Hey guys.

I've spent most of my life as a moderate lib, until about 6 months ago when I became full-on leftist. However, I know very little Marxist theory.

Assuming I know nothing, what books would recommend to some like me? Obviously Marx, but what else? And in what order? Would anyone be willing to curate a list of books that would give me the basics on Marxist theory and history from the perspective of Marxism? Any advice would be helpful.

Thanks!

  • cpfhornet [she/her,comrade/them]
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    4 years ago

    Socialism: Utopian & Scientific - A great introduction into socialist theory, and the difference between the utopian socialisms and scientific socialisms. Most importantly, details and explains dialectical materialism. This text is incredibly important as it sets up the program of a large majority of the following texts.

    The Origin of the Family, Private Property and the State - Really does well to show just how deeply our productive social relations define our personal social relations and the norms that we abide by.

    Communist Manifesto - A timeless short pamphlet that still does well to outline Marxist thought to this day.

    State and Rev - The seminal text for any Marxist Leninist. Opinions on this text will likely determine which branch of leftist thought that you fall into.

    Imperialism: The Highest Stage of Capitalism - A thorough analysis of capitalism's evolution with regards to imperialism and the condensing of operations into monopolies. Capitalism has since evolved, but this will give you a very good understanding of Marxist philosophy with regards to capitalism and its many forms.

    Wretched of the Earth - An analysis of revolutionary potential of settler colonial societies, really hammers home the fact that class is merely a portion of the current hegemony, and that settler colonialism and race are just as important to the contradictions as they stand

    Settlers - A detailed history of settler colonialism and the unbelievable crimes Europe has committed upon the rest of the world (much like Wretched of the Earth)

    Blackshirts & Reds - Looking at the 20th century from a Marxist-Leninist perspective, revisiting American anti-communism

    EDIT: Currently reading The Long 20th Century as well as The Dawning of The Apocalypse (Gerald Horne).

    spoiler

    Folks, settler colonialism, its very bad!