Anarchism for Beginners

For Beginners

by Marcos Mayer, Sanyú (Illustrator)

During the second half of the Twentieth Century, the ideas of leading anarchist thinkers such as Proudhon, Bakunin, and Kropotkin seemed destined to fade into history. But today they are finding new energy and power. Libertarian flags wave above the crowds at anti-globalization and anti-corporation rallies. Anarchist axioms appear in contemporary debates on neoliberalism and ecology. Websites passing on anarchism's radical principles proliferate in cyberspace. Popular intellectuals like Michel Foucault, Gilles Deleuze, Osvaldo Bayer, Noam Chomsky and Murray Boochkin acknowledge in their work the debt they owe to the towering nonconformist figures who preceded them. The anarchists' fight against power, oppression and the State, which reached its pinnacle with the farmers' collectives of pre-Franco Spain, has influenced societies around the world. Vanguard artistic movements high and low, from dada to punk, were inspired by anarchism. In Anarchism For Beginners , Marcos Mayer aided by illustrations from the incomparable Sanyú, takes readers on a journey through the anarchist movement, explaining its principles and documenting its influence, inspiring figures and indefatigable fighting spirit.

Genres: Politics, Nonfiction, Graphic Novels, Comics, Philosophy

176 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2003

Reviews

[Elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars.

Anarchism for Beginners is definitely what I would consider a mixed bag. I would have a hard time wholeheartedly recommending for or against reading it.

This serves as a decent introduction to the history of the anarchist movement, as well as important figures and notable concepts within the movement. While the book is largely focused on the European history of anarchism, it does do more for the South American history of anarchism than I suspect many other books would (most likely because the author and illustrator are both Argentinian). The illustrations help soften and simplify what could be a potentially complicated subject to read about.

The number one detractor of this book is definitely the translation. There are moments where I would almost assume it was just tossed into Google Translate and printed verbatim. I feel like it could have been so much more impactful or at least an easier read if it had been properly translated. I would also consider the lack of Indigenous and POC figures, lack of figures from Asia or Africa, and extremely limited women to all be detriments. I know that it's for beginners, but surely there could have been a broader representation of important figures to the movement. The post-WWII content is also extremely limited.

Overall, it served as an okay beginner's read. It pointed me in a few directions I didn't already know to look at. Perhaps others will find it useful for the same.

[Miguel Soto · Rating 3 out of 5]

Gran introducción a un pensamiento que es también movimiento, desde los primeros pensadores como Bakunin hasta las derivaciones más recientes como los movimientos punks o las pedagogías no tradicionales. Me quedo sobre todo con esta síntesis "la anarquía no es sinónimo de caos, sino una voluntad férrea de no ceder en los principios que son tan simples como naturales: cooperación, diversidad, libertad fuera de todo esquema autoritario".

[K.A.L.M · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good Introduction to the reasoning of some of anarchism's key thinkers

[Mirko Ramirez · Rating 3 out of 5]

So this is really a FOR BEGINNERS, it has some basic info on anarchism overall and a few of the most known "leaders" of the movement. It would have been a bit better if it didn't mix in stuff, like if it had a chapter for these people and sort of made their biographies in chronological order, though I understand these people somehow ended up meeting and affecting each other's thoughts and ideas so it must be difficult to organice all of it.
Overall a nice book for someone who may not have any idea of where to start or what line of thought they may feel most compelled to follow (as in with so many great writers and philosophers they may not know who is the closest to their thoughts or who would they immediately feel like is on a much further away stance on this subjects). As an anarcho-communist who has already read other stuff, this book is useful to organise my mind into what each of them had thought about social classes, along capitalism, the state and politics.

