The New Left Reader

by Carl Oglesby (Editor )

Various biographies on revolutionaries of the left.

Genres: Nonfiction, Essays

paper

First published May 1, 1969

Reviews

[Connor]

I am a directionless college student so the perfect audience for this book

[Laurie]

This is an excellent representation of the diversity of political perspectives that were part of the New Left. Some essay are of great value, if only as deeply problematic symptoms of their time, but many stand out for great importance beyond their moment. Kolakowski's text on "The Concept of the Left" sheds great light on the problems the Left faces in the present. Fanon's Algeria Unveiled is unequivocal. Generally, a necessary read for any serious leftist.

[Richard O.]

It's all a dream now, but if you're interested this is a useful compendium of New Left thinkers from the U.S., Europe, Africa and the Caribbean. I don't know how I'd feel about this book now. Chances taken, chances failed.

[Tristan]

I don't know why goodreads lists Castro as the primary author for this book, as it is a collectio of essays by a variety of radicals, from Malcolm X to Franz Fanon. Edited by SDSer Carl Olgesby, it's a great source of political theory relating to imperialism, capitalism and racism. However, it should be pointed out that all the authors are men, and that none of the theory has to do with gender, sexual orientation or indentity, which makes sense as this is a document from sixties.

[Thamrong]

This is indeed a rare book by any standard. Well, at least in this region. Since the collapsed of Marxist socialism, the term 'Left' has taken a new meaning. Newspaper in the West define the New Left as the new consciousness that swept Europe and United States in the form of campus revolts, black rebellions, antiwar protests and the metamorphosis of autocratic proletariat dictatorship in the 50s to liberal socialism on the 60s.

[Bhaskar Sunkara]

worth getting your hands on if only for leszek kolakowski's contribution.