231 of 250 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Don't mistake communism as harmless; READ THIS BOOK!, December 2, 2004
This review is from: The Naked Communist (Hardcover)
I got this book as a gift from my brother, stemming from a conversation in which I said, `communism isn't really such a horrible thing, it's just not a practical form of government because greed and corruption will never allow people to share things equally'. I was given this book to correct that misunderstanding. And this book did that brilliantly.
Skousen begins with a description of the Marxist mindset, delving even into the lives and times of Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels, Marx's colleague and probably his only friend. Such insight lays the groundwork for understanding Communism and its reasons for being, which at best are selfish and demeaning. Using proto-communists' own words, whether from the Communist Manifesto or from correspondence among Marx and others, Skousen shows that the very philosophical foundations of Marxism and Communism are flawed and misleading. For myself, I began to understand that Marx's bitterness about his own station in life and his seeming inability to function in a competitive, capitalist world led him to a philosophy that claimed it could undo all the so-called iniquities of that capitalist world. Thus the myth of Communism as a great equalizer was born.
Many people, myself once included, tend to think that that is all there is to Communism: everyone is equal and all possessions are shared equally. Others claim that the Bible provides support for this way of life and that the communal life described therein is an early example of Communism. Still others might claim that our founding fathers would have approved of Communism because of its purported equality. Skousen aptly debunks these and other misconceptions surrounding Communism and Marxist theory. He then moves on to describe, again using their own words, how Communism calls for violent, subversive acts in order to bring about revolution so that the common workers may seize power.
Following this harrowing exposure of Communism is a blistering tour of late 19th and early 20th century history, detailing in particular the genesis and early activities of the Communist party in Europe and ultimately Russia. Let's just say that, having investigated some of the historical dates myself, I am surprised at how often the history of the Bolshevik revolution is sanitized and portrayed as some sort of liberation of the masses from the Tsars. I'm further surprised to learn that a democratic and limited monarchy was in the works to replace the oppression of the Tsars in the wake of Bloody Sunday when the Bolsheviks hijacked the revolution and drove the country toward Communism instead. How? All I can say is read the book. You might find some disturbing parallels to current events.
Skousen then proceeds through the Depression and WWII years (a major eye-opener for me, and I'm a serious WWII history buff) and follows with a perspective of the early Cold War years that I found informative. All in all, this book is fundamental in understanding the true nature of Communism, its distinction from the more benign forms of socialism, and the hypocritical way many people distinguish the despicable acts of Communists from those equally pernicious acts perpetrated by the Nazis. By the time you finish this book, you will either dismiss it all blithely or you will come to understand that Lenin and Stalin were as evil in many respects as Hitler and his cabal were. But if you think that Communism is just another form of government, or just another political party, or even just a harmless, altruistic philosophy, then you NEED to read this book. I did and I have never looked at history, or current events the same way since.
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106 of 121 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Surprisingly relevent, even today, June 15, 2004
This review is from: The Naked Communist (Hardcover)
Written about 1960 by W. Cleon Skousen, who worked in the FBI for 16 years, taught at the university level, and served as a Chief of Police in Salt Lake City and a Field Director for the American Security Council in Chicago. This is a simple and straightforward book that examines the philosophies and objectives of Communism; outlines the history of the Communist takeovers in Russia, Eastern Europe, China, Korea, and Cuba; and details the shortcomings of Communist teachings and society. Marx, Lenin, Stalin, Krushchev, and Castro are discussed in detail, as well as many others, including some influential Americans. Mr. Skousen makes very plain the threat of Communism in the United States and how previous failures to act led to so many countries falling to Communism.
I don't remember why I initally picked up this book, but I doubted that it had much relevance in today's world. With the fall of the Soviet Union I thought it was pretty much a moot point. But I was surprised at how much it sounded like things I've heard variously from students and teachers in college classes - all since the fall of the USSR. I found the analysis of the life of Karl Marx and his philosophies convincing but a bit dry. However, the history of how Communism came to be such a powerful force in the world and its failures to provide for the people was very interesting and hard to put down. Furthermore, it parallels what I'm reading in another book by a Chinese journalist who experienced firsthand the Communist takeover in China.
The book is written clearly and in plain language, and there are plenty of footnotes. It will certainly make you look at organizations such as the United Nations and the ACLU very differently. Overall, an interesting and convincing analysis of Communism not only as a political philosophy but also from a historical perspective.
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130 of 154 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Naked Lies of Communism Exposed!, January 1, 2001
W. Cleon Skousen's book 'The Naked Communist' is one of the finest works ever written on the subject of the communist conspiracy and should be read by everyone who loves the United States of America. Skousen does a wonderful job exposing the lies that communists have used since Karl Marx first wrote the communist manifesto. The book was written in the early sixties and it's amazing to see just how many predictions Skousen made that have come true. Skousen also points out the many flaws that has left the United Nations virtually powerless to stop aggressor nations. But perhaps the most interesting facts that Skousen sheds light on are the circumstances surrounding Roosevelt's concessions to Stalin and Truman's concessions to Mao. These 'Appeasers' made the same mistakes that Chamberlin made in his dealing's with Hitler in the 1930's. Many are quick to dismiss the spectre of Communism since the end of the cold war but America must remain ever vigilant and always beware the influences of the EXTREME left.
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