I’ve read a lot online and listened to a lot of videos/podcasts in the last 3 or so years, but I’m genuinely interested in reading solid theory (instead of hearing them quoted in YouTube videos, podcasts and articles). I am not smart enough to understand das kapital and I don’t read books that often at all (I have read the manifesto)

What should be the first three books I buy to warm myself up into understanding the theory more in depth compared to quotes, memes, YouTube videos/podcasts etc. (I was thinking maybe a Marx book, Lenin book and a Foucault book? But I have no idea!)

What would your suggestion for your first 3 books

PS I’m also new to the chapo.chat community! I haven’t been a part of a cth community since the original was banned so sorry if it’s in the wrong community!

    • thethirdgracchi [he/him, they/them]
      ·
      4 years ago

      Settlers by J. Sakai

      Just a sidenote here, I think Theodore Al­len's The Invention of the White Race (both volumes) is a far better, more convincing, and appropriately sourced historical account of how race formation and "whiteness" was created and exploited in an American context for the benefit of those with money and power.

        • kristina [she/her]
          ·
          4 years ago

          like maybe its because i grew up around commies or something but it seemed so obvious thats how the world worked since i was like 10 years old

    • bophadese [they/them]
      ·
      4 years ago

      I really love the idea you said of re-conceptualising and unlearning, that sounds like an incredibly sound starting. I also really appreciate the non-white recommendations for a rounded view. Thank you!!

    • gammison [none/use name]
      2·
      4 years ago

      I'm sorry, but I just don't understand how one can recommend all these without also making clear/articulating which ones disagree with which. Like multiple books in that list take oppositional positions on politics, oppositional conceptions of history compared to each other. This isn't a dig at you at all, but like I don't understand. When I recommend books I try to point that out in whatever I'm recommending the contradictions.

      I mean to be concrete, Federici's view of history is very different from Lenin's for example.