Problems of Everyday Life: Creating the Foundations for a New Society in Revolutionary Russia [Paperback]

Leon Trotsky (Author)

Product Details

• Paperback: 433 pages
• Publisher: Pathfinder Pr (April 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0873488547
• ISBN-13: 978-0873488549
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.2 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #473,988 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very superb compilation., October 19, 2000

By 

Yuli Martov - See all my reviews

This review is from: Problems of Everyday Life: Creating the Foundations for a New Society in Revolutionary Russia (Paperback)

Leon Trotsky, the founder of the Red Army, commisar of the Russian army and navy, not only was a brilliant politician, he was also a brillian journalist. Evidence of his journalistic prowess is the wonderful compilation of Trosky's writings & speeches, "Problems of Everyday Life". The title would suggest that he is to some degree a philosopher, but as he writes early in the book, the opinions stated in the book are by no means original.

In this particular work, Trotsky describes a large spectrum of subjects that people in his position(arguably one of the most powerful politicians of the twentieth century), would have considered insignificant. The name of some of the chapters provides a glimpse of what I am talking about. Here is a name of a chapter in Part I, "Vodka, the Church, and the Cinema". In this chapter, Trotsky states that as opposed to abolishing religion by force, the state should persuade individuals to leave their religious sect for more realistic alternatives(and in this case, he says the cinema is a solid alternative). Another name of a chapter is, "the struggle for cultured speech". In this chapter, Trotsky says the Russian language likely has the most profane and disgusting terms of any language(clearly he didn't know English to the extent he thought!), and he provides a program that could be used to eliminate the usage of such disgusting terms. In another chapter, which presently eludes my mind, Trotsky explains why individuals should opt for cremation, as opposed to Christian burials.

Conversely, the book is sectioned off into four parts, 1.Problems of Everyday Life, 2.Education and Culture, 3.Science and Technology, 4.The Materilist Outlook. And as the name of the sections would suggest, the book is rich in opinions & observations. To a potential reader, I would definitely suggest this very insightful work, it's the equivalant of reading a book on etiquette, science, literature, etc, by a real genius(similar to Einstien's "Ideas and Observations"). Even if you disagree with Trotsky's materialist outlook on life, and his theory of permanent revolution, read this book, it will almost certainly make a positive impact on your relations with friends, relatives, and of course, adversaries.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars "Not by politics alone!", March 1, 2002

By 

Harvey (Chicago, IL USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Problems of Everyday Life: Creating the Foundations for a New Society in Revolutionary Russia (Paperback)

This is not a "self-help" book, or a psychiatry book that tries to make you accept things no matter how grim they get in society around you-- unlike other books that popped up when I searched the database for "problems of everyday life." This collection of articles by Leon Trotsky, a central leader of the Russian Revolution in its early years, is much more challenging and interesting.

It was first written for the millions of workers and young people who were inspired to join the heroic struggles to overthrow the Czarist social order in Russia and take first steps towards building a socialist society. Full of a wonderful sense of respect for each individual and the capacities of ordinary men and women to work together to overcome society's ills. Takes up the challenges of illiteracy; real education in sciences, art, literature; punctuality and accuracy in work; of overcoming alcoholism and superstition -- not as an individual escape or salvation but as necessary and possible steps to be tackled in forging a new society.

A sample of the contents: "Vodka, the Church, and the Cinema," "Civility and Politeness as a Necessary Lubricant in Daily Relations," "The Newspaper and Its Readers," "Leninism and Library Work," "Radio, Science, Technology and Society," "Young People, Study Politics!"

Don't miss it!

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars cleaning the filth of capitalism out of our pores, February 8, 2002

By 

Tony Thomas (SUNNY ISLES BEACH, FL USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Problems of Everyday Life: Creating the Foundations for a New Society in Revolutionary Russia (Paperback)

These articles and speeches struggle against the corrupting and degrading aspects of capitalist culture that remained in Russia after the Russian revolution.

Here, Trotsky talks about the importance of fun and amusement for workers freed of moralizing and paternalistic pedagogy. Here, Trotsky explains why young people must study politics, fight for a bigger role in society, and look to world struggles. Here, Trotsky explains the importance of attention to detail, libraries, punctuality, and getting rid of profanity.
This is a good book to read today. We all need to the clean out the filth of capitalist culture that has wedged its way into the pores of our everyday life.

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