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Oppose Book Worship
9 pages, Unknown Binding
First published January 1, 1930
About the author
Mao Zedong
793 books658 followersMao Zedong, also transliterated as Mao Tse-tung, and commonly referred to as Chairman Mao, was a Chinese Communist revolutionary, guerrilla warfare strategist, Marxist political philosopher, statesman and leader of the Chinese Revolution. He was the architect and founding father of the People's Republic of China (PRC) from its establishment in 1949, and held control over the nation until his death in 1976. His theoretical contribution to Marxism–Leninism, along with his military strategies and brand of policies, are collectively known as Maoism.
Mao rose to power by commanding the Long March, forming a Second United Front with Kuomintang (KMT) during the Second Sino-Japanese War to repel a Japanese invasion, and later led the Communist Party of China (CPC) to victory against Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek's KMT in the Chinese Civil War. Mao established political and military control over most of the territory formerly contained within the Chinese Empire and launched a campaign to suppress counterrevolutionaries. He sent the Communist People's Liberation Army into Xinjiang and Tibet but was unable to oust the remnants of the Nationalist Party from Taiwan. He enacted sweeping land reform by using violence and terror to overthrow landlords before seizing their large estates and dividing the land into people's communes. The Communist Party's final victory came after decades of turmoil in China, which included the Great Depression, a brutal invasion by Japan and a protracted civil war. Mao's Communist Party ultimately achieved a measure of stability in China, though Mao's efforts to close China to trade and market commerce, and eradicate traditional Chinese culture, have been largely rejected by his successors.
Mao styled himself "The Great Helmsman" and supporters continue to contend that he was responsible for some positive changes which came to China during his three decade rule. These included doubling the school population, providing universal housing, abolishing unemployment and inflation, increasing health care access, and dramatically raising life expectancy. A cult of personality grew up around Mao, and community dissent was not permitted. His Communist Party still rules in mainland China, retains control of media and education there and officially celebrates his legacy. As a result, Mao is still officially held in high regard by many Chinese as a great political strategist, military mastermind, and savior of the nation. Maoists promote his role as a theorist, statesman, poet, and visionary, and anti-revisionists continue to defend most of his policies.
Mao rose to power by commanding the Long March, forming a Second United Front with Kuomintang (KMT) during the Second Sino-Japanese War to repel a Japanese invasion, and later led the Communist Party of China (CPC) to victory against Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek's KMT in the Chinese Civil War. Mao established political and military control over most of the territory formerly contained within the Chinese Empire and launched a campaign to suppress counterrevolutionaries. He sent the Communist People's Liberation Army into Xinjiang and Tibet but was unable to oust the remnants of the Nationalist Party from Taiwan. He enacted sweeping land reform by using violence and terror to overthrow landlords before seizing their large estates and dividing the land into people's communes. The Communist Party's final victory came after decades of turmoil in China, which included the Great Depression, a brutal invasion by Japan and a protracted civil war. Mao's Communist Party ultimately achieved a measure of stability in China, though Mao's efforts to close China to trade and market commerce, and eradicate traditional Chinese culture, have been largely rejected by his successors.
Mao styled himself "The Great Helmsman" and supporters continue to contend that he was responsible for some positive changes which came to China during his three decade rule. These included doubling the school population, providing universal housing, abolishing unemployment and inflation, increasing health care access, and dramatically raising life expectancy. A cult of personality grew up around Mao, and community dissent was not permitted. His Communist Party still rules in mainland China, retains control of media and education there and officially celebrates his legacy. As a result, Mao is still officially held in high regard by many Chinese as a great political strategist, military mastermind, and savior of the nation. Maoists promote his role as a theorist, statesman, poet, and visionary, and anti-revisionists continue to defend most of his policies.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 64 reviews
March 13, 2021
Reading Oppose Book Worship really does remind me why I love Mao’s writing. His writing is so succinct and to-the-point. He really did write for the common person, with little wordplay and rhetorical confusion. This text really gets to the heart of revolutionary struggle: correct ideas come from investigation, no investigation no right to speak!
April 6, 2022
"When you have not probed into a problem, into the present facts and its past history, and know nothing of its essentials, whatever you say about it will undoubtedly be nonsense...Quite a few comrades always keep their eyes shut and talk nonsense, and for a Communist that is disgraceful. How can a Communist keep his eyes shut and talk nonsense?"
