Socialism: Utopian and Scientific (Paperback)

by Friedrich Engels (Author)
Key Phrases: capitalistic mode, socialized production, ductive forces, French Revolution, New Lanark, Reign of Terror (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review
?Engels' Feuerbach contains by far the best account of the development of his and Marx's mind from Hegelianism to their own theory of Dialectical Materialism.?-New Statesman & Nation --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Review
“Engels' Feuerbach contains by far the best account of the development of his and Marx's mind from Hegelianism to their own theory of Dialectical Materialism.”–New Statesman & Nation --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 96 pages
• Publisher: International Publishers (January 1972)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0717801918
• ISBN-13: 978-0717801916
• Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 5.1 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #2,002,797 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A great weapon for fighting for change, June 12, 2006

By	Tony Thomas (SUNNY ISLES BEACH, FL USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)

This review is from: Socialism: Utopian and Scientific (Paperback)

This pamphlet was selected by Marx and Engels from Engel's large book _Anti-Duhring_ Along with the Communist Manifesto, Socialist Scientific and Utopian constitutes the basic foundation, the easy to understand, exciting to read, and profound primer for the revolutionary working class point of view, scientific socialism that Marx and Engels founded. It links their political and philosophic views in a clear and concise and very readable booklet.

Engels provides not simply a discussion of utopian socialism and its differences with scientific socialism, but does it in a way that outlines why the ruling capitalist class of modern society will not cede power to working people peacefully, why this society is so forcefully organized to preserve the exploitation and oppression working people, women, oppressed peoples, and the former colonial countries face at the hands of the big business interests of the US, Europe, and Japan.

I might add that one of the unexpected joys of reading this and the rest of Anti-Duhring is that despite the philosophical and political rigor and seriousness, Engels is always able to put in a little humor and a little wit.

While this book is not always available on Amazon, it is always available from BooksfromPathfinder, an Amazon Z store that you can get to by clicking on New and Used further up this page!

11 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Quick, easy, lightweight intro to Socialism, October 23, 2000

By	JP Marston (Atlanta, GA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Socialism: Utopian and Scientific (Paperback)

If you are looking for a book to bolster your defense of, or attack upon, socialism, this is not the book for you. Instead, this short read provides an easy introduction into the development of Socialism, from its idealistic early proponents to those later in the 19th century attempting to define a more realistic socialism.

While Engels provides an overview of the "superiority" of socialism over capitalism, his arguments helped me to understand the motivation for socialism, rather than providing a rigorous defense.

As a libertarian, I don't agree with Engels that the capitalist exploits the wage laborer -- I think the stronger argument can be made that the capitalist enables the wage laborer -- but Engels does present his position clearly.

If you are looking for a good, short introduction to socialism, this is the book for you.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Interesting, May 13, 2009

By	Jack Lechelt "Jackyred" (Virginia) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Socialism: Utopian and Scientific (Dodo Press) (Paperback)

Interesting. I read somewhere that Engels was actually the better writer of the Marx/Engels team. Does that make Engels the Garfunkel, or Simon? I don't know. But this was fun to read and interesting. So much passion.