What should I get/essential writings?

I get paid on Friday and was wondering which books I should pick up at the bookstore. The only book I have is The Communist Manifesto so I really need to expand my library. I was thinking about getting Das Kapital and what ever other books the store has on the subject. So what are some "essential" literary works that I need? Online text is welcome but I having a book in my hands doesn't strain my as as much as a computer screen.

I don't know if Capital will be digestible enough for you as a younger guy.

You are probably right on that one. I read the Manifesto without much confusion or re-reading pages so that means I can read some heavy material, right? I will say that Capital is a very intimidating book, though...

Who are you intrested in reading ?
Do you have certain tendencies ?

I want to say Mark, Lenin and Stalin but I would not mind reading up on Mao or Che or anybody else really.

Take a look at The ABC of Communism
http://www.marxists.org/archive/bukhari ... /index.htm

Marx - Wage Labor and Capital
Engels - Socialism: Utopian and Scientific
Lenin - The State and Revolution
Stalin - On Dialectical and Historical Materialism


...for the basic basics.

I suggest taking a peak at Das Kapital online as it's well worth the effort. You may hae to read the first three chapters over some times but after that you should aquire the nack for reading it.

I skimmed Capital, didnt seem to difficult, if you have the patience.

Quote:

Stalin - On Dialectical and Historical Materialism

very interesting and intermediate read. I read it and I liked it a lot for how short it was. I also like Imperialism and the Revolution by Enver Hoxha. Very easy ready and an interesting look at anti-revisionism, the revolution, and the evolution of imperialism, mostly during the Soviet-era, but goes more in depth during other times as well. I need more books too anyway I get mine all online. its just easier for a paper copy

Don't try capital if you don't already know some basics of Marxist economics, though, like exploitation, etc.

Okay so I went against what all of you said and bought "Capital." I could not find anything other than the Manifesto and Capital at my local bookstore. And since I already have the Manifesto in print, this was my only option. (Once I decide to get a card, I will definitely be buying all of my books online). Oh well, money well spent in my opinion. This book sure will keep me busy for a long time...

I get my books online, most bookstores sell a few good one but definitely not enough, and libraries are just shit. Online is the way to go. Barnes and noble has a pretty good sale now so if you want to get em now, and if theyre in your area, id get it there, or amazon. Good idea to skim capital before starting the others, thats what I did and it makes it easier to make the connections, well, for me at least. good luck comrade.

FlairPhoenix wrote:

I want to say Mark, Lenin and Stalin but I would not mind reading up on Mao or Che or anybody else really.

I understand the urge not wanting to read books online but local libraries have most of the older texts. All of the following can be found on Marxist Internet Archive:

Lenin - The State and Revolution
Lenin - Imperialism: The Highest Stage of Capitalism
Stalin - The Foundations of Leninism
Mao - On Practice
Mao - On Contradiction
Che - Socialism and Man in Cuba

In addition to what people already said, I'd recommend:

Lenin - What is to be done?
Marx - Economic and Philosophical Manuscripts

Dont allow people to put you off from reading Capital.

If you dont want to start here start with Wages Prices and Profit

Cajo Brendel - Lenin as a strategist of the bourgeois revolution

I'm not quite sure that it's called that in English, but it's definitely a must read if you want a critical perspective on Leninism (which I think everybody needs, Leninist or not).

FlairPhoenix wrote:

Okay so I went against what all of you said and bought "Capital."

Well done! :-) It's a lifetime investment!! Sure, sure - you can't read it like a TomClancy novel ( ) but IMHO it isn't that dry and incomprehensible as many think. You get a solid foundation on the 'ins and outs' of capitalist economy. If you ever feel you're in over your head: Give it time and reread later.
The first chapters are the most challenging - but very important. Don't give up!
If you have trouble with Dialectical Materialism and Marx's version of Dialectics - never mind.
I have problems with that concept too.

On a sidenote:

All the books that were recommended to you in this thread are good ones (...well - actually I'm not 100% on this when it comes to Mao and Guevara....but nevermind)

Let me add one book to the suggestion list: G.V. Plekhanov: The Development of the Monist View of History, first published in 1895. I don't believe that it's available in bookform anywhere anymore - but on the net:

Happy reading!

http://www.marxists.org/archive/plekhan ... /index.htm

--

Thank you, Pink Spider. However I will admit that I haven't been reading much of anything the past few months bar textbooks and stuff here on S-E..

Trotsky- History of the Russian Revolution and My Life
Marx- Revolution and War
Castro- History will absolve me speech
Che- Guerilla warfare


The others I'd recommend have been listed

I've been wanting to read that speech but I find it difficult to read extensive text on a computer screen and I haven't gotten around to going to Kinkos to print it. I have a printer in my house but 50 pages would destroy my ink supply.