Karl Marx: A Life from Beginning to End

by Hourly History

Karl Marx * * *Download for FREE on Kindle Unlimited + Free BONUS Inside!* * * Read On Your Computer, MAC, Smartphone, Kindle Reader, iPad, or Tablet. If anything, Karl Marx’s life reminds us of the power of the pen over the sword. During his lifetime, he lived in relative obscurity. Rather than making any waves, Marx was usually lucky just to make the rent. And to make the ongoing hardship of his life even worse, Karl Marx was afflicted with boils from the top of his head to the soles of his feet. This painful skin condition in his later years made even his beloved vocation of writing rather difficult. But his pen would indeed demonstrate its power, and by the time 70-some years had passed since his demise, one-third of the entire planet would be living under regimes based upon his ideology. Inside you will read about... ✓ The Makings of a Revolutionary ✓ The Communist Manifesto ✓ Poor and Deported ✓ The Folly of the French ✓ Marx and the Civil War And much more! Love him or hate him, the power of Karl Marx’s pen, and his legacy, cannot be denied. Series Revolutionaries Book 1

Genres: Biography, History, Nonfiction, Ebooks, Biography Memoir, Philosophy

105 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 8, 2017

About the author

At Hourly History, we focus on publishing history books that are concise, straightforward and take no longer than one hour to read.

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Reviews

[Udit Nair · Rating 5 out of 5]

If anything, Karl Marx's life reminds us the eternal power of the pen over the sword. Love him or hate him but the power of his ideas and its legacy cannot be denied.

Many of Marx's insight still seems surprisingly relevant 150 years later. With the rise of AI economy it can be argued that much of Marx's speculations in Das Kapital is still rather salient to this very day. Suggestions of universal basic income and other ideas could easily fit within a marxist mold.

[Leonie · Rating 3 out of 5]

A short, informative introduction to the life of Karl Marx. Easy to read and very interesting.

[Durgesh Deep · Rating 4 out of 5]

Marx has become so relevant in this contemporary era of high income inequality(as per oxfam inequality report), high unemployment & industrial revolution 4.0.

[Jerry Jares · Rating 4 out of 5]

Based on this book, Karl Marx is more well-known today than he was while alive.  In fact, Marx was so desperately poor, that he was supported by Friedrich Engles, a German philosopher, communist, political activist, and businessman. Together, they wrote 'THE COMMUNIST MANIFESTO.'  Engles was wealthy from the English textile mills (of his father) and supported Marx for most of his life.  Marx was hobbled by poor health throughout much of his life.

I looked up info about Karl Marx and learned that he was 'stateless' after 1845.  I was disappointed Hourly History didn't make mention this significant fact.  According to my reading, the Prussian government pressured Marx to leave France.  At that point (I believe), he became stateless.  This is a rather important fact to understand the world and Karl Marx. 

[Royce Ratterman · Rating 3 out of 5]

These brief biographies can help the reader to decide if they wish to pursue the individual(s) and/or topics with more lengthy works. Born into an upper-level Bourgeois family, Marx's endeavors became world famous, as well as their failures. Marx's financial stability, however, took many twists and turns, as the reader will see in this work: "According to his contemporaries, Marx was always living on a razor edge when it came to his finances, and just the smallest of extra expense made him late on rent or unable to buy basic food for his family... To many around him who witnessed his struggle, the interpretation that his mother gave of events seemed quite appropriate, when she sarcastically lamented, 'If only Karl had made capital, instead of just writing about it.'"
The final years of Marx’s life were "filled primarily with financial destitution and poor health."

Ideals are soon supplanted by the realities of corrupt, power-hungry individuals who live in luxury while those ideals redistribute poverty among the masses rather than monetary sufficiency. One finds rather quickly that there are those who are far more equal than others and their 'privileges' outweigh any opposition.

