Scan barcode
evan_streeby's review against another edition
5.0
By far the most palatable and exciting work on socialism I’ve read so far. Engels essentially spells out, with shocking succinctness relative to most Marxist writers, the ills of society in his time, with clear analysis of our current era of capitalism as well.
There still remains to be a really accessible socialist text out there, one that isn’t bogged down with an assumption of philosophical education, but this one is fairly close.
I recommend it to anyone wanting to begin reading Marx
There still remains to be a really accessible socialist text out there, one that isn’t bogged down with an assumption of philosophical education, but this one is fairly close.
I recommend it to anyone wanting to begin reading Marx
bootman's review against another edition
5.0
The first part of the book was a bit boring and didn’t really seem to fit, but overall, this is a fantastic book. This was the first Engels book I’ve read, and I loved it. Usually, older philosophers go way over my head, but I was surprised at how well Engels writes for the average person.
pagesofeliza's review against another edition
4.0
4.5 stars // eng 287 capitalism and literature
honestly this is a better introduction to marxist thought and socialism in general than the communist manifesto, and i credit that largely to the fact that engels is an AMAZING writer and an even better explainer. i cant say i wasn’t absolutely exhausted reading this, but engels knows how to get a point across, and i feel like if this were spread as widely as the CM, people might have a better grasp of socialism.
honestly this is a better introduction to marxist thought and socialism in general than the communist manifesto, and i credit that largely to the fact that engels is an AMAZING writer and an even better explainer. i cant say i wasn’t absolutely exhausted reading this, but engels knows how to get a point across, and i feel like if this were spread as widely as the CM, people might have a better grasp of socialism.
exhuman's review against another edition
3.0
"It is the compelling force of anarchy in the production of society at large that more and more completely turns the great majority of men into proletarians; and it is the masses of the proletariat again who will finally put an end to anarchy in production."
katelynashford's review against another edition
5.0
THIS is the book that should be everyone's introduction to socialism/Marxist philosophy; so much that took years for me to learn is outlined in just 80 pages. Thanks Mr. Engels.
ggross's review against another edition
5.0
Still trying to wrap my head around Dialectical Materialism. Still, this book is great at looking at the evolution of socialism from utopian to scientific. And how dialectical materialism and historical materialism allow us to get there. How dialectal materialism and historical materialism allow us to study and analyze capitalism and it's principle contradictions which leads us to scientific socialism.
gwf_hegel's review against another edition
5.0
technically a 4.5/5 but i’ll round up.
the intro and first chapter are quite different to what i expected but do serve as a good introduction to materialism, how it contrasts to idealism, and it’s importance to socialism.
chapter 2 is pretty superfluous and perhaps unnecessary, but maybe i only think that because i couldn’t be bothered to try and understand it.
chapter 3 is just one massive, overflowing slay. goated chat after goated chat. scientific and incisive while remaining entertaining and flamboyant at times. the last three or four pages reach quite incredible heights.
the intro and first chapter are quite different to what i expected but do serve as a good introduction to materialism, how it contrasts to idealism, and it’s importance to socialism.
chapter 2 is pretty superfluous and perhaps unnecessary, but maybe i only think that because i couldn’t be bothered to try and understand it.
chapter 3 is just one massive, overflowing slay. goated chat after goated chat. scientific and incisive while remaining entertaining and flamboyant at times. the last three or four pages reach quite incredible heights.