The Teachings of Karl Marx

by Vladimir Lenin

This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. To ensure a quality reading experience, this work has been proofread and republished using a format that seamlessly blends the original graphical elements with text in an easy-to-read typeface. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.

Genres: Politics, Nonfiction, Philosophy, Theory, History, Lenin, Biography

48 pages, Paperback

First published September 17, 1915

About the author

Vladimir Ilyich Ulyanov, better known as Vladimir Lenin, was a Russian revolutionary, leader of the Russian Social Democratic Labour Party (Bolsheviks), statesman and political theorist. After the October Revolution he served as the first and founding head of government of Soviet Russia from 1917 until his death in 1924 and of the Soviet Union from 1922 until his death in 1924.

Reviews

[A L]

The clarity, directness, and brutality of Lenin's style is addicting.

[Carlos Martinez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nice pithy summary of Marxism circa 1914.

[Zach Carter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent introduction to Marx's life and works. I'm gearing up to finally dive into Capital, and this not only got me in the mood, it also laid the groundwork for understanding the terrain of political economy.

[Tuğçe Kozak · Rating 4 out of 5]

Marx’a giriş açısından faydalı bir kaynak.

[Aaron · Rating 4 out of 5]

This ended years of just almost understanding Marx for me. The best summary and illumination of Marxism I've come across.

[İlhanCa · Rating 4 out of 5]

One sitting read ayarında kısacık bir kitap..
Öğlen iş arasında başlayıp yolda bitirdiğim..
Kapağından da belli konusu..
Güzel olanı ise kitap sıkıcı uzunlukta değil..
Dili de akıcı..
Özeti ile amacına ulaşmış gibi duruyor..
Marx'ın düşüncelerini açıklamaya çalışmış Lenin..

[Cade]

Very good introduction to communist theory

[Neal Maro · Rating 4 out of 5]

There are decades where nothing happens and there are days where decades happen.

[Kulbir · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am sure this is very well written and I'm also sure Lenin is an incredible writer however there is a tiny problem i didn't understand most of it. I understand the surplus part and the class struggle part and the tactic of class struggle part. Rest of it not so much i didn't understand what Dialectics or whatever are. Lenin doesn't give any definition, his sentences never end and he starts quoting many names like Hegel Kant whom I don't know of. Suffice to say it was an okay read but my lack of russian history/philosophy comes in the way so i can't fully appreciate the writings of the most Revolutionary thinkers.

[Hamad Abdulsamad · Rating 2 out of 5]

كتيب صغير جدا، مختصر جدا، ويبدو لي بأن الترجمة ليست بأفضل ما تكون عليه. الرائع في الكتيب أنه يحيلك إلى مصادر، الغير رائع أنه لا يعطيك المعلومات التي تحتاجها في "مختصر"، فتجده يشرق ويغرب من غير أن يوضح الأسئلة الرئيسية.

بالنسبة لي على الأقل.

[e☆]

written in a really direct style with a lot of Engels and Marx quotes. I really liked the explanation of surplus value

[Erik Burke · Rating 4 out of 5]

Honestly, the way this was written gave me a newfound appreciation for Vladimir Lenin as a leader. This book is concise, well-written, and accomplishes what it sets out to do. My only complaint is that it is quite heady, and may require multiple readings and a historical understanding of what was going on in the world at the time in which it was written in order to fully understand what Lenin is talking about.

First, just like the title implies, this book is a brief biography about the life of Karl Marx. It talks about his disillusionment with the socialite class, how he married a woman who was well-connected politically, and how he struggled throughout his life with poverty and hardship. This elaboration into his personal life serves as a defense against the ad hominem attacks that Marx experienced, particularly the one that he was a sellout who got rich peddling communism, when in fact the opposite could not be more true. Lenin delves into Marx's friendship with Friedrich Engels and how that influenced his political and philosophical ideas.

