Manifesto: Three Classic Essays on How to Change the World

by Ernesto Che Guevara, Karl Marx, Friedrich Engels

“If you are curious and open to the life around you, if you are troubled as to why, how and by whom political power is held and used, if you sense there must be good intellectual reasons for your unease, if your curiosity and openness drive you toward wishing to act with others, to ‘do something,’ you already have much in common with the writers of the three essays in this book.” — Adrienne Rich

With a preface by Adrienne Rich, Manifesto presents the radical vision of four famous young Marx and Engels’ Communist Manifesto , Rosa Luxemburg’s Reform or Revolution and Che Guevara’s Socialism and Humanity .

Genres: Politics, History, Philosophy, Nonfiction, Essays, Literature

150 pages, Paperback

First published February 1, 2004

About the author

Ernesto "Che" Guevara, commonly known as El Che or simply Che, was a Marxist revolutionary, physician, author, intellectual, guerrilla leader, diplomat, and military theorist. A major figure of the Cuban Revolution, since his death Guevara's stylized visage has become an ubiquitous countercultural symbol and global icon within popular culture.

His belief in the necessity of world revolution to advance the interests of the poor prompted his involvement in Guatemala's social reforms under President Jacobo Arbenz, whose eventual CIA-assisted overthrow solidified Guevara's radical ideology. Later, while living in Mexico City, he met Raúl and Fidel Castro, joined their movement, and travelled to Cuba with the intention of overthrowing the U.S.-backed Batista regime. Guevara soon rose to prominence among the insurgents, was promoted to second-in-command, and played a pivotal role in the successful two year guerrilla campaign that topled the Cuban government.

After serving in a number of key roles in the new government, Guevara left Cuba in 1965 to foment revolution abroad, first unsuccessfully in Congo-Kinshasa and later in Bolivia, where he was captured by CIA-assisted Bolivian forces and executed.

Guevara remains both a revered and reviled historical figure, polarized in the collective imagination in a multitude of biographies, memoirs, essays, documentaries, songs, and films. Time magazine named him one of the 100 most influential people of the 20th century, while an Alberto Korda photograph of him entitled "Guerrillero Heroico," was declared "the most famous photograph in the world" by the Maryland Institute of Art.

Reviews

[Maya]

Seems like a stupid thing to rate

[kimmy☆ · Rating 4 out of 5]

1/3

“Socialism and Man in Cuba”
An essay that has been dubbed Che’s “Communist Manifesto” this short text is packed with history, ideas, plans and the breakdown of the Cuban revolution. In his essay Che not only talks about how the Cuban revolution achieved its success but also lays down the plan for other revolutions, as well as explains how and why attitudes and culture must change in order to achieve a truly socialist society. Che’s writing is very easy to understand, his vocabulary is rich and at times very prose like, yet his work is very accessible which makes it good for beginners but in no way is it too surface level for people more knowledgeable about this topic.

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Che's essay read with the most clarity for me and I enjoyed his writing style and his vision. Though Luxemburg's look at militarism was eerie knowing our current state and the history that followed her writing (and her tragic death at the hands of fascists), but her essay was long and repetitive, probably because it was originally published as shorter articles, so she had to keep repeating the same context she was responding to. Her prose was also just more difficult for me, though she's undoubtedly a brilliant thinker.

Marx and Engels are, of course, required reading for anyone interested in politics and the effects of capitalism, and it's arguably the most important text in terms of history, as so much conflict and revolution centered on this text's existence alone. It's not my first time reading it, however, so the other two essays interested me the most.

[Gina Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Certainly worth reading, as these ideas are just as relevant today as they were at the times the essays were published. However, Luxemburg’s essay (which fills up about half of the book) can feel tedious and repetitive.

[Jared · Rating 3 out of 5]

The introductions were incredibly insightful and each part on their own were fantastic. When combined, however, Rosa Luxemburg’s essay sticks out like a sore thumb. “The Communist Manifesto” and “Socialism and Man in Cuba” are two concise beginner level writings on socialism, while Rosa Luxemburg’s “Reform or Revolution” is an extremely difficult read with copius amounts of literary and historical references which are extremely archaic in the modern day. On top of this, Das Kapital seems to be required reading to fully understand it, which is certainly a choice when you’re including “The Communist Manifest” in your anthology.

[Amelia Eilertsen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Essential reading

[Katelyn Donaldson · Rating 5 out of 5]

beware !!! If you read, you may be on your way to becoming a socialist ;) it’s great starter literature to see inside some of the genius minds behind socialist theory and how it has developed through 19th-20th centuries.

[Alicia · Rating 1 out of 5]

I think during the time I read this, I felt like I needed to find some "enlightment." I sadly, never found that with this book.

[4614 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read. Short and to the point. loved Marx the best but che and rosa can hold their own...

[J A G · Rating 4 out of 5]

great ideas, but it could only work in a perfect world . where humans cease to ask for more, and more, and more.......
loved it....shared it...

[Garrett Dunnington · Rating 4 out of 5]

This small collection of essays including the communist manifesto is a perfect introduction to Marx even if you think you already nailed it.

[محمد الهاشمي · Rating 4 out of 5]

Inspiring and disappointing how these great words were taken lightly by both friends and foes.

[Rob · Rating 3 out of 5]

The language of philosophy books is always tough for me to plow through, especially from centuries past. However, Marx is a must read for any with an interest in politics.