The historical downward spiral of liberalism to socialism to communism to its end result of Totalitarian/Autocratic/Fascist/dictatorship, is seen most often through hindsight rather than simple predictability. A bio of yet another of history's failed idealists, presenting concepts that appeal to the masses until their predictable demise.
"Marxism is the graveyard not only for national peoples but also particularly for the one class that fights whole-heartedly for its realization: the working class." -Dr. Joseph Goebbels

- Quotes from this work:

“Men make their own history, but they do not make it as they please.” —Karl Marx

“Let the ruling classes tremble at a communist revolution. The proletarians have nothing to lose but their chains. They have a world to win. Workingmen of all countries, unite!” —Karl Marx

“The theory of Communism may be summed up in one sentence: Abolish all private property.” —Karl Marx

“Anyone who knows anything of history knows that great social changes are impossible without feminine upheaval. Social progress can be measured exactly by the social position of the fair sex, the ugly ones included.” —Karl Marx

“America will never be destroyed from the outside; if we falter and lose our freedoms, it will be because we destroyed ourselves.” —Abraham Lincoln

“The production of too many useful things results in too many useless people.” —Karl Marx

"Marx believed that it was the masses of people who should take on a leading role in this transition. But several years later, other communist leaders such as the Soviet Union’s Joseph Stalin would interpret this dictatorship much differently; he saw this dictatorship of the people as being vested into one strong-armed person, lording over the masses."

- Other works that may be of interest:

Red China Blues: My Long March from Mao to Now by Jan Wong (1996)

1000 Years of Joys and Sorrows: A Memoir by Ai Weiwei (2021)

The Road to Serfdom by Friedrich Hayek (1944)

The Origins of Totalitarianism by Hannah Arendt (1949)

America Against America by Wang Huning (1991)

China's Hundred Weeds: A Study of the Anti–Rightist Campaign in China (1957–58) by Naranarayan Das

[Sanket Sheth · Rating 4 out of 5]

I decided to take a break from my usual genre of reading - business, startups, finance and dived into the world of political philosophy. For years, I have wondered how Karl Marx and his Marxist theory has enamored intellectuals, political parties, and proletariats. This is a very short book that deals with Marx's life and how he went on to have a profound influence but serves as a good stepping stone.

The genesis of Marxist ideology lies when his family had to convert to Christianity because of anti-semitic policies existent in the 19th century. He then saw the conditions of workers and peasants and how in spite of toiling, they merely eked out a living. The bourgeois class was high exploitative in that era. That's when he laid out the following principles:

1) All proletariats should unite irrespective of religion. There should be no division based on religion as it only discriminates and deprives ( and that is why we still see hammer and sickle on their flag)
2) Eradication of private possession and fiefdom (Birth of Communist Ideology)
3) The proletariats should be at the helm of the administration of the region

It is important to understand that Communism is a part of his ideology and not the ideology itself. It is ironic that though the ideology proscribes private possession, it ultimately leads to a nation being ruled by a dictator/authoritarian, who considers the nation as his private kingdom. China, Russia, and North Korea are prominent examples. They have used the principles as per their convenience.

Karl Marx, though highly intelligent and a man of firm principles, lead a life stricken with poverty. While he abhorred the rich class, he preferred that his daughter marry a rich person, to avoid any economic hardships, he and his wife suffered. This is where lies the biggest paradox.

Where does it leave the voters to decide when political parties pitch their right and left ideology?

In my opinion, the Leftist ideology should serve as the watchdog over administration. It should balance the power and benefits to the proletariats. But the ideology cannot be the basis of administration. Barring few examples, left ideology when in power has done more harm than good. Mao Zedong, Stalin, Kim Jong show the perils of this ideology. Does this mean capitalism is perfect? Definitely, No. It is less bad than communism. China, which boasts of a communist party rule, has principles of capitalism lying underneath its roaring progress and transformation. Leftist ideology can help in negating the disadvantages of capitalism if applied intelligently and not blindly.

[Thom Swennes · Rating 4 out of 5]

