Reviews for Marx's Capital and one free world

The average rating for Marx's Capital and one free world based on 2 reviews is 5 stars.

Review # 1 was written on 2008-07-04 00:00:00 Jocelyn Laurin A lot of people probably think they know what Marxism is all about, but in reality only a precious few have any intimate acquaintance with the man's writings and ideas. Only the hardiest of souls can pour through the voluminous pages that constitute Marx's significant body of work, writings that are as dense and complex as just about anything you would ever hope to find. No single book can communicate the depth and breadth of Marxism, but a single book, namely Marx For Beginners by Rius, can and does offer readers an interesting, comprehensible introduction to the basic principles and themes of one of the world's greatest thinkers. I might point out the fact that I personally detest Marx with a passion; the man indirectly caused more trouble than any other individual in history. It is important to know one's enemies well, though, and that is why I have studied Marx to a limited extent. This book was actually one of several required readings in a college course I took on the history of socialism. I had to laugh when I first saw the actual book as it looks like a book of cartoons. Don't let the seeming simplicity of the book fool you, though. Rius uses cartoons and tiny bits of comedy in order to make one's introduction to the subject as interesting as possible, and he covers the basics quite well indeed: Marx's philosophy, his economic doctrine, and his concept of historical materialism. This is an increasingly complex triumvirate of concepts. Actual quotations from Marx himself often drop in front of you like a ton of bricks, but Rius uses this building material to construct a humble edifice of understanding and instruction. He especially excels at placing Marx's ideas in their original historical context, summarizing the evolution of society over the years and pointing to the sources from which Marx drew most heavily: German philosophy, English political economy, and French socialism. You may just be skimming the deep waters of Marxism, but before you know it you've actually learned something about what Marx thought and why he thought it. To further help you along, Rius provides a pretty impressive little glossary of terms at the end and offers a few suggestions on the subject of further reading for those who would like to pursue the subject further. Whether you hate him or love him, Marx is important, and Marx for Beginners is the most accessible gateway to his philosophy and economic theories that I know of.

Review # 2 was written on 2017-11-10 00:00:00 Mattheus Episcopo Although a legendary figure in his native Mexico, Rius, the pen name for the writer, political cartoonist and communist intellectual Eduardo del Río García, is not well known in the United States (or probably Europe, either). Despite the title, at least a little political savvy is necessary to fully understand Marx for Beginners. However, Rius provides a beautifully enjoyable (and quite funny) journey detailing the beginnings of the many threads of political theory that eventually influenced Karl Marx and/or his sidekick Frederich Engels. But the best part of the slender book has to be Rius' cartoons and vintage illustrations. So highly recommended! Marx for Beginners is the first of Rius' book that I've read, but it won't be the last. I've bought Diccionario de la estupidez humana (The Dictionary of Human Stupidity), Hitler Para Masoquistas (no translation needed) and Los Agachados (The Submissive), all of them in Spanish. So I'll be entertained and improve my Spanish! A win-win!