A helpful insight into the mind of a Communist/Marxist, 14 Oct 2008
Although only 40 pages long, you get an insight into the way that both Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels felt about the world they lived in and how it could change for the greater good (in their opinion anyway). I do encourage anyone with even a minor interest in European politics, to give this book a try.

Even though I was fascinated by the two authors ideology (Ultimately, the hope that a Proletariat will rise to conquer the all-oppressing Bourgeoise, in every country) I do feel that they did not make clear any kind of policies that they would enforce after they took power. All it seems is that they want to get the oppressers out, but after that they don't seem to know what they want to do (despite destroying any kind of private property and attempting to establish an equalised economy, which is mentioned countless times within the Manifesto). This failure to think of anything else may be one of the reasons why Communism failed so miserably in Europe.

Don't get me wrong, I feel that the theory of Communism is the greatest piece of political thought. It's just that when it is put not practive, it all goes horribly wrong. Communists (including Marx and Engels) seem to feel that everyone will just see that their ideology is the best, agree with them and allow them to do whatever they like. Marx and Engels fail to comprehend that not all humans think and feel about the world like they do, when people reach the top, they are corrupted by power and then their greed is all they care about (take Joseph Stalin as an example). It does seem that the authors are hoping for a bit much. I also found it funny near the end when they spoke of the "imminent" Proletariat uprising in Germany and that Communists should mainly focus on that country so that it could be taken from the Bourgeoise, when not even 100 years later we all know who was in charge of Germany. Definately not a friend of the Proletariat.

Overall, I found it to be a fascinating read, and credit to the well thought out introduction, which gave more imformation on the origins of Communism and the backgrounds of Marx and Engels. I recommend this book to everyone.


The introduction alone is worth your money, 01 Aug 2008
I will leave others to debate the relative merits of the actual Manifesto and say a couple of words about the introduction because the product distinction - criminally - doesn't seem to mention it. Gareth Stedman-Jones' introduction is a book in itself, longer than the Manifesto and an excellent and absolutely compelling introduction to the intellectual and historical context. By framing the intellectual debates of the Young Hegelians and others in a rich historical narrative Stedman-Jones makes them positively fascinating! He tells the story of the life of the young Karl Marx and describes his interactions with the intellectuals of the time, showing that Marx borrowed pretty much every element of his early (more philsophical) work from those around him but that his particular genius was to combine them all in such original formations. He even throws in a bit of completely original research about why Marx shied away from making his call for socialism a moral imperative (it was radical egoist Stirner's influence apparently). Its a hell of a lot of knowledge crammed into a very small space in a fascinating and readable manner and will double your appreciation and understanding of the Manifesto itself. All in all: if your trying to work out which edition to buy - get this one for the intro!

The Communist Manifesto - still relevent, 30 Jul 2008
After the Berlin wall fell, the so-called "communism" that "Marx envisioned" fell with it. Or so we are told. In actuality the class struggle that Marx wrote about in this booklet is still alive and kicking. The proletariat is still, according to Mr. Marx, destined to overthrow the bourgeoisie, fulfilling its' historical role. But we are told "No"; capitalism is the answer to all our problems now, it offers us democracy and freedom. Nothing could be father from the truth. In fact, capitalism doesn't work at all for the majority of the world's people: it is a grotesque caricature of freedom that Marx understood exactly. The victory of the individual comes with the destruction, the mass overthrow of capitalism. Do not let the likes of Firedman and others fool you. Serfdom already exists; the Soviet Union and others were just as fake as capitalism, and, as Marx pointed out "The emancipation of the working class must be an act of the working class".

This is not a manifesto like the Labour Part has a manifesto. It is a philosophical document that is invaluable to the labout movement and to working people worldwide.

Future prospects, 28 May 2008
Read this in context and as of its time. It's a Manifesto, just as Labour or the Conservarives or George Bush put out party manifestos at each election (or at least they did when they at least pretended to have policies and an idiology that went beyong simply making the world safe for the rich to get richer).

It's an election leaflet, party rallying call and outline of policies all in one. And what is the message? You poor take courage, you rich take heed...the World Turned Upside Down (where the rich and powerful become equal to the rest of us) is dawning. As a Socialist Party member that is this reviewers life work.



This edition has the greatest literary introduction ever, 16 Sep 2007
Greatest explanatory introduction ever, in fact could be as important or good as the book itself, really does Engels justice.

A helpful insight into the mind of a Communist/Marxist, 14 Oct 2008
Although only 40 pages long, you get an insight into the way that both Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels felt about the world they lived in and how it could change for the greater good (in their opinion anyway). I do encourage anyone with even a minor interest in European politics, to give this book a try.

Even though I was fascinated by the two authors ideology (Ultimately, the hope that a Proletariat will rise to conquer the all-oppressing Bourgeoise, in every country) I do feel that they did not make clear any kind of policies that they would enforce after they took power. All it seems is that they want to get the oppressers out, but after that they don't seem to know what they want to do (despite destroying any kind of private property and attempting to establish an equalised economy, which is mentioned countless times within the Manifesto). This failure to think of anything else may be one of the reasons why Communism failed so miserably in Europe.

