The Conquest of Bread (Paperback)

by Peter Kropotkin (Author)
Key Phrases: free agreement, Social Revolution, Political Economy, United States (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review
THE MAN (1842-1921):

Prince Peter Alexeivitch Kropotkin, revolutionary and scientist, was descended from the old Russian nobility, but decided, at the age of thirty, to throw in his lot with the social rebels not only of his own country, but of the entire world. He became the intellectual leader of Anarchist-Communism; took part in the labor movement; wrote many books and pamphlets; established Le Revolte in Geneva and Freedom in London; contributed to the Encyclopedia Britannica; was twice imprisoned because of his radical activities; and twice visited America. After the Bolshevist revolution he returned to Russia, kept himself apart from Soviet activities, and died true to his ideals.

THE BOOK:

The Conquest of Bread is a revolutionary idyl, a beautiful outline sketch of a future society based on liberty, equality and fraternity. It is, in Kropotkin's own words, "a study of the needs of humanity, and of the economic means to satisfy them." Read in conjunction with the same author's "Fields, Factories and Workshops," it meets all the difficulties of the social inquirer who says: "The Anarchist ideal is alluring, but how could you work it out?"

--This text refers to the Kindle Edition edition.

Product Description
The Conquest of Bread is Peter Kropotkin's most detailed description of the ideal society, embodying anarchist communism, and of the social revolution that was to achieve it - a study of the needs of humanity, and of the economic means to satisfy them. --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 235 pages
• Publisher: Black Rose Books (July 1, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0921689500
• ISBN-13: 978-0921689508
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.4 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.9 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #5,540,295 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Neglected Classic, August 18, 2004

By	Diocletian2001 "diocletian2001" (Edmonton, Alberta) - See all my reviews

Peter Kropotkin's 'Conquest of Bread' helps point the way toward a future ruled, not by greed and oppression, but by fairness, rational division of labour, and humanity. This book is an antidote for the bugbears of state socialism and 'liberal' capitalism.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Great Lesson, March 22, 2009

By	Frederic Claro "Freddy" (Japan) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: The Conquest of Bread (Working Classics) (Paperback)

If more people would read this book, the world would certainly not be in the shamble it is in today!
Kropotkine was much more the scientific made anarchist than the renegade prince he is often represented as.
With this book, he gave us a great history lesson, proved if necessary how visionary he was and provided a sustainable model for a progressive society outside the existing failed recipe of capitalism and communism.
With the "Mutual Aid", "The Conquest of Bread" is the second part of a great dyptic master piece.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Conquest of Bread, August 9, 2008

By	William G. Parsons (Lowell, MA United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: The Conquest of Bread (Working Classics) (Paperback)

Peter Kropotkin was a Russian prince who lived during times of great flux in his country. He was born to nobility during the "last hurrah" of the tsarist regime. He witnessed the disintegration of that regime through the early decades of the 20th century, and before he died, he watched as the Bolsheviks consolidated their power, substituting one authoritarian system for another. It would have been easy for Kropotkin to maintain his aristocratic life, which would have brought him tremendous privileges even after the fall of tsarism, but he renounced his title and became one of anarchism's foremost theorists.

The Conquest of Bread is one of Kropotkin's contributions to anarchist theory. Kropotkin posits, like Marxists, that the concentration of wealth which is the basis of a capitalist economy is the root cause of poverty. Unlike the Marxists, however, Kropotkin does not suggest a centralized state as the solution to workers' exploitation. His solution is autonomous collectives in which produce what they can and barter for what they need and want. In essence, Kropotkin is suggesting an anarchist market economy.

This market is not profit driven, as it would be in a capitalist market, having no regard for the basic needs of the individual. Kropotkin believed, instead, that the productive system is efficient enough to produce not only the needs of the population, but also enough of the luxuries that make life pleasant. What prevents the general enjoyment of these goods is not lack of production or inability to distribute them, but the determination of production by profit motives rather than social consumption motives.

Kropotkin's divides his book thematically, looking at basic human needs and wants. He examines why despite the ability to produce enough for everyone, people live in want. He looks at the need for luxury and sees it as an understandable and necessary part of being human. And despite being written over 100 years ago, his analysis is still fresh and relevant. The same problems that limit the lives of the working class in 2008 limited them in 1905. The difference is in scale and scope.

Charles Weigl's Introduction is well-researched and gives important insight into Kropotkin's life and context for his work. For someone unfamiliar with Kropotkin, it will prove invaluable. Weigle takes the reader through the ideas and critiques of Kropotkin without the pedantic idealizing of many who write about the people they admire.

The Conquest of Bread is an important contribution to anarchist economics and anarchist theory in general. This edition by AK Press is well presented and of high quality. I highly recommend it.