Essential Works of Marxism

by Arthur P. Mendel (Editor)

Karl Marx transformed Hegel's conservative theory of history into a revolutionary program. The goal of history, Marx said, was the absolute equality of all men: from each according to his ability; to each according to his need. Since this first statement of the communist doctrine, its leading exponents have been in constant disagreement over the extent to which man can assist history in reaching its goal. The selections included in this book represent all major points of view - from the revisionists to those who advocate world revolution.

Genres: Philosophy, Nonfiction, Politics, History, Social Science

592 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published April 1, 1968

Reviews

[Chris Dietzel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is 5-stars not because I'm a huge fan of Karl Marx or am a Marxist. It's 5-stars because:

1) As Murakami said, “If you only read the books that everyone else is reading, you can only think what everyone else is thinking.” Rather than accept what I'm told about any topic, I'd rather understand that topic for myself and come to my own conclusions. That's the same reason it's good to read the major religious books outside of your own religion, read economic theory outside of the system your country adheres to, etc. This book allowed me to understand Marx's ideas, how Lenin modified them, how Stalin completely altered them, and how China incorporated them. These are all topics that are overly simplified or ignored in U.S. schools that I now feel like I somewhat understand.

2) I recently read George Orwell's Homage to Catalonia. In it, he talks about all of the various militias that fought the Spanish fascists. There was a militia of Marxists, a militia of Communists, and a militia of Trotskyists. I had no idea these things were different from each other, so reading this book helped me understand the nuances between the various groups.

[Taylor W. Rushing · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good chronilogical combination of writings by Marx, Engels, Lenin, Stalin, Mao. You can actually see where everything goes wrong about halfway through the writings of Stalin.

[Andy P. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've had a tawny, flea bitten copy of this book in my possession for many years. I bought it used for .50 cents on a bargain shelf, and I've gotten more miles out if than most books for which I paid far more. This is where I first read the entire Manifesto, Lenin's State and Revolution, and Stalin's excellent little work on Leninism.

I've thought a little bit about how an updated edition of this book could replace the contributions of Kołakowski and the New Program with works that correspond to communist movements and thinking since Stalin.. perhaps newer translations, more Marx, Rosa Luxemburg's Reform or Revolution?, anti-revisionist works by Mazumdar and JOMA, and potentially a more in depth discussion of Maoism.

[Adam Chandler · Rating 4 out of 5]

I grabbed this book for a university paper I was writing and it was well worth it. This collection goes through many significant figures in Marxism and how they view the philosophy. Some pieces are more interesting and better written than others on account of this. However, all of it is useful to juxtapose the different positions in Marxism as I was trying to do for my paper. It did showcase how Maoism was more honest to Marxism-Leninism than Stalinism was. The major detriment, though, was that these were all writings that did not show the practical effects of Marxism in the world. The ideology is one of those things where "it works in theory and not in practice". There are some great ideas here but many cannot be realized in the world effectively.

[Floyd K · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely good value this book, containing as it does the Manifesto, Socialism: Utopian and Scientific, State and Revolution, Foundations of Leninism, Combat Liberalism and On Practice, and other material.
I've read all of the above bar 'Combat Liberalism', all very useful texts for understanding Marxism/Communism.