Don't get me wrong, I feel that the theory of Communism is the greatest piece of political thought. It's just that when it is put not practive, it all goes horribly wrong. Communists (including Marx and Engels) seem to feel that everyone will just see that their ideology is the best, agree with them and allow them to do whatever they like. Marx and Engels fail to comprehend that not all humans think and feel about the world like they do, when people reach the top, they are corrupted by power and then their greed is all they care about (take Joseph Stalin as an example). It does seem that the authors are hoping for a bit much. I also found it funny near the end when they spoke of the "imminent" Proletariat uprising in Germany and that Communists should mainly focus on that country so that it could be taken from the Bourgeoise, when not even 100 years later we all know who was in charge of Germany. Definately not a friend of the Proletariat.

Overall, I found it to be a fascinating read, and credit to the well thought out introduction, which gave more imformation on the origins of Communism and the backgrounds of Marx and Engels. I recommend this book to everyone.


The introduction alone is worth your money, 01 Aug 2008
I will leave others to debate the relative merits of the actual Manifesto and say a couple of words about the introduction because the product distinction - criminally - doesn't seem to mention it. Gareth Stedman-Jones' introduction is a book in itself, longer than the Manifesto and an excellent and absolutely compelling introduction to the intellectual and historical context. By framing the intellectual debates of the Young Hegelians and others in a rich historical narrative Stedman-Jones makes them positively fascinating! He tells the story of the life of the young Karl Marx and describes his interactions with the intellectuals of the time, showing that Marx borrowed pretty much every element of his early (more philsophical) work from those around him but that his particular genius was to combine them all in such original formations. He even throws in a bit of completely original research about why Marx shied away from making his call for socialism a moral imperative (it was radical egoist Stirner's influence apparently). Its a hell of a lot of knowledge crammed into a very small space in a fascinating and readable manner and will double your appreciation and understanding of the Manifesto itself. All in all: if your trying to work out which edition to buy - get this one for the intro!

The Communist Manifesto - still relevent, 30 Jul 2008
After the Berlin wall fell, the so-called "communism" that "Marx envisioned" fell with it. Or so we are told. In actuality the class struggle that Marx wrote about in this booklet is still alive and kicking. The proletariat is still, according to Mr. Marx, destined to overthrow the bourgeoisie, fulfilling its' historical role. But we are told "No"; capitalism is the answer to all our problems now, it offers us democracy and freedom. Nothing could be father from the truth. In fact, capitalism doesn't work at all for the majority of the world's people: it is a grotesque caricature of freedom that Marx understood exactly. The victory of the individual comes with the destruction, the mass overthrow of capitalism. Do not let the likes of Firedman and others fool you. Serfdom already exists; the Soviet Union and others were just as fake as capitalism, and, as Marx pointed out "The emancipation of the working class must be an act of the working class".

This is not a manifesto like the Labour Part has a manifesto. It is a philosophical document that is invaluable to the labout movement and to working people worldwide.

Future prospects, 28 May 2008
Read this in context and as of its time. It's a Manifesto, just as Labour or the Conservarives or George Bush put out party manifestos at each election (or at least they did when they at least pretended to have policies and an idiology that went beyong simply making the world safe for the rich to get richer).

It's an election leaflet, party rallying call and outline of policies all in one. And what is the message? You poor take courage, you rich take heed...the World Turned Upside Down (where the rich and powerful become equal to the rest of us) is dawning. As a Socialist Party member that is this reviewers life work.



This edition has the greatest literary introduction ever, 16 Sep 2007
Greatest explanatory introduction ever, in fact could be as important or good as the book itself, really does Engels justice.

Good overview, 15 Nov 2008
This is good basic introduction to the works of Karl Marx.

Marx's ideas range across the disciplines of economics, history, philosophy and sociology and a book of this nature can only give a basic introduction to some of the main ideas. Even scholars on the subject are uncertain of his exact postion on many topics as his ideas developed over the years and some of his writings (like those of Hegel and other German thinkers) are very obscure.

I must admit that I am no fan of Marx and tend to regard his ideas as completely wrong both intellectually and morally.

Excellent if you are a beginner, 02 Feb 2006
If you don't know anything, or know very little about Marx and his ideas and you need to brush up but don't have the time to sit for hours in a library, then get this book. I am a complete beginner with Marx, I had heard of him but knew nothing about his ideas. I had to acquire this knowledge in a very short space of time for an essay that I was writing for my Masters. This book was perfect, just enough information to give me the basics without getting to indepth AND in an easy to read format.

It covers events in his life as well as his main achievements and ideas.

This book makes no assumptions that you know anythign about Marxism so it is very easy to follow whilst avoiding being patronising or school bookish. In fact the Very Short Introduction series are actually written by very eminent scholars in the field so it by no means superficial or textbook material.

This is an excellent introduction to Marxism, it will give you the basics and will help you identify areas of further reading or study if you are so inclined. If you need an indepth, detailed look at his ideas/theories/life, then this isn't the book for you.

A short intro, 06 Nov 2003
This book is a very short introduction to Marx's ideologies. It does briefly explore the influences on Marx such as Hegelian philosophy and Engel's contribution. The main text deals with the formation of Marxist theories, their change through time in Marx's writings and the main thrust of their opinion. This book is particularly useful for those who find KAPITAL hard going at first - it acts as a nice intro to some of the heavier economic stuff in Marx's own writings.

A helpful insight into the mind of a Communist