Lenin goes on to show how Communism is the salvation of the working class. He discusses in great length how different world governments work, and pays special attention to Democracies and Democratic Republics like the United States. While he praises Democratic Republics as the most progressive form of government, he argues that eventually, the rich and powerful ruling classes of those countries will rig the system in their favor, and that they will be exempt from the consequences the lower classes face on a daily basis. Lenin explains that the ruling classes will do this by controlling and marketing trendy commodities as status symbols, and privatizing land ownership, preventing the lower classes from having a true voice or stake. He also illuminates how the ruling class will weaponize the middle class proletariats against their own interests by promising them future interests in which they will be members of the bourgeois. Or, to quote John Steinbeck: "Socialism never took root in America because the poor see themselves not as an exploited proletariat but as temporarily embarrassed millionaires."

Lenin effectively argues that Marxism is not only a viable path forward, but THE path forward, and that a stateless, classless, moneyless society is something to be strived for.

[Xandre · Rating 5 out of 5]

Llibre curt, fàcil d'entendre, amb moltes cites a les obres de Marx i Engels. El resum més curt que concentra el pensament marxista. Per al meu gust podria explicar millor la plusvàlua i la lluita de classes, doncs la manera tan resumida de dir les coses pot induïr a error a certs lectors.

Té una biografia de Marx i uns capítols sobre el materialisme, la dialèctica, la concepció materialista de la història, la lluita de classes, el valor, la plusvàlua, el socialisme i la tàctica de la lluita de classes. Finalment es detallen tres fonts filosòfiques de les que beu i un afegitó posterior que és una petita però molt bona biografia d'Engels.

"El marxismo (...) continúa y corona genialmente las tres principales corrientes ideológicas del siglo XIX, que pertenecen a los tres países más avanzados de la humanidad: la filosofía clásica alemana, la economía política clásica inglesa y el socialismo francés".

[Utku Cevre · Rating 4 out of 5]

Karl Marx’ın hayatı ve eserleri, Hegel diyalektiği ile klasik materyalizmi birleştirerek Engels’le birlikte ortaya koydukları diyalektik materyalizm ve Marksizm’in pratik uygulamaları konusunda, herhalde konuyu tarihte en iyi anlayıp uygulayan kişi olduğu için Vladimir İlyiç Lenin’in kaleminden bu uzun makaleyi okumak zevkliydi. 1913’te bir ansiklopedi için kaleme alındığından, az kelimeyle çok şey anlatma hedefinde olan ve bunu başaran bir kitap. Lenin siyasi kariyerinden önce hayatını uzun süre gazetecilikle kazandığı için (1900’de Iskra gazetesini çıkarmış ve uzun yıllar editörlüğünü yapmıştı) ziyadesiyle güçlü bir kalemi var. Konuya giriş ve hızlıca bilgi sahibi olma niteliğinde önerebileceğim bir eser.

[Dagmar · Rating 4 out of 5]

Geen vijf sterren want mijn 5 voor het eindexamen economie bewijst maar weer hoe slecht ik ben in economische theorie verwerken. Dus ik kon het stuk over economische theorie niet 100% volgen. Voor de rest erg helder geschreven en zette o.a. materialisme en dialectiek goed uit.

[hypatia]

beğendim

[Aniol Guillamon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pffffffjkekelekek 10/10 però esque no podia sortir malament huhu, n'he llegit l'edició de 1979 de Jordi Moners i Sinyol i Arnau Mayans Montés, boníssim 👏👏👏✨💐

[Faisal ElBeheiry · Rating 3 out of 5]

مفهمتش حاجة الصراحة

[Miszor · Rating 4 out of 5]

daję lajk

[月海 Yuehai · Rating 2 out of 5]

As a beginner I found a bit dry to read at times- especially the chapter on Surplus Value. But for the most part it was quite interesting as an introduction to Marx' teachings.

