Customer Reviews

The Communist Manifesto and Other Writings (Barnes & Noble Classics)

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1 star:		(1)

 

 

I am not going to comment on the actual content of the Communist Manifesto, but instead on this particular edition of it. This edition is quite good for its cheap price. It is made up of the standard translation of the Manifesto by Samuel Moore. Furthermore, it includes "The Eighteenth Brumaire of Louis Bonaparte", an essay by Karl Marx on the failures of the revolutions of 1848. This essay is very hard to find, and it is interesting to compare its ideas to those of the Manifesto. The introduction is a bit short and not quite as in-depth as in other editions (if you want a really good introduction, check out the Penguin edition from 2002), but it does succintly lay out the main points necessary for understanding the text. Overall, this is a really nice, yet cheap, edition; it is especially good for students (like me!).

Barnes and Noble's edition of The Communist Manifesto is excellent and a great resource for learning about what Communism is about. The most memorable thing about the Communist Manifesto is the ten planks of Communism, which outlines Marx and Engels plans for classless and stateless society. This is edition contains seven prefaces written by Engels regarding the Communist Manifesto , which the prefaces provide additional insight to Marx and Engel's vision. Barnes and Noble's edition also includes Karl Marx's essay titled "The Eighteenth Brumaire of Louis Bonaparte", which details the history of the 1848 Revolution in France and the essay provides an insight to Karl Marx's political philosophies. Barnes and Noble's edition includes Karl Marx's preface to "The Eighteenth Brumaire of Louis Bonaparte", but this edition also includes Engel's preface to "The Eighteenth Brumaire of Louis Bonaparte". The last essay in Barnes and Noble's edition is Karl Marx's "Theses on Feuerbach", which are philosophical notes that criticize the "Young Hegelian" Ludwig Feurerbach. Finally, Barnes and Noble's edition concludes with a Comments and Questions section, which this section provides some comments that came from the early Marxists, but there is also a comment from Vladmir Lenin that is found in the Comments and Questions section. Overall, Barnes and Noble's edition is a must have book for those interested in Karl Marx and for those who want to learn what Marxism is about.

My rating is directed at the content of this book. Included: Marx's life timeline, The Communist Manifesto, The 18th Brumaire, Theses on Feuerbach, and related prefaces. Also included, but not rated with 1 star is the Introduction.

Marx was the ultimate moocher. He never had a job and was kicked out of countries for being an instigator. Engels was the ultimate enabler. He came from a wealthy, manufacturing family and supported Marx and his family. Oddly enough, Engels seemed to loathe the fortune he was born to, but rather than donating all to charity, he helped Marx in his efforts to demonize all private property.

Engels admits that they originally wanted to name it "The Socialist Manifesto" but due to extraneous reasons and that "mere revolutions were not enough" they settled on "Communist."

A note to Communists/Socialists- Marx/Engels state that it is high time that you are open about your views and aims. Be honest.

There is an argument against current Capitalist society as having "agglomerated population, centralized means of productions and has concentrated property in a few hands. The necessary consequence of this was political centralization." Which I must argue, sounds like the definition of Fascism...not Capitalism.

So what is the cure for this disease? Centralization of property and power to the State. oh, that makes perfect sense. So now, all the mega-property owners can maintain status quo- playing footsie with politicians and even becoming those that govern. Sounds like musical chairs.

There are too many asinine ideas to detail, but some highlights (or lowlights) are; abolition of the family; abolition of home education; abolition of nations; abolition of eternal truth, religion, and morality; aboltion of private property; abolition of inheritance; progressive income tax (we have it!); confiscation of property; central bank (we have it!); centralized communication and transport; production owned by the State (GM); industrial armies (national service); abolition of town and country; free education (nothing is free).

Sign me up! I couldn't see how any tyrant could steer the reins of this centralized machine. If a tyrant wanted the blueprint on how to take over an entire nation, Socialism/Communism is the perfect design.

In regards to the rest of the content...incredibly tiresome. The writing is really hard to relate to- its very dispassionate and dull. I got the book for the Manifesto, not the rest.