Scan barcode
dipescara's review against another edition
4.0
Very very good. I realize this is meant as a basic primer but i felt there was room for more depth on how things might actually function under a socialist regime.
koreilly's review against another edition
4.0
The 2016 election and it's disgusting processes and results led many people to look around and say "there's got to be something better than this" and lo, Jacobin sprung from the shadows to present a handy little guidebook to a nice little ideology called Socialism.
You don't have to agree with everything in this book and it obviously won't answer every single question you have about how a socialist society would be implemented but it does a cracker jack job of giving the basics (or ABC's if you will) of what Socialism is, it's beliefs and why it is what it is.
At times it was a bit head in the clouds idealistic for me but it is a book about a dream for a better society, so you can't really fault it for that. Still, rise up my fellow workers and seize the means of learning about socialism from this handy little notebook.
Other random con; I hated the shape of the book. It was too easily warped by basic reading. Cute illustrations though.
You don't have to agree with everything in this book and it obviously won't answer every single question you have about how a socialist society would be implemented but it does a cracker jack job of giving the basics (or ABC's if you will) of what Socialism is, it's beliefs and why it is what it is.
At times it was a bit head in the clouds idealistic for me but it is a book about a dream for a better society, so you can't really fault it for that. Still, rise up my fellow workers and seize the means of learning about socialism from this handy little notebook.
Other random con; I hated the shape of the book. It was too easily warped by basic reading. Cute illustrations though.
reverendpear's review against another edition
5.0
Genuinely a great 101-type text, in my opinion. If you really are brand new to this type of discussion though, I'd actually recommend starting with chapter 2, and then doing chapter 1 after reading a few other chapters. Chapter 2 just seems like a better starting point for someone who's relatively unfamiliar with the topics at hand, to me at least.
dreevesss's review against another edition
5.0
I’ve been reading this book on and off for over a year—an article here and there whenever I feel like it. It’s a great primer on what socialism actually is, and I wish I could gift it to several people, and I wish even more that they would actually read it (but they won’t). Anyway, if you are interested in socialism, this is a great place to start.
Five stars because it is perfect for its purpose as an introduction/FAQ.
Five stars because it is perfect for its purpose as an introduction/FAQ.
meringued's review against another edition
A good introduction to the concept of democratic socialism. I'm still not sure I think everything presented here is feasible, but that just makes me excited to read more of the articles and books suggested in this.
bedhead139's review against another edition
challenging
informative
inspiring
reflective
tense
slow-paced
4.0
Great for beginners who don't have much idea of socialism outside (often inaccurate) mainstream portrayal. Genuine breaks down and explains important arguments surrounding the topic and easy-to-digest chunks.
navyachintaman's review against another edition
3.0
I thoroughly enjoyed the book, and it does a great job at doing what it says it will: It provides a solid grasp of the basics of socialism. However, it left me with more questions than answers, which I can only find answers to through further reading. I think some of the questions I have should have been anticipated and addressed in the book since they follow a pretty logical train of thought with the book's discussion and are common questions asked when discussing socialism. Therefore, my only real complaint is that the book feels a little TOO introductory.
I also will note that, even though the authors say repeatedly that socialism isn't ideal, the discussion of socialism in this book, oftentimes, seemed a little too focused on how revolutionary and wonderful it is, and it's clear to note that EVERY political system has flaws. Towards the end, I wish the book delved a little further into specifics of what socialist life was like under the Russian Revolution, noting what exactly some of these flaws were and how society developed in spite of them.
I also will note that, even though the authors say repeatedly that socialism isn't ideal, the discussion of socialism in this book, oftentimes, seemed a little too focused on how revolutionary and wonderful it is, and it's clear to note that EVERY political system has flaws. Towards the end, I wish the book delved a little further into specifics of what socialist life was like under the Russian Revolution, noting what exactly some of these flaws were and how society developed in spite of them.
dawsonthehughes's review against another edition
5.0
This was a fun little book. It is more of a FAQ’s of Socialism rather than the ABC’s, but that isn’t as catchy
colin_cox's review against another edition
4.0
I like this volume because it delivers what it promises: a brief, accessible introduction to socialism and socialist thought. With its emphasis on workers and the rights of workers, The ABCs of Socialism pivots off the enthusiasm of the Bernie Sanders 2016 presidential campaign. This is not meant to sound like a criticism. If anything, the Sanders campaign illuminated the value of and zeal for a particular variation of socialism, while also dispelling a popular narrative about this country's antagonism toward socialist thought. To its credit, this is also what The ABCs of Socialism does so well.