Marxism: Philosophy and Economics [Hardcover]

Thomas Sowell (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 1985

Sowell leads the listener through the Marxian scheme of ideas, shattering some existing interpretations of Marx which have developed through repetition rather than through scholarship. 6 cassettes.

--This text refers to the Audio Cassette edition.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 281 pages
• Publisher: William Morrow & Company; 1st edition (March 1985)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0688029639
• ISBN-13: 978-0688029630
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 6 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,083,766 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Thomas Sowell has taught economics at Cornell, UCLA, Amherst and other academic institutions, and his Basic Economics has been translated into six languages. He is currently a scholar in residence at the Hoover Institution, Stanford University. He has published in both academic journals in such popular media as the Wall Street Journal, Forbes magazine and Fortune, and writes a syndicated column that appears in newspapers across the country.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

30 of 32 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Sowell's study of marxism in "Marxism" best in genre, March 13, 1997

By A Customer

This review is from: Marxism: Philosophy and economics (Paperback)

In the genre of books attempting to put Karl Marx's ideas and personae into context, this is by far the best in the field, leaving runners' up in the field far behind. As most books in this genre are written in unapproachable prose and in the language of arcane terminology, Sowell's book is stunning in it's presentation, lucid in prose, and sublime in characterization. Especially interesting is Sowell's treatment of Marx the man. As the final part of the book, Sowell put's Marx's ideas in context with the man. This is in stark contrast to most of the book's in the field either treating Marx's personal life as that of an uncannonized saint(mostly), or as an unspeakable monster. In pure character of book, one can do no better.

29 of 32 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great book, November 25, 2001

By 

Kenneth E. Wagner Jr. (Highland Springs, VA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Marxism (Audio Cassette)

How ironic that Sowell, a famed conservative economist, would have written such a brilliant explanation of Marxism. Sowell clearly and intelligently lays out Marx's ideas while avoiding the 'disciples' of Marx who have misinterpreted him. While Sowell has a scathing critique of Marx's ideas at the end of the book, the bulk of it is written to help make sense of Marx. He is very fair to Marx, in fact I have never been so sympathetic to Marxism as I was after reading this work. Sowell is truly a great scholar.

18 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best overview of the man and his ideas ever put to print, February 17, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Marxism (Audio Cassette)

In the clear prose and incisive thought that marks all of his writings, Thomas Sowell explores a subject thought to be nearly incomprehensible except to a very few in a manner that any intelligent layman can absorb. In it, he describes the man, his life, and his ideas in a manner to make Karl Marx and his ideas understandable to those who might be afraid to tackle the subject otherwise. This book should be the mandatory first read for any person attempting to understand the ideas that made this century.