[Garidation · Rating 1 out of 5]

Δεν ξέρω πώς την πάτησα και πήρα αυτό το βιβλίο. Δεν βλέπω πώς θα μπορούσε να κινήσει σε κάποιον το ενδιαφέρον να διαβάσει περισσότερο για την αναρχία. Καταλαβαίνω φυσικά οτι σε 170 σελίδες αναγκαστικά θα μιλήσεις πολύ (πολύύύύ) συνοπτικά αλλά η γραφή είναι σαν να απευθύνεται σε παιδιά. Ισως αυτό να είναι το επιθυμητό target group, τι να πω. Θα το δώσω στα ανήψια μου.

[kulisap]

this book contains a brief history of the anarchist movement, and a pretty decent introduction to anarchist values. i read this as a sort of briefer before i read le guin's the dispossessed, and psalm for the wild-built which both carry anarchist themes.

[Onyx · Rating 3 out of 5]

I saw this book about two years before I bought it. What finally motivated me to buy it was because of some stupid thing the Republicans did to block Obama in a ridiculously big way on February 2016. I'm apolitical, but it made me revisit the subject of anarchy again...what it really is, who the players were and are, and its history.
This book was originally written in Argentinian Spanish, so the English version is a little tough to read because of sentence structure and word-order problems. If there is a redeeming value, it's the large line-illustrations found on nearly every page. So it's written partially like a comic. A couple of drawings didn't match the narrative, but it kept things moving.
I know a little bit more about anarchy than I did before, (I already knew there were different forms of anarchy), but since this was an introduction to the subject (and there doesn't seem to be many books like it), I'll be supplementing my study by going online and finding out more. I'll also look forward to going back and reading it again for a better understanding.

[Bab · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not bad for a summary and overview, but more superficial than expected in some points, especially on contemporary theories and implications.
Not a really comprehensive, worldwide account, but one more focused on Spanish + Argentinian history. Some parts of that are truly relevant, while others...
Pretty careless English edition, with some cryptic or hilarious translations.
Also, some quite nice art, and some really lazy. Consistently inconsistent.
But it's OK, not a terrible read. :)

[Quique Castillo Aguilera · Rating 2 out of 5]

No me ha satisfecho: superficial, muy desordenado, con unas explicaciones en muchas ocasiones difícilmente comprensibles (en las que no se hace suficiente hincapié en las causas y en las consecuencias)... Me cuestiono qué he aprendido o en qué forma me ha ayudado a sistematizar mis conocimientos previos sobre la ideología libertaria.

[Antonio · Rating 5 out of 5]

El libro estaba tan bueno que la biblioteca me iba a multar por no devolverlo!

No tengo mucho que decir. Es una introducción general a varias figuras importantes dentro del movimiento y de la ideología como tal también. Bueno leer cosas así, ya que usualmente no son parte de la historia generalmente conocida.

[Micaela · Rating 3 out of 5]

En realidad es un libro sobre la historia del anarquismo, un resumen.
Lo recomiendo porque se lee bastante rápido, está repleto de ilustraciones.

(Solo me quedaban unas 30 páginas para terminarlo pero pasaron cosas en mí vida y dejé la lectura y bueno... ahora después de dos años lo terminé)

Nota final: 6 de 10

[Allen Griffin · Rating 5 out of 5]

So much of the literature on Anarchism seems to be academic or at least full of a lot of inside baseball. This lays down a lot of foundational information in a clear and concise manner. A great place to start before doing deeper reading.

[GusB18 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Explains the complex history of Anarchism, as well as basic theory, in an easy to understand manner. This book lays out small amounts of information on a variety of issues, giving you important foundational knowledge on a variety of subjects.

[Emma Fernández · Rating 4 out of 5]

El libro está bastante bien, ya que te cuenta de manera resumida la historia del anarquismo, junto con unas ilustraciones que te ayudan a comprender lo que te esta relatando de una forma más sencilla. Lo recomiendo bastante.

[despina natsi · Rating 2 out of 5]

Μέτριο λεξιλόγιο (π.χ. Νομικιστικο), σεξιστικό - μια αναφορά γίνεται σε ρόλο γυναίκας και αυτή περιγράφεται ως η συμβολή του ασθενούς φύλου και επιφανειακό. Ένιωσα ότι διάβαζα λίστα με ονόματα. Η εικονογράφηση ήταν όμορφη γι αυτό και τα δυο αστέρια.

