Marx's Concept of Man ... (Paperback)

by Erich Fromm (Editor)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
Presents Fromm's provocative view of Marx. It stresses his humanist philosophy and challenges both Soviety distortion and Western ignorance of Marx's basic thinking. --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

About the Author
Erich Fromm (1900-80) was a member of the groundbreaking Frankfurt School. He was not only a major psychoanalyst and social psychologist, but also a key exponent of twentieth century humanism. Fromm's other major books include the Art of Being, On Being Humen and The Art of Listening. --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 275 pages
• Publisher: Ungar Pub. Co. (June 1975)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0804461619
• ISBN-13: 978-0804461610
• Product Dimensions: 7.5 x 4.7 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,045,460 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent book concerning an understanding of Marx., May 22, 1999

By A Customer

This book is an excellent book for anyone wishing to gain a readable understanding of Marxist thought. The first 92 pages are especially insightful. A must buy for anyone interested in Marxism.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Marx as a humanist philosopher, December 14, 2006

By	M. A. Krul (Utrecht, Kingdom of the Netherlands) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Marx's Concept Of Man (Continuum Impacts) (Paperback)

"Marx's Concept of Man" is essentially a pamphlet establishing the humanist, philosophical side of Marx as against the orthodox, Soviet view of Marx as tyrannical and economistic, and against the degree to which this view has seeped into academic literature in the West also. Famous Freudian Marxist Erich Fromm uses the "Economic and Philosophical Manuscripts" as well as "The German Ideology" to stress the importance of humanist concepts such as alienation, freedom, and creativity for Marx, and in so doing explains what these and similar terms mean in Marx' work. Fromm has clearly paid careful attention to Marx' philosophy, and this part of the book is quite good as a simple overview.

The second half of the book covers the English translation of the aforementioned "Economic and Philosophical Manuscripts" by Tom Bottomore, as well as excerpts from various other works by and about Marx meaning to show his humanism, his good nature, and his sensitivity to culture. Of special interest are the excerpts from the memoirs of those who knew Marx, like his daughter Eleanor as well as Paul Lafargue. These works are often quoted, but rarely does one find a larger part in English, not even in McLellan's biography.

Fromm goes a bit overboard here and there in stressing Marx' 'spiritual' nature. Although nothing Fromm writes is of itself incorrect, it may unwittingly reinforce the old canard of Marxism 'really' being a religion, and Marx a millennarian prophet, and so on. Fromm obviously rejects this old refrain, but should have made that clearer. In other aspects this collection is an interesting primer on Marx as thinker on human action and human nature, and sheds good light on this side of Marxist thought for those not familiar with it.

7 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A very good read, January 19, 2000

By A Customer

Fromm's analysis of Marx is incredible, finally someone truly understands Marx's writing. This is an excellent edition for someone looking for a side of Marx not often discussed.