Karl Marx: A Reader

by Jon Elster (Editor), Karl Marx

This volume contains a selection of Karl Marx's most important writings, organized thematically under eight headings: methodology, alienation, economics, exploitation, historical materialism, classes, politics, and ideology. Jon Elster provides a brief introduction to each selection to explain its context and its place in Marx's argument. The volume is designed as a companion to Elster's An Introduction to Karl Marx and the thematic structure of each book is the same. But the Reader can also stand on its own and offers the student a substantial and revealingly organized selection of the crucial texts needed to understand and assess Marx's views.

Genres: Philosophy, Sociology, Politics, Nonfiction, History

352 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1986

About the author

Jon Elster ، born 22 February 1940, Oslo) is a Norwegian social and political theorist who has authored works in the philosophy of social science and rational choice theory. He is also a notable proponent of analytical Marxism, and a critic of neoclassical economics and public choice theory, largely on behavioral and psychological grounds.

In 2016, he was awarded the 22nd Johan Skytte Prize in Political Science for his contributions to political science.

Reviews

[Oscar Moignard · Rating 2 out of 5]

Quelques analyses locales intéressantes et originales mais la méthode et l’analyse me semblent toujours parcellaires souvent imprécise. En plus les outils mobilisés ne permettent de produire une lecture que trop superficielle et trop peu attentive à l’historicité

[Cyrus]

Well, I am only reading the essay titled, "on the Jewish question"; because I am interested in reading more on and exploring anti-semitism ,through europe and,which led to WWII but, I might read more of his essays later on; so far, I've been very surprised to find out that there was a large zionist movement in europe prior to the nazi movement and both the communist and nazis attempted to provide political answers to the movement which itself seems to have led to the holocaust. He talks about a 'jewish emancipation' movement due to the people as a group's, un-equal rights within the German state as early as 1890's, Tres interesting.
cool.... it goes to show how much of evil, always has it's roots in oppression, of some form or another.

[Alyssa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Marx can be a tough read, but the collection within this reader is a great synopsis of his work.