The Revolutionary Science of Marxism-Leninism

by J. Sykes, Mick Kelly (Foreword)

The publication of this book, The Revolutionary Science of Marxism-Leninism , by J. Sykes, comes at a turning point in this country. Times have changed. There is a renewed and resurgent communist movement in the U.S. Not since the rise of the new communist movement in late 1960s and early 70s have we seen such large numbers of people arriving at the conclusion that monopoly capitalism is a failed system, and that revolution and socialism are necessities. Many new revolutionaries are making the leap and helping to build revolutionary organization.

Marxism-Leninism is the partisan science of the working class —a class that is moving from being a class in itself to a class for itself. Workers are studying Marxist books all over the world. For workers in the U.S., oppressed people and others who are sick of capitalism, The Revolutionary Science of Marxism-Leninism provides some excellent reading.

Genres: Politics, Theory, Nonfiction

282 pages, Paperback

Published June 14, 2023

Reviews

[Jon · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best modern texts on Marxism-Leninism. Digestible, yet comprehensive. Cannot recommend enough. 100/10

[Jasper Nordin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent excellent EXCELLENT introduction to the concepts of Marxism-Leninism. Necessary reading for those familiar and unfamiliar with Marxist-Leninist theory. If you have read a fair amount of theory, much of this book will be review, but does help re-examine familiar concepts with extremely accessible and concise language. And for those who have not read much theory, it is THE primer before delving into the works of Marx, Lenin, Engels, Stalin, Mao, and others.

[Carlos Martinez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rounding up from 4.5

A very readable, clear and concise summary of the key points of Marxism-Leninism, with a generally sensible and undogmatic orientation. Certainly a useful primer, particularly on the basics of philosophy and political economy.

When it gets to strategic questions, the text hews pretty closely to the Freedom Road Socialist Organization line, and as such will be more controversial and polarising. I would have preferred a slightly less partisan and more 'neutral' overview of different strategic tendencies among groups that describe themselves as Marxist-Leninist.

Still, I wouldn't hesitate to recommend The Revolutionary Science of Marxism-Leninism.

[Bill · Rating 4 out of 5]

Being a collection of articles, this is missing a through-line. On the whole it's quite good, but there were sections that I wanted to see expanded or ideas I wanted the author to tackle with more vigor. However, as a primer on Marxism-Leninism that exists to explain key concepts in a simple fashion, this gets the job done and then some. Still, if it were written as one tome as opposed to a collection I can't help but feel it would have better rounded out the areas that were a little weaker. Still, high recommended from me, especially for those newly exploring Socialism or Communism.

[bob Robert’s · Rating 5 out of 5]

*9/10


A great introduction to the ideology of Marxism-Leninism