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February 2, 2019i'm super glad i read this this early in my burgeoning education on Marxist-Lenninist theory. it's short, direct, and it will help me avoid so many pitfalls that honestly are easy to imagine myself falling into given my personality & prior experiences, the ideas contained within it are ideas that i will keep in mind for myself as well as advocate for when necessary when i become involved with revolutionary work.
February 19, 2021
This book teaches how to read theory correctly. It teaches that you should only follow and believe theory that you have investigated and that has been proven correct through investigation and practice. Don't follow Marx because he's a prophet, follow his theory because after investigation and practice, you find his conclusions to be correct. Same goes for all revolutionary theory.
Most importantly, it teaches how to properly investigate the material and class conditions in your community, instead of coming to assumptions on our own. Something I feel the Western Left has been very weak on in recent history. It teaches that you must map out the classes in your area, their relationship to one another and to the resources, and devise your revolution strategy according to these investigations.
Most importantly, it teaches how to properly investigate the material and class conditions in your community, instead of coming to assumptions on our own. Something I feel the Western Left has been very weak on in recent history. It teaches that you must map out the classes in your area, their relationship to one another and to the resources, and devise your revolution strategy according to these investigations.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 3, 2022
A powerful essay about how you mustn’t be blindly accepting theory and must apply it into practice. In the age of internet activism, I wonder how Mao would react towards it. When everyone is an activist and big Fortune 500 companies are masquerading as progressives, is anyone?
Mao argues that you must be on the ground and apply theory before you become too wrapped up in blind dogmatic idealism.
“Of course we should study Marxist books, but this study must be integrated with our country's actual conditions. We need books, but we must overcome book worship, which is divorced from the actual situation.
“How can we overcome book worship? The only way is to investigate the actual situation.”
Mao argues that you must be on the ground and apply theory before you become too wrapped up in blind dogmatic idealism.
“Of course we should study Marxist books, but this study must be integrated with our country's actual conditions. We need books, but we must overcome book worship, which is divorced from the actual situation.
“How can we overcome book worship? The only way is to investigate the actual situation.”
February 21, 2023
Irony, top score
May 1, 2024
I really enjoy how Mao writes things. He’s very direct and I feel guided as opposed to Lenin and Marx who do more analysis and critique. Very valuable information here.
December 20, 2024
Mandatory reading for internet socialists.
"You can't solve a problem? Well, get down and investigate the present facts and its past history! When you have investigated the problem thoroughly, you will know how to solve it. Conclusions invariably come after investigation, and not before. Only a blockhead cudgels his brains on his own, or together with a group, to "find solution" or "evolve an idea" without making any investigation... There are not a few comrades doing inspection work, as well as guerrilla leaders and cadres newly in office, who like to make political pronouncements the moment they arrive at a place and who strut about, criticizing this and condemning that when they have only seen the surface of things or minor details. Such purely subjective nonsensical talk is indeed detestable. These people are bound to make a mess of things, lose the confidence of the masses and prove incapable of solving any problem at all. "
"You can't solve a problem? Well, get down and investigate the present facts and its past history! When you have investigated the problem thoroughly, you will know how to solve it. Conclusions invariably come after investigation, and not before. Only a blockhead cudgels his brains on his own, or together with a group, to "find solution" or "evolve an idea" without making any investigation... There are not a few comrades doing inspection work, as well as guerrilla leaders and cadres newly in office, who like to make political pronouncements the moment they arrive at a place and who strut about, criticizing this and condemning that when they have only seen the surface of things or minor details. Such purely subjective nonsensical talk is indeed detestable. These people are bound to make a mess of things, lose the confidence of the masses and prove incapable of solving any problem at all. "
May 11, 2026
Dosta je kratka ali poentira odmah. Mislim da bi ovo trebali pročitati i ljudi koje ne zanima politika, jer se više bavi načinom na koji interagujemo s irl problemima i suvim tekstom. Time da se stvarima posvetimo ručno, da se svaki problem rešava tako što sednemo da istražimo šta ne valja itd itd. U suštini vrlo logični zaključci ali lepo i jednostavno upakovani.
February 4, 2025
kaya dapat sineseryoso ang practical research
June 6, 2021
A short guide to implement your theory and gain experience rather than focusing too much on study and book worship.
I feel like it would have been helpful to have some basic examples to show how to move theory to action.
I feel like it would have been helpful to have some basic examples to show how to move theory to action.
