Movements by George Woodcock. He follows 6 of the most revolutionary Anarchists including Kropotkin, Godwin, Proudhon, Stirner, Bakunin, and Tolstoy. The other half of the book is dedicated to talking about the actual anarchist movements in various parts of the world.