The platitude “the pen is mightier than the sword” could not fit a man any better than the passive revolutionist, theorist, and philosopher, Karl Marx. Marx was born in the picturesque town of Trier, Germany on May 5, 1818. This was also the beginning of the industrial revolution, where the world changed drastically both socially and economically. During this time there was a great migration from the country to the cities, where new manufacturing companies provided much-needed employment for the growing population. This was also the birth of capitalism, where money was king. This was an ugly but necessary evil to fuel the revolution that would eventually birth the middle class. When Marx met Friedrich Engels, a pact was formed that would dictate the direction that the rest of their lives would take. The two philosophers worked as intellectual provocateurs continuously feeding off each other.
Karl Marx was a born passive revolutionary. He wasn’t the one that would be seen violently storming in the streets and the many injustices in the world, but rather the inspiration that brought men like Vladimir Lenin, Leon Trotsky, Che Guevara, and Fidel Castro into action; he was a pure theorist.
Marx’s brand of Communism can be best described as Utopian Communism. In a perfect world, populated by faultless people, this type of government would be wonderful. Unfortunately, the world isn’t perfect, people aren’t faultless, and his words are open to interpretation. This is a short summary of a life filled with inspiration, love, hardship, poverty, and pain. Despite a glaring misprint (the publication year of Das Kapitol), the book provides a good insight into a man of strong principals and enormous intellect.

[MeeSaSubramaniam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Crisp, yet felt thorough!

Thanks to Hourly History's initiative of providing concise histories and particularly the author of this book, who I believe has genuinely truncated the history of the life of the theoretical genius Karl Marx. Crucial parts of his association with Engels were covered.

I recommend this book to all beginners who would love to peek into the life of this selfless and paramount philosopher!

[Pathma Liyanage · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great introduction to the study of communism.

The book as the author claimed takes very short time to read, but provides a good overall image of Marx’s life. It’s a good read to anyone who didn’t pay much attention in college (like myself) to reintroduce oneself to the history and philosophy.

[Victor Raul · Rating 5 out of 5]

Biografia de un personaje que trascendio a traves de sus ideas y de sus obras. Un filosofo que sento las bases del comunismo. Un padre amoroso y un esposo fiel. Ademas un hombre que padecio de discriminacion por su ascendencia judia y que desgraciadamente sufrio muchas penurias economicas. Una historia bien contada.

[Julian Orozco, Jr. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ideology Still At Large

Great information and background about Karl Marx. Great references about how and why he came up with his views about the working class. Many of his ideas are resurfacing once again these days and again being misinterpreted. Decide for yourself, read this book for your opinion.

[Summer Hurst · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fathers teach your children and know what you believe

The history reported was direct the sad story reminds us of the importance of proper teachers. American pioneers were poor workers too but did not do this

[Paul Fox · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short histories for everyone.

A good, short biography of Karl Marx and the philosophy that made him infamous the world over. People will be surprised that Marx was more of a progressive individual than his interpretators Lenin , Stalin, or Mao would have you believe.

[Shakthi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Perhaps a better way to start learning about revolutionaries and communism , however did not learned much about communism but sure now I have an idea of who KarlMarx is where did he began what did he do and how does his life ended. A short story book but informative.

[Abhishek Prakash · Rating 4 out of 5]

For a person whose ideas have created nations, wars and revolutions, his personal life had always been full of struggle and financial hardship.

Rightly said in the book “ would have been better if Mark created some capital instead of just writing about it”

[Vince Hamon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Barely okay as an introduction yo Marx

This very short book sketches Karl Marx's life and philosophy to the bone. The writing is ungainly in many places. Would have benefited from better editing.

[Asif Zubair · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good brief read

Insightful read. Very brief but insightful. Written interestingly. Reader gets an idea of the life of Karl Marx. He gets into a position that if he wants to know more.

[Rebeka Locksley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Concise but very informative

A concise but very informative overview of Marx's life . Good for broadening one's general knowledge . Recommend as a first stop on the way of learning about his life and work.

[Phillip E. Ramsey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hero of the little guy

Where are you Karl when we need you the most
SHrimp is leading us to our doom and last days

[David Parker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very strange story

Interesting that Marx’s financial existence for more than 40 years depended on the wealth of Engel gained from English textile workers.

[Jacqueline Nyathi]

Interesting, but really needed an editor.

[Govind Rao · Rating 3 out of 5]

Matter of fact narrative

I wish this book could have shown parts of Das capital, which is a very important work of Karl Marx. Or atleast write down the essence of that book.

[Vignesh NeelaKandan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read in Tamil written by Mr.Arunan

[Dean HOCK1NG · Rating 3 out of 5]

Brief but interesting.

[Iman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good Job!
A beautiful though sorrowful account of Karl Marx's life. He was a man of his word. Through all the downs and destitute times in his life, he never compromised on his ideals. One thing I believe in Marx is his genuineness of his thoughts and ideas.