February 12, 2024
i feel very strongly that everyone needs to read this
'Unless you have investigated a problem, you will be deprived of the right to speak on it. Isn't that too harsh? Not in the least. When you have not probed into a problem, into the present facts and its past history, and know nothing of its essentials, whatever you say about it will undoubtedly be nonsense. Talking nonsense solves no problems, as everyone knows, so why is it unjust to deprive you of the right to speak?'
'Unless you have investigated a problem, you will be deprived of the right to speak on it. Isn't that too harsh? Not in the least. When you have not probed into a problem, into the present facts and its past history, and know nothing of its essentials, whatever you say about it will undoubtedly be nonsense. Talking nonsense solves no problems, as everyone knows, so why is it unjust to deprive you of the right to speak?'
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November 12, 2024Not giving a star rating because I lack the historical context to fully analyze this text. (Did not find it particularly riveting or insightful tho)
January 1, 2022
finally read it in chinese :> mao's writing is so succinct and so rhetorically pleasing. and i have been quoting 没有调查，没有发言权 for SOOOOO long bc No One Reads? NO one is doing the READING!!!? on contradiction & practice next homies
August 5, 2022
No investigation, no right to speak.
October 28, 2025
"Touch grass" - Mao Zedong
May 25, 2026
''Unless you have investigated a problem, you will be deprived of the right to speak on it. Isn't that too harsh? Not in the least. When you have not probed into a problem, into the present facts and its past history, and know nothing of its essentials, whatever you say about it will undoubtedly be nonsense. Talking nonsense solves no problems, as everyone knows, so why is it unjust to deprive you of the right to speak?''
''We need books, but we must overcome book worship, which is divorced from the actual situation. How can we overcome book worship? The only way is to investigate the actual situation.''
''This is our answer to the question: Why do we have to investigate social and economic conditions? Accordingly, the object of our investigation is all the social classes and not fragmentary social phenomena.''
-------------------------------------------------------
These quotes come to mind. Even when being put into the context of the machine of Marx, many of these principles are common sense - if you can extract and devoid it from how Mao was intending to use it. It was so much the case that Mao quotes Confucius on the principle of investigation in general in the first half of his little writing.
''Of late, the comrades in the Fourth Army of the Red Army have generally given attention to the work of investigation, but the method many of them employ is wrong. . . For example, when we investigate the composition of the peasantry, not only must we know the number of owner-peasants, semi-owner peasants and tenant-peasants, who are differentiated according to tenancy relationships, but more especially we must know the number of rich peasants, middle peasants and poor peasants, who are differentiated according to class or stratum. . . Our chief method of investigation must be to dissect the different social classes, the ultimate purpose being to understand their interrelations, to arrive at a correct appraisal of class forces and then to formulate the correct tactics for the struggle, defining which classes constitute the main force in the revolutionary struggle, which classes are to be won over as allies and which classes are to be overthrown. This is our sole purpose.''
If Mao wasn't a revolutionary, he'd probably make for a very good advocate for zoning and redistricting laws in 20th century China.
In all seriousness, this goes to show that the implementations and policies of the CCP that still show their effectiveness today is not to be undermined, as they are practical and systematic. Even after Mao's passing and the revision done by his successors, a system of meritocracy and practicality never stopped. Something that has been continually left behind by the contemporary western ''New Left'' movement which is the engagement of continual moralizing and empathy as the primary means of their ''evangelization'' instead of scientific critiques, which are incidental or consequential. I am not a Marxist myself, of course. In this writing, Mao again shows his intention and purposefulness, which is now only but an ideal outside of the orient. That in itself may either be a good or bad thing, depending on who you area.
''We need books, but we must overcome book worship, which is divorced from the actual situation. How can we overcome book worship? The only way is to investigate the actual situation.''
''This is our answer to the question: Why do we have to investigate social and economic conditions? Accordingly, the object of our investigation is all the social classes and not fragmentary social phenomena.''
-------------------------------------------------------
These quotes come to mind. Even when being put into the context of the machine of Marx, many of these principles are common sense - if you can extract and devoid it from how Mao was intending to use it. It was so much the case that Mao quotes Confucius on the principle of investigation in general in the first half of his little writing.
''Of late, the comrades in the Fourth Army of the Red Army have generally given attention to the work of investigation, but the method many of them employ is wrong. . . For example, when we investigate the composition of the peasantry, not only must we know the number of owner-peasants, semi-owner peasants and tenant-peasants, who are differentiated according to tenancy relationships, but more especially we must know the number of rich peasants, middle peasants and poor peasants, who are differentiated according to class or stratum. . . Our chief method of investigation must be to dissect the different social classes, the ultimate purpose being to understand their interrelations, to arrive at a correct appraisal of class forces and then to formulate the correct tactics for the struggle, defining which classes constitute the main force in the revolutionary struggle, which classes are to be won over as allies and which classes are to be overthrown. This is our sole purpose.''