[Rupak · Rating 5 out of 5]

No one can guide you better in studying & understanding Marxism, than the maestro Lenin himself. In his short work, "𝗞𝗮𝗿𝗹 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝘅: 𝗔 𝗕𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗳 𝗕𝗶𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗽𝗵𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗦𝗸𝗲𝘁𝗰𝗵 𝗪𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗔𝗻 𝗘𝘅𝗽𝗼𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗧𝗼 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝘅𝗶𝘀𝗺" Lenin takes the responsibility to guide you to understand the most important & basic topics of Marxism. Perhaps Marx's greatest contribution to the humanity & philosophy is the concept of Dialectical Materialism. Marxian dialectics, which is totally different than any other form of Pre-Marxian dialectics (such as Hegelian dialectics, Socratic dialectics, Feuerbachian dialectics etc), explains that nothing is absolute in the universe & everything changes and constantly develops from lower to higher in an uninterrupted process. This is the groundbreaking revolutionary idea that links Sociology & History with the Natural Science and gives us the outlook of the scientific study of History. History is not a sum total of different periods surrounding around different kings and leaders, but it is a complex process that shows the development of the human beings as a biological & social product. The constant development of the society makes it better & stronger and its complexities become more and more simplified but so does its brutality increase. Here Marx points out that as the relation of production & the means of production develops so does the expropriation of the producers & the conversion of their surplus labour into capital increase. So in the end, all relations become simplified & only two classes left, one with capital and all the means of production & one with nothing but labour. And this process increases two things, overproduction & poverty. And here the final class struggle begins for a classless society!

[Angelo IG · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Ο Καρλ Μαρξ και η θεωρία του" ή "Μαρξ- Ένγκελς- Μαρξισμός" στις ελληνικές εκδόσεις. Το βιβλίο είναι αρκετά μικρό και αποτελεί μια συνοπτική αλλά δυναμική παρουσίαση των βασικών αρχών του Μαρξισμού. Ουσιαστικά, το κείμενο λειτουργεί ως μια εισαγωγή στη θεωρία του Μαρξ, εξηγώντας την ταξική πάλη, την ιστορική υλιστική προσέγγιση, την έννοια της εκμετάλλευσης του εργατικού δυναμικού κ.λπ. Αν κάποιος έχει ήδη γνώση των ρευμάτων του ιστορικού υλισμού, της ταξικής πάλης, του διαλεκτικού υλισμού και της κριτικής θεωρίας, θα αντιληφθεί ευκολότερα τη βαθύτερη σύνδεσή τους με την πολιτική πραξη. Κάτι τέτοιο βέβαια δεν είναι αναγκαίο, αφού είναι γραμμένο με τρόπο άμεσο και πρακτικό, οπότε ακόμα και αν κάποιος δεν έχει διαβάσει φιλοσοφικά έργα πριν, μπορεί να το κατανοήσει, ειδικά αν ενδιαφέρεται για τις κοινωνικές και πολιτικές εφαρμογές των μαρξιστικών ιδεών.

Ο Λένιν δεν περιγράφει απλά τις ιδέες του Μαρξ (τις οποίες συνήθως μεταφέρει αυτούσιες) τις ερμηνεύει μέσα από το πρίσμα της επαναστατικής δράσης, δίνοντας έμφαση στην αναγκαιότητα της πρακτικής εφαρμογής τους.

Γενικά το βιβλίο είναι μια καλή εισαγωγική παρουσίαση του Μαρξισμού και γενικότερα των βασικών ιδεών του Μαρξ, αλλά και του Ένγκελς (σε κάποια σημεία).

