Socialism Made Easy

by James Connolly

Socialist tactics and practical politics explained from 1909.

Genres: Nonfiction, Ireland, Politics, Theory

71 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1920

About the author

James Connolly (Irish: Séamas Ó Conghaile) was an Irish socialist leader. He was born in the Cowgate area of Edinburgh, Scotland, to Irish immigrant parents. He left school for working life at the age of 11, but became one of the leading Marxist theorists of his day. Though proud of his Irish background, he also took a role in Scottish and American politics. He was executed by a British firing squad because of his leadership role in the Easter Rising of 1916.

Reviews

[Barry Avis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Socialism Made Easy is a collection of pamphlets and articles written by James Connolly first published in 1909. This poses questions or statements such as “Socialism of a Foreign Importation” and attempts to address these falsehoods with plain facts. It is a short book written in an easy reading method that makes working through it easy. Its main focus is on the use of trade unions to galvanise workers to organise and take ownership of the methods of production as a first step towards a socialist state where representatives of workers ensure they take control from the greedy capitalists who exploit workers to increase their wealth whist keeping the working classes under control.
There are many great things about this book that really address the problems with our capitalist society which are relevant in todays’ society where workers are seen as greedy for wanting a living wage whilst the capitalist owners are free to pollute, cheat and bribe their way into ever increasing profit.
However, as the book was published in 1909 at a time when unions still had some power and still actually worked for workers’ rights as opposed to todays’ unions most of who are led by rich men eager to keep their privileged position of power rather than risk it by fighting the capitalists and a labour party slowly moving right with every passing year. If union leaders earned the average pay of their members and truly were socialists, we may have developed along the lines James Connolly wanted.
This is an important book for all socialists to read to understand just how much the working classes have lost. Sadly, our world seems to be lurching ever to the right and I fully expect a knock on the door one dark night.

[graceofgod · Rating 5 out of 5]

Connolly was a brilliant propagandist. absolutely brilliant.

[Cillian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant short piece on the exploitation’s of capitalism

[Ryan McGonagle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another excellent addition to James connolly's works and a great starting point. Short and to the point.

[Clover Carroll · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good breakdown of Socialist ideas but deviates from Marxism

[Jake Funk · Rating 5 out of 5]

Banger

[Happy Goat 6 · Rating 3 out of 5]

While I do agree with the book, I believe it is better to use modern language in modern times, so it has little use now. Also there’s a small amount of racism, so that’s not great

[Ross · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nice and succinct introduction to some socialist viewpoints. Connolly has a really reader-friendly writing style and knows (unlike some other left theorists) how to communicate ideas clearly