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The Naked Communist

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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.

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.

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.

The Naked Communist is a fantastic comprehensive look at Communism. Written in the 1960's, its dated, but that is what makes it great. Skousen, a former FBI agent and practicing Mormon, wrote this book with a true fear of the danger Communism.

Skousen analyzes the life and philosophy of Marx and Engels. He studies how Communism not only condemns capitalism and private property but also religion and morals, and why it must do so. He examines how Communism first rose to power in Russia, its influence on World War II, its subsequent expansion into Asia, Communism's detailed plan to capture the entire world through revolt and bloodshed, and how the U.S.S.R. sent spies into our country.

Most interesting to me, Skousen publishes the official goals of the Communist leaders. Such goals included: easy divorces, increased promiscuity, a stigmatism that religion is immature and not fit for professional studies, and for art to become shapeless and meaningless. Although this is just a few of Communism's goals, its apparent that they have been achieved - despite the fall of the U.S.S.R. It's clear that the increased role and expansion of government and "progressive politics" is the aftertaste of Communist infiltration forever instilled in our country's personality.

Skousen writes well and clear. Although he could not have written of Communism's fall, I found it more interesting to study Communism through the eyes of a man scared for the future, someone who perceived Communism as the aggressive threat it was. I would much rather study Communism from the fearful view of the 1960's than the modern day view of poverty stricken Catholic Cuba and Capitalist embracing China - both of which must be keeping Marx rolling in his grave.

I highly recommend Skousen's work on Communism. We must study Communism so we can recognize when those old Communist idea's come up in politics, media, and from the mouth's our of colleagues and friends. We must understand Communism so that we can recognize those ideas for what they are - Communist propaganda.

If you were like me and thought that Communism was merely a failed economic system, like is often taught, you must read this to understand that Communism posed a threat to everything moral and righteous in the world.

This book opened my eyes to the reality of Communism in our current, everyday life. Simply amazing. Once you understand who and what Communists are, then you will understand what we have been undergoing for the last 100 years here in America. Just about everything you have ever complained about can be traced back to this conspiracy of individuals (larger than even McCarthy realized- and he was RIGHT, by the way). Wonder why Obama is suddenly surrounding himself with Communists? It didn't just happen overnight. Read this book and WAKE UP!

I read the 1962 publication of the Naked Communist. What is utterly shocking about this book is that in 1962 it published the current communist goals of that era, and if you look at it today 95% of them have been accomplished already!! What is utterly shocking, is that the outlandish concessions,( ie communisums fall) is part of the communist stradagey in 1962!! "Today, of course, we are not strong enough to attack...To win we shall need the element of surprise. The bourgeoisie will have to be put to sleep. So we shall begin by launching the most spectacular peace movement on record. There will be electrifying overtures and unheard of concessions. The capitalist countries, stupid and decadent, will rejoice to cooperate in their own destruction. They will jump at another chance to be friends. As soon as their guard is down, we shall smash them with our clenched fist."-- DIMITRY Z. MANUILSKY-- Stated in a lecture to the Lenin School on Political Warfare in Moscow 1931. This is found in the book. After reading THE NAKED COMMUNIST You will understand communist thinking and then you will be shocked that communist thought is alive here in the U.S., and how uneducated the public is about it!!!

I picked this book up one day when I was quite bored, it was about the only interesting looking thing at my parents house. I haven't fully finished it yet(I only started reading it very recently but had to comment I liked it so much). I have found my eyes seriously opened. Growing up after the collapse of the Berlin Wall many of the things I learned in school especially my history classes were deeply skewed to make Communism not seem that bad. At times they even presented it as a good and noble thing. Luckily my parents taught me a few important things on why freedom is so important and how Communism was the exact opposite of freedom. However, I never had a full understanding of the Communist mindset and deep evil that this theology/ideology brought upon mankind. I wished we had read this book in history and not the textbooks that state how wonderful FDR's damaging policies were. Many of us forget we still face the communist threat today, even though it has taken on a more underground approach. If you want to better understand what makes America so great and why the Soviet Union truly was so bad, read this book. If you want a better understanding of why things have begun going so bad in America, this book is definitely for you.

This book was an eye-opener to the reality of communism and how it still is prevalent in political thought today. Even though this book was written 50 years ago, it parallels political thought and ideology of our political parties of today. This book is a great beginner to learning about the Russian Revolution and how communism thought evolved to become one of the greatest threats the Earth has ever faced. I recommend this book and "An Enemy Hath Done This" by Ezra Taft Benson, former Sec of Agriculture under Eisenhower. Communism isn't dead; it just goes by a different name.

The fundamentals of Marxism and Communism are laid out in a very digestible format. Now that I understand these fundamentals my suspicions have become crystal clear perceptions concerning the move toward Socialism; the anti-religion movement, the attack on morals and the family and how elitists can abnegate responsibility for lying. This book should be required reading in our educational institutions. I am presently working on fact-checking this work but due to the positive trend encountered so far I would place a fair bet on the veracity of this book.

Another very interesting publication In Denial: Historians, Communism and Espionage cuts through the major propaganda successes in modern times. Beginning in the late 1960s, John Earl Haynes and Harvey Klehr say, the study of communism in America was taken over by "revisionists" who have attempted to portray the U.S. as the aggressor in the Cold War and saw suspicion about the American Communist Party (CPUSA) as baseless "paranoia."

The focus of "In Denial" is what the authors call "lying about spying." Haynes and Klehr examine the ways in which revisionist scholars have ignored or distorted new evidence from recently-opened Russian archives about espionage links between Moscow and the CPUSA. They analyze the mythology that continues to suggest, against all evidence, that Alger Hiss, Julius Rosenberg, Harry Dexter White, Lauchlin Currie, and others who betrayed the United States were more sinned against than sinning. They set the record straight about the spies among us.

Still as timely as ever. Still as controversial as ever (the liberals hate it). A timeless primer for patriots.

Ezra Taft Benson, in the '60s, when an Apostle of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, said in a General Conference Priesthood session that "everyone ought to read this book." President David O. McKay made a similar comment.

At one point, this book was slated to become the priesthood manual for a year for LDS instruction.

Cleon Skousen used this text for a course at Brigham Young University.

That was back when the book was first written, when Communism was sweeping the globe, when American's were frightened by the prospects. But now, when the aims so skillfully exposed in this book are nearly to completion, people are so overcome by the propaganda that their repugnance to world socialism has been all but extinguished.

Now at BYU, in a required course for Poly Sci. majors, Stan Taylor methodically debunks Skousen's "Naked Communist" and Gary Allen's "None Dare Call it Conspiracy." Stan also sits on key policy-making boards for the LDS Church to determine the Church's stand regarding Communist nations. No wonder the Church has sunk so far in bed with the New World Order.

No, "Naked Communist" is not a best seller any more. Yes, "Naked Communist" is still one of the best books ever written about the communist conspiracy to establish world socialist government (e.g. New World Order). It is frightful to see how dangerously close they are to accomplishing their full objective.

But, in the end, as Skousen will happily agree, the Lord prevails. The reign of Satan's kingdom is transient. Meanwhile, it would be a good idea for the "Saints" to get with it or they are going to be toast.