[Ben · Rating 5 out of 5]

Written during Lenin’s studies of Hegel, this is an excellent biography, exposition of the omnipotent theory, and bibliography of works, all compressed in a quaint encyclopedia entry. The summary of all three volumes of Capital in such a small space is really magisterial. One also wonders at the various foils Lenin implicitly alludes to throughout: the existing doctrines of “development” under monopoly capitalism which the dialectical comprehension of development combats and overcomes, the Mensheviks—Trotsky—and their ilk in the emphasis on the discussion of ground-rent and the exploitation of the small peasantry, the labor aristocracy in Lenin’s suggestion to compare Marx & Engels on the tactics of the trade-union struggle with their commentary on the British working class’s “bourgeoisification” during Britain’s colonial monopoly.

I recommend for fans of materialist dialectics who apply the principles of materialism consistently to the study of social life. Not recommended for fans of Lorenz von Stein's wooden trichotomies!

[The Laughing Man · Rating 1 out of 5]

I have not become a libertarian by reading libertarians, I have become one by reading marxists.
Just like any other religion, one starts believing in marxist ideology before having read anything about it, and after having done enough reading you'll wake up.

Pay attention to how marxists operate, they never give you anything to read, they never tell people to read Marx's this book, Lenin's that book, they instead give you short, bite sized slogans that aim directly at your innate biases.

After you become a "true believer" you no longer need to read these books anyway, you just need to follow the party line and be a "team player".

1984 perfectly describes how their minds and their system works.

[Shreyasi Sur · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Karl Marx: A Brief Biographical Sketch with an Exposition of Marxism" by Vladimir Lenin is a book on life, achievements, political ideology and the philosophy of Karl Marx. Marx's birth, education, influence of Hegel's philosophy in his life,his work, writings, relationships and friendship with Friedrich Engles... everything is briefly explained in the book. Through this you're also going to gather information about Capitalism, materialism and Marx's thoughts on those. Class struggle, socialism, communism and the legacy of Karl Marx is explained thoroughly in the book. If you are interested in such topics, go for it. You don't have to be communist to simply read and expand your knowledge. Highly recommended.

[Jody Anderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's incredible that Lenin could fit this amount of information in such a small work and it still be readable. Brief biography of Marx, concise outlines of dialectical and historical materialism, and my favorite brief summary of Capital I've read. He goes into volumes 2 and 3 briefly, but it seems he's focused on what was relevant to current situations, especially on the agricultural question. The bibliography is a wealth of avenues to explore.

[Selim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Marx’ın hayatı ve öğretisine kısa, özlü ve esaslı bir bakış sunuyor Lenin. Ekonomi bilimi yanında sosyoloji, felsefe, psikoloji ve politika gibi diğer bir çok alanı etkileyen ve etkileşen bir yapı kuran Marx, Engels’in katkıları ve Hegel’in yöntemini geliştirerek kapital, emek ve değer üzerine kurduğu sarsıcı ve gerçekçi öğreti dünya üzerinde derin izler bırakmış durumda. Marx’ı ve sosyalizmin temellerini ilk elden, Lenin’in kaleminden tanıyıp öğrenmek için çok önemli bir kaynak.

[Alexander · Rating 3 out of 5]

A lengthy essay on Marx and Marxism, and three more short essays that encapsulate some Marxist doctrine or history. This would be a pretty good introduction to Marx, as it discusses the history of Marxism from Marx/Engels being commissioned to write the Communist Manifesto to a short exegesis of 20th century historical materialism and a few contemporary problems of Lenin's day (around 1910-1913.)

[Y Kanan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lenin summarizes the contributions of Karl Marx in a short book, here he narrows down Marx’s most important developments such as dialectics, economics, and ideas of class struggle. This book is a good read if someone wants to have a summarized understanding of Marx, as it is relatively short and it is written by probably his most successful follower (Lenin).

[Bill · Rating 4 out of 5]

If not for the biography I would have given this the full monty. It gets to the core of Karl Marx's political beliefs which is what this book is all about. It's not an actual biography of Marx, rather Vladimir Lenin is presenting what drove Marx politically and philosophically and how that has been built upon by Communists. The biography serves it's purpose, but it is a slog to get through.