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Title: The Communist Manifesto by Karl Marx, Friedrich Engels, Martin Edward Malia ISBN: 0-451-52710-0 Publisher: Signet Pub. Date: October, 1998 Format: Mass Market Paperback Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $5.95 |
Average Customer Rating: 3.55 (185 reviews)
Rating: 5
Summary: Flawed Manuscript That Continues to be Misinterpreted
Comment: The Communist Manifesto is arguably one of the greatest pieces of literature ever to have been published. It contains several great ideas, but is extremely ambiguous in some areas as well as hopelessly idealistic. That being said, some of the documentation in this book still holds true today, such as the class system and the struggle linked with it. The idea of the "dictatorship of the proletariat" has been interpreted in many ways, but here's a hint to all: "proletariat" refers to something in plural, and analysis of the language used seems to indicate that this "dictatorship" is nothing more than control by the proletariat over the factors of production, a state-controlled economy. If only everyone would read this book, they would come to the conclusion that true Communism has never been done; the regimes of Stalin, Mao, Pol Pot, and Castro have relatively little in common with what is written by Marx and Engels. Of course, true Communism cannot be done in this day and age, but that does not totally discredit the ideas of Marx and Engels. All should read this book first and then make a judgement on Communism.
Rating: 4
Summary: Important but Incomplete
Comment: In reading some of the reviews below, it becomes quite evident that many of the readers who gave this book a low rating have never actually read the book. People generally think they understand communism based on their knowledge of the Soviet Union, or North Korea, or China, or Vietnam, etc. Based on this "knowledge," they judge Marx's ideas to be either unrealistic or just plain bloody without reading the book itself. The reality, however, is that one cannot know communism through the experiences of 20th century history since communism as Marx and Engels envisioned it has not existed on this planet. Furthermore, one cannot understand Marx's ideas only through the reading of this book.
The Communist Manifesto was written as a political pamphlet, and thus is written like a piece of propaganda. Marx does not discuss in great deal some significant points in his theory. He doesn't discuss the dialectic in great detail, nor does he discuss his view on human nature a great deal. Most people are unaware of Marx's view on human nature, and this has led to him being labeled an "idealist," and communism labeled "utopian."
This book gets 4 stars from me for two reasons. Based on historical importance alone, this book should receive 5 stars. Given its amazing significance, it seems ridiculous to me that someone could give this book one or no stars. I may not be a Christian, but I'd give the Bible 5 stars just because of its tremendous historical importance. That being said, I only give the Manifesto 4 stars because, as a representation of Marx's ideas, it is incomplete, and I think in many ways, it contributes to the general lack of understanding of Marx that is so common today. People think they understand the philosophy of communism after reading just the Manifesto, and that false sense of knowledge only makes them seem that much more ignorant.
Rating: 4
Summary: Important historical document
Comment: This is the book that started it all. Regardless of what Marx and Engels wrote in their dense thousand page books of theory, this little book was the dream of communism that changed Europe. I think they were completely wrong, but their ideas were based on sound reasoning, and only later events have exposed the problems that now show communism to be an unfortunate and costly mistake in the history of mankind. If you are interested in politics, you have a responsibility to read this book.
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Title: The Prince by Niccolo Machiavelli ISBN: 0553212788 Publisher: Bantam Pub. Date: 01 August, 1984 List Price(USD): $4.50 |
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Title: Wealth of Nations (Great Minds Series) by Adam Smith ISBN: 0879757051 Publisher: Prometheus Books Pub. Date: December, 1991 List Price(USD): $11.00 |
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Title: The Wealth of Nations by Alan B. Krueger, Adam Smith ISBN: 0553585975 Publisher: Bantam Pub. Date: 04 March, 2003 List Price(USD): $7.95 |
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Title: The Republic by Plato ISBN: 0486411214 Publisher: Dover Pubns Pub. Date: 18 April, 2000 List Price(USD): $2.50 |
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Title: Capital: A Critique of Political Economy (Penguin Classics) by Karl Marx, Ben Fowkes, J. M. Cohen ISBN: 0140445684 Publisher: Penguin USA (Paper) Pub. Date: May, 1992 List Price(USD): $16.95 |
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