[SomiadorElegit · Rating 4 out of 5]

Un rápido recorrido por la historia del anarquismo. Se lee rapidillo y te deja las ideas y figuras clave.

[Kostas Manowar · Rating 4 out of 5]

Does exactly what it says

[Kostis · Rating 4 out of 5]

short and educational. Gave me a nice overview of many systems and a historic view. I was unaware of many. It is not a very in-depth book on the subject, but it gives you a good idea. thanks

[Nektarios kouloumpos · Rating 2 out of 5]

Προχειροδουλειά

[Wilson Tun · Rating 1 out of 5]

Utterly foolish but fun book nonetheless

[mcwitty · Rating 3 out of 5]

idk it was an overview, an intro

[Dave · Rating 1 out of 5]

I have had a soft spot for these illustrated "(Subject) For Beginners" and "Introducing (Subject)" books since a friend loaned me "Freud For Beginners" way back in high school. This, unfortunately, is the second worst one I've ever read. (First place goes to "Nietzsche For Beginners", which left me feeling like I knew less about the guy after I finished it.)

The author is not too great with the English (he's from Argentina), so there are entire paragraphs that just don't make sense. Basic terminology is not explained. (For example, he repeatedly uses the term "libertarian" without explaining the context. I understand the difference between the old and new definitions of libertarian, however a beginner might get confused and start thinking that Ron Paul is an anarchist or something.)

This book did confirm what I learned in college about anarchists (not in a college class, mind you, but from being around annoying Trustfundian rebels): They are lazy, talentless crybabies who want to be provided for without having to work for anything. (Hi, Ben Interbang!)

But anyway, this book, it is terrible!

[G. Branden · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fairly ecumenical; notes some Latin American (mainly Argentinian) anarchists who are often neglected, as most treatments are heavily Western- and northern-hemispherically-centric.

LP-tarians, ancaps, Randroids, etc. will probably still hate it even though it bends over backwards not to shit on Max Stirner.

Situates the Situationists within the anarchist tradition, which was news to me (but then except for the Paris Commune, I tend to entirely ignore France in favor of Spain).

A second edition would be nice to clean up some of the typos. No translator from the original Spanish was credited. I wouldn't take the credit either if I left this many its/it's errors in the galleys.

Recommended for the impatient.

[are we there yet · Rating 3 out of 5]

What was going on in Italy and Argentine that anarchy seemed to be happening only there?? Good starting book and explained the reason we tend to associate anarchy with bombing and generally criminal behavior these days. Note to self: Didn't Sex Pistols mention they weren't actually anarchist and used the word for some rhyming reason or other or am I confusing it with another band and another word.

[Daniel Siegel · Rating 1 out of 5]

A book for "beginners" that overwhelms with names, dates and locations right out the gate. Suffers from consistent mistranslations, and not helped by constant, unsubstantiated claims like an equating of libertarians and anarchists, and the claim that the stoics were anarchists.

[Justin Stepney · Rating 5 out of 5]

wasn't going to obtain as I probaly have enough books like this, but then opened & realized it was also a comic telling of such things.
too freaking cool.
= ]

[Nativeabuse · Rating 1 out of 5]

I like this series a lot but this was one of the worst books in it I've read.

[Βιβλιομανής · Rating 3 out of 5]

Μου άρεσε! Μου φάνηκε πυκνό, λιτό και περιεκτικό. Πιστεύω ότι για αρχή είναι καλό, αν και ακόμα κι εγώ που είμαι αρχάρια στην μελέτη πολιτικών θεμάτων βρίσκω πως δεν είναι εντελώς αμερόληπτο.

[Jen Angel · Rating 2 out of 5]

Originally in Spanish. The translation is not awesome.

[Derrick · Rating 3 out of 5]

Probably too simple for such a complex topic, but it does provide the nearest introduction to several important thinkers and writers of this political philosophy.