Democrat to Radical in 5 books?
Dec 25 2005 05:03
I'm looking to start a reading group at my college, and am thinking about books to include. My (impossible) goal is to transform Democrat (as in the US political party) readers to radicals in 5 books.
Give me some suggestions of 5 books to read and in which order.
Merry Christmas.
Dec 25 2005 12:28
#2
Sounds like a cool theme to have... i havent got any suggestions but good luck!
Dec 25 2005 17:53
#3
society of the spectacle
Admin edit - discussion about why some people thought this would be a bad idea split here: http://libcom.org/forums/viewtopic.php?p=87903
Dec 25 2005 23:29
#4
multitude by hardt and negri could work, preferably as one of the latter books in the five-set.
Dec 26 2005 01:31
#5
John's suggestion of some history is a good one. Haven't read Zinn's book but I'd start with some history.
I'd say Capital vol. 1 but I doubt that'd fly since it's a bit long. So you could get them to try the penguin abridged version, or even just chapter 1. of vol. 1, maybe alongside Harry Cleaver's Reading Capital Politically which is a reading guide to that chapter.
kindhorse wrote:
multitude by hardt and negri could work, preferably as one of the latter books in the five-set.
Everything I've heard about multitude suggests it's part of Negri's move from radical back to (social) democrat. Why that book particularly?
Dec 26 2005 01:34
#6
Catch wrote:
John's suggestion of some history is a good one. Haven't read Zinn's book but I'd start with some history.
Zinn's book would be great for this. I mean if you can kinda erase what you know already I think it basically completely remakes your ideas about America, history, government, social change... And it's very American.
Dec 26 2005 01:50
#7
1. Zinn - People's History of the United States (def. go for this first judging by what John said)
Some revolutionary history from outside the US:
2. Homage to Catalonia/Orwell is often recommended (I've only read odd bits of it)
or.
Peter Arshinov's History of the Makhnovist Movement which is great but maybe too specific.
3. Marx - Chapter 1. of vol. 1 of Capital + Harry Cleaver Reading Capital Politically.
That'd give you a history overview, something about a specific revolution, some fundamental (although not 'introductory') economics.
On top of that I'd go for something very recent - not a book but maybe collect some of the better articles/reports about Katrina.
Or this: http://libcom.org/library/mcdonalds-workers-resistance-history
or some of these pamphlets are very good and well presented (and a lot are about the US) http://www.prole.info/pamphletsrecent.html
maybe: http://www.prole.info/pamphlets/sabotageinamerica.pdf
Dec 26 2005 15:40
#8
I think it's a great idea but at the same time it's likely to be a difficult task.
I think you are probably constrained because you'll need to use books that are available to a fairly wide public. Whereas I think some the best books for the task, such as the anthology "Understanding Capitalism" edited by Doug Dowd ( link ) are not so widely available. In any case here is my list of radical books that are widely available and worth the effort.-
1. The End of the World As We Know It: Social Science for the Twenty-First Century - Immanuel Wallerstein.
For the purposes of getting democrats to understand the world by thinking outside their normal patterns this book is a powerful tonic. It teaches a long view historical approach, presenting capitalism and its evolution as the first truly global social system, yet also a class system based upon subjugation of the periphery (South) by the core (North). The essay Ecology and Capitalist Costs of Production: No Exit explains how capitalism's inherent structures and imperatives are in fundamental contradiction to sustainability. He is also one of the most concise critics of the politcal and philosophical tendency of liberalism as evidenced by his essay: Liberalism and Democracy: Freres Ennemis? and for further reading for liberals you can always suggest his full-length book, "After Liberalism."
2. Erich Fromm - Marx's Concept of Man.
A lucid exposition of Marx's view of human nature and theory of alienation. Many of its editions include the full text of Marx's Economic and Philosophical Manuscripts of 1844.
3. The Zinn Reader
For this project it is probably preferable to the People's History because of its variety, and the personal picture it reveals of the life, thoughts and ideas of an engaged moral agent.
4. Chomsky Reader -
This is the one to go for because it not only contains his usual foreign policy analysis but also a long illuminating interview with James Peck, a historical essay about liberal scholarship concerning the Spanish revolution, and a somewhat philosophical essay about equality.
5. Economic Justice and Democracy- Robin Hahnel
I can't say enough good things about this book. I think it is the best up to date book on radical economic theory. It includes great critiques of dominant ideologies such as the neoconservative conception of "economic freedom", and the abuses and limitations of "comparative advantage". It also contains a long chapter discussing the histories of libertarian socialist and social democratic movements, sophisticated ecological economic theory and a cogent discussion of alternative economic proposals such as market socialism and democratic planning.
finally here are some alternate suggestions: The Great Transformation- Karl Polanyi, Beyond Capital- Michael A. Lebowitz, and The Theory of Capitalist Development by Paul Sweezy, Capitalism and its Economics - Doug Dowd
Admin edit - long links shortened
Dec 27 2005 09:54
#9
Malatesta - Anarchy
Rocker - Anarchism and Anarcho Synidcialism
Quote:
Homage to Catalonia/Orwell
Dec 27 2005 21:04
#10
If you're going to give them a Chomsky book to read, I recomend What Uncle Sam Really Wants. It's really easy to read and very short.
