Theory that's translated from their originals to simple to understand English so that I don't have to stare at a paragraph for 20 minutes and do an hour of research to figure out what it means
Theory that's translated from their originals to simple to understand English so that I don't have to stare at a paragraph for 20 minutes and do an hour of research to figure out what it means
I'm pretty smart by most measures but I've got ADHD that I'm not medicated for and the language and structure of most theory makes it pretty much impossible for me to read more than a paragraph at a time, no matter how badly I want to read it.
I know that theory can be presented in ways that are more digestible and easier to get the foundation than what's in Kapital or State&Rev or whatever other original text because I've come across some of them — for example, someone made a manga that covers the key points of Kapital which was very easy to grok. Or like, State&Rev with footnotes for "what is lenin dunking on this rando for" or like an abridged version with the less-necessary bits like that edited down or removed entirely.
Sorry about your difficulties, comrade,and I think it's fine to engage with theory on whatever level you are able. But I can't in good conscience say that there's a better way of understanding theory than actually engaging with the text. Those things sound cool and good, but with the exception of the State and Rev with footnotes (which likely actually exists), you're getting someone else's representation of what they think is the most important in text.
That said, why is theory even important? Because it creates the conditions for praxis. It shouldn't be an end unto itself. If you get enough to direct the right actions towards the right ends, you're golden as far as I'm concerned