If Mao wasn't a revolutionary, he'd probably make for a very good advocate for zoning and redistricting laws in 20th century China.
In all seriousness, this goes to show that the implementations and policies of the CCP that still show their effectiveness today is not to be undermined, as they are practical and systematic. Even after Mao's passing and the revision done by his successors, a system of meritocracy and practicality never stopped. Something that has been continually left behind by the contemporary western ''New Left'' movement which is the engagement of continual moralizing and empathy as the primary means of their ''evangelization'' instead of scientific critiques, which are incidental or consequential. I am not a Marxist myself, of course. In this writing, Mao again shows his intention and purposefulness, which is now only but an ideal outside of the orient. That in itself may either be a good or bad thing, depending on who you area.
January 13, 2022
So this is important for people online who call themselves activists but don't have much contact with the world
There was a bookclub where someone said they didn't like the title so hence the next 2 paragraphs:
I mean he's saying listen to people. I heard recently from a tiktok by a black woman that just because you hear how you're wrong, it doesn't mean you're going to stop hurting the people from that wrong immediately, you still have to take the time to deprogram from that. A common example is the bioessentialism of carcerality in carceral feminism (falsely equating a crime/verb with a body instead of a role)
So yeah, the book is needed. The title is a negative title, but if people don't read the rest of the text then they won't know the positive advice. I don't even want to get into how production of media has tended to favor the right-wing but while we can't make promises about a world we're not in, it's like when people hear remove the bourgeois role or remove incarceration, it seems the positive method of removal, the substitution doesn't get talked about as much. Therefore this is a common cost with the rhetoric format the title took.
Regarding dictatorship over the means of production, employers surveil twitter & facebook. If you're using twitter for #metoo& other movements, then you need to expect that there will be a right-wing bias. I hate twitter because of the severe right-wing bias on there. Facebook is even worse, lol.
There was a bookclub where someone said they didn't like the title so hence the next 2 paragraphs:
I mean he's saying listen to people. I heard recently from a tiktok by a black woman that just because you hear how you're wrong, it doesn't mean you're going to stop hurting the people from that wrong immediately, you still have to take the time to deprogram from that. A common example is the bioessentialism of carcerality in carceral feminism (falsely equating a crime/verb with a body instead of a role)
So yeah, the book is needed. The title is a negative title, but if people don't read the rest of the text then they won't know the positive advice. I don't even want to get into how production of media has tended to favor the right-wing but while we can't make promises about a world we're not in, it's like when people hear remove the bourgeois role or remove incarceration, it seems the positive method of removal, the substitution doesn't get talked about as much. Therefore this is a common cost with the rhetoric format the title took.
Regarding dictatorship over the means of production, employers surveil twitter & facebook. If you're using twitter for #metoo& other movements, then you need to expect that there will be a right-wing bias. I hate twitter because of the severe right-wing bias on there. Facebook is even worse, lol.
December 10, 2025
Brilliant, extremely compelling...
I recently tried to read Mao's Quotations, which was such a repulsive format I could barely sit through 1/5th of it. So, I thought the title of this essay was ironic, and seeing how short it is, I begrudgingly decided to suffer through this...
Every communist must read Mao. His writing is direct and simple. There is no nonsense, no clutter, no flowery rambling. He is clinical, deeply consistent, materialistic, and effective.
"Here is what we are doing wrong. Here is why it is wrong. Here is how we can fix it. Here is why we MUST fix it."
He takes responsibility, provides a correct analysis, inspires concrete action... it is shocking to me that out of such a principled and balanced line of thinking could arise such a terminal personality cult. The use value of such thinking is immeasurable.
It is a short text, bite the bullet, you will be better off for it.
I recently tried to read Mao's Quotations, which was such a repulsive format I could barely sit through 1/5th of it. So, I thought the title of this essay was ironic, and seeing how short it is, I begrudgingly decided to suffer through this...
Every communist must read Mao. His writing is direct and simple. There is no nonsense, no clutter, no flowery rambling. He is clinical, deeply consistent, materialistic, and effective.
"Here is what we are doing wrong. Here is why it is wrong. Here is how we can fix it. Here is why we MUST fix it."
He takes responsibility, provides a correct analysis, inspires concrete action... it is shocking to me that out of such a principled and balanced line of thinking could arise such a terminal personality cult. The use value of such thinking is immeasurable.
It is a short text, bite the bullet, you will be better off for it.
January 1, 2025
Short text that emphasizes several essential tenants of scientific socialism and Marxism; Of which hold most true to the motto 'The philosophers have only interpreted the world in various ways; the point is to change it.'
Socialists and Marxists are not to simply regurgitate theory that they have read, or claim to have read. Theory is meant to be analyzed, understood in the historical and material context it was written in, and then tested logically and in practice.
Theory is meant to also be expanded and developed over time, particularly for its application to our modern time and situations.
What separates our ideology is that it does not descend from idealism or sophistry. It is an analysis on change and relations. And therefore 'You must investigate! You must not talk nonsense!'
Socialists and Marxists are not to simply regurgitate theory that they have read, or claim to have read. Theory is meant to be analyzed, understood in the historical and material context it was written in, and then tested logically and in practice.
Theory is meant to also be expanded and developed over time, particularly for its application to our modern time and situations.
What separates our ideology is that it does not descend from idealism or sophistry. It is an analysis on change and relations. And therefore 'You must investigate! You must not talk nonsense!'
March 3, 2026
I mean... Mao's not wrong:
You can't solve a problem? Well, get down and investigate the present facts and its past history! When you have investigated the problem thoroughly, you will know how to solve it.
Get into the struggle!
Go among the masses and investigate the facts!
Hold fact-finding meetings and undertake investigation through discussions.
This is the only way to get near the truth, the only way to draw conclusions. It is easy to commit mistakes if you do not hold fact-finding meetings for investigation through discussions but simply rely on one individual relating his own experience.
You can't solve a problem? Well, get down and investigate the present facts and its past history! When you have investigated the problem thoroughly, you will know how to solve it.
Get into the struggle!
Go among the masses and investigate the facts!
Hold fact-finding meetings and undertake investigation through discussions.
This is the only way to get near the truth, the only way to draw conclusions. It is easy to commit mistakes if you do not hold fact-finding meetings for investigation through discussions but simply rely on one individual relating his own experience.
September 26, 2026
"You can't solve a problem? Well, get down and investigate the present facts and its past history! When you have investigated the problem thoroughly, you will know how to solve it. Conclusions invariably come after investigation, and not before. Only a blockhead cudgels his brains on his own, or together with a group, to "find solution" or "evolve an idea" without making any investigation."
Reading Chairman Mao will always be a great pleasure for me; not only because I always learn something new from him, but also because his rhetorical skill stirs my political spirit and encourages me to become a better communist.
July 28, 2026
this book unironically could be very useful in a lot of ways to our modern day movement tbh. Stuff like this does get ignored very often i feel and it’s important to not just remain at home doing nothing or proclaiming the authority of one particular method or another and actually view your current material conditions. I’ve personally seen a lot of socialist chapters fall into this same problem and i think it is genuinely hindering our movement severely. I digress, very good and short pamphlet.
September 21, 2019
A wonderful pamphlet about realizing material conditions through investigation and lively conversation. A great reminder to get out of ones head, out of the book, and not to make theory into a collective mass of idealist philosophical formulas.
February 13, 2020
a wonderful quick read that really reminds me to get out there and have a hands on learning experience when it comes to socialism. it's too easy to sit at home and get lost in countless books and essays and think i know everything about a topic.
March 5, 2021
This book largely summarizes how just because someone wrote something down in a book, it doesn't make it any more legitimate than addressing the material needs of the population in the midst of a revolution.
October 17, 2021
A very good and short discussion of encouraging and getting comrades to get "their head out of the books" so to speak, and to engage with the conditions of the country they wish to change (and one sorely needed, especially by me!)
February 24, 2022
“They lose patience and ask to be transferred on the ground that they "have not the ability and cannot do the job"; These are cowards' words. “
Getting this framed over my desk for whenever I’m thinking about giving up on a challenge
Getting this framed over my desk for whenever I’m thinking about giving up on a challenge
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March 10, 2022I don't get it! Marxist works always seem fake to me, for some reason! And chairman Mao (read commie Cupie doll) sounds like he is going into how to set up a power point presentation on how to run a red state!
February 24, 2026
“When we say Marxism is correct, it is certainly not because Marx was a "prophet" but because his theory has been proved correct in our practice and in our struggle. We need Marxism in our struggle.”
Displaying 1 - 30 of 64 reviews