Dec 27 2005 22:46
#11
Since you're students, it might be interesting to read SDS by Kirkpatrick Sale - about the Students for a Democratic Society organisation in America in the sixties. It's really good as a detailed study of a radical political organisation, giving some idea of what works, and (especially towards the end) what doesn't. (It also might be good as SDSers start off being basically left-Democrats, and move toward having some sort of class analysis. Then they start blowing stuff up, and the Maoists get involved, and it all goes wrong 
. But until then it's cool, and very inspiring.)
The whole thing's online here:SDS by K. Sale. It's about 700 pages print, so might be a bit long.
If you want something recent on the Labour (or, rather, Labor) movement in America, there are some worthwhile suggestions in this quite long article, of which Poor Workers' Unions: Rebuilding Labor From Below by Vanessa Tait looks like it might be good.
Dec 28 2005 00:22
#12
This is for myself, rather then the reading group, but I'm looking for an unbiased account of the russian revolution, from Lenin to Stalin.
Any suggestions?
Dec 28 2005 00:25
#13
harris wrote:
This is for myself, rather then the reading group, but I'm looking for an unbiased account of the russian revolution, from Lenin to Stalin.Any suggestions?
http://libcom.org/library/the-bolsheviks-and-workers-control-solidarity-group
Is a good starting point.
Dec 28 2005 23:00
#14
harris wrote:
This is for myself, rather then the reading group, but I'm looking for an unbiased account of the russian revolution, from Lenin to Stalin.Any suggestions?
Brinton's book is good. But it doesn't go up to stalin. And it's more of a reference book then something you can read from cover to cover.
I don't know of any 'unbiased' account. I don't know if you can have an unbiased account of such a political occurence.
If you looking for something from a libertarian perspective then Maximoff's "the guillotine at work" would be perfect. I've only read bits of it, but what I have read i've liked and I know it's supposed to be a really brilliant - an easy and enjoyable read. Chapter 11 is here http://www.geocities.com/cordobakaf/max.html
If you want a full account of the revolution, check out Voline's book 'The Unknown Revolution'. It really is great. One of the most enjoyable books ofr non-fiction i've ever read. Edge of your seat type stuff. (Jesus did i just type that).
Dec 28 2005 23:58
#15
georgestapleton wrote:
And it's more of a reference book then something you can read from cover to cover.
Yes you can!
Quote:
If you want a full account of the revolution, check out Voline's book 'The Unknown Revolution'. It really is great. One of the most enjoyable books ofr non-fiction i've ever read. Edge of your seat type stuff. (Jesus did i just type that).
I didn't think much of it tbh. Altho, that's probably largely down to Volin having fucking awful politics.
Oh, and definatly agree on Maximov, can't believe I forgot that.
Dec 29 2005 13:20
#16
Jack wrote:
I didn't think much of it tbh. Altho, that's probably largely down to Volin having fucking awful politics.
I think his life is pretty fucking cool, but certainly I can't agree on his synthesist approach, at all. Maybe I can see wheere he's coming from, I just think it's plain wrong. Never read the Unknown Revolution incidentally but from the extracts it seems like a must-read, highly inspirational and what's more Voline analyses the situation to provide future anarchists with ideas on how to surpass past mistakes and strengthen past victories.
Jan 2 2006 12:57
#17
Hi Harris,
I've just thought, if you want a clear introduction to Marx that can be read casually in a week or so (or even a couple of nights), then Jonathan Wolff's Why Read Marx Today? is good. It hardly deals with the more difficult stuff, but might get people interested, and move beyond some caricatures.
Jan 3 2006 15:43
#18
I'd recommend one main book- one no, many yes's, by Paul Kingsnorth. Its a really interesting read that covers 8 major social events around the World, like the EZLN uprising, the MST in Brazil, Genoa 2001, the 'church of stop buying' etc. What makes it a good read, especially for beginners, is that he visits all the people he talks about- its not just a dry study of them, he has been on their demos, stalls, debated with them etc, and also he writes in a readerfriendly and jargon-free way. I'd recommend it.
If you want more ideologically based stuff i'd say just look online. Either for PDF mags/books or articles or even weboards. If you are looking for more solid material, try some Marx- or for an easier read an introduction to Marxism, that covers all his work in a simple and modern language style (and gets rid of all the hassle of picking through hundreds of years old debates Marx had with others that often filled much of his writing). Also some stuff by Chomsky, preferibly a wider introduction to his work- as alot of it is more narrowly focused on specific issues. A good, but pretty big, Chomsky book is Understanding Power: the indespensible Chomsky, a bargain at £11 and roughly 500plus pages.
Also i'd say find out what each individual likes, or where their interests lie. So for example if one person has an interest in a specific era, country, group, movement etc show them books on this, or even websites.
The most important think I think is to keep people interested. Reading the 'classical' anarchist/ communist works of Goldman, Marx/Engels, Prodhoun, Baukin etc is good, and necessary, but it can be offputting to people new to politics. People want stuff that relates to them, stuff that interests them, ties in with their interests etc.
Hmmm I'll have a think... there's gotta be some Chomsky in there. Maybe Understanding Power or Manufacturing Consent... Zinn's People's History of the United States might be good (it's a fucking excellent book)