Reviews for Karl Marx: An Intimate Biography

The average rating for Karl Marx: An Intimate Biography based on 2 reviews is 3 stars.

Review # 1 was written on 2013-07-23 00:00:00 Anthony Oriento Karl Marx was a charming fellow and a good conversationalist. Charming, that is, when he wasn't a raving armchair revolutionary, denouncing all bourgeoisie and anarchists to the lowest pits of hell. Padover's book is a success, because it depicts Marx's life fairly objectively and neutrally (a few sardonic and critical remarks aside). We get a glimpse of Marx, the loving father and grandfather, playing with children in the parks of London. We get a glimpse of his passionate lifelong marriage to Jenny. And, naturally, of his strange and intimate partnership with Engel (and his money). It is subtitled "An Intimate Biography," and this is as accurate as it gets. Family, friends, homes - it is the stuff of hand-holding intimacy. Even to a fault: the book dwells slightly TOO much on Marx's family life. Towards the end, we get a whole chapter focusing on each of Marx's daughters. It could've been shorter. But let me not give you the impression this book is ONLY a frivolous family affair. Far from it: we get excellent accounts of all the major events in Marx's life; of his political adventures; of his luminous acquaintances; of his toil and dedication to research; of the writing, publication and reception of his major works; of his pan-European circle of conspiratorial adventures; of his elderly visits to spa resorts and springs (in search of a cure for his many illnesses). The book is a balanced, well-written and touching portrayal of the man behind the legend - and of the legend behind the man. If I were to recommend one Marx biography, I would recommend this one, easily. Let me end with some musings on Marx and the -ism named after him. One does not have to be a Marxist to recognize the awesome gifts, learned vision and moral fibre of one of history's most influential men. Karl Marx was one of the great encyclopaedic minds of the Enlightenment. He attempted to do to political economy what Darwin did for biology. He attempted to know everything in order to say the one thing that mattered. He was critical of capitalism but praised its power. He only wished to harness its strengths and shed its injustices. Even if Marxism, in its claims to "scientific communism", proved to be excellence wrapped in imperfection (and demonstrably false premises), Marx was an important thinker who cannot be passed by with a shrug, although The Soviet Union ended in failure. He will be read three centuries from hence - my guess is, in the series of utopian thinkers from Plato to Thomas More. Marx, furthermore, is a role model for a new generation of bloggers, journalists, satirists, political activists and essayists of all persuasions. He was a master of many languages and in possession of the awesome gift of tongues. Even if his prophesy can be doubted, the form in which it was handed down to us, cannot. Marxism is less potent than Marx himself.

Review # 2 was written on 2013-01-14 00:00:00 James Greenhow Johnny Carson is one of my personal heroes, but I know enough about him to know that he was a complex man to put it lightly. This book glosses over some of his less desirable traits to paint a portrait of a man who is universally beloved. That is not the complete truth based on what I know about Carson. Johnny burned a lot of bridges because he was a stubborn narcissist. However, his comedic timing and skills as an entertainer are unquestionably top notch. I'm inspired to read more biographies on Carson to rekindle my love of his work but this book was biased and poorly written.