The theory of capitalist development Book

The timing on my reading of this book was phenomenal. Directly before it I finished reading Capital, vol. 1 by Karl Marx. Anything I missed or didn't understand was laid out in incredibly accessible terms for me by Paul Sweezy. It was almost as if I had a private tutor explaining Marxian concepts to me, with some updated information that supported some of those theories and called others into question.

Is the book dated? Yes. Obviously. It was written in 1942(ish) and is about Marxism. The USSR, which is viewed as a beacon of hope by the author in the pursuit of anti-imperialism and a worker's state, has since shown its colors as a vicious bastion of imperialism itself, and after failing to meet the goals set out by its revolutionaries it lost the battle with capitalism, falling in 1991. So modern readers can smile knowingly at Sweezy's hopes and dreams regarding a new world order.

Aside from that, though, this book is incredibly well-written, informative, accessible, and much of it is still applicable today. As an academic piece I highly recommend reading The Theory of Capitalist Development. It will give a solid look into the theory of both capitalism and of socialism, showing how the former actually works and how the latter intends to work. A must-have for anyone who wants to actually be able to call out the capitalist swine while holding their over-zealous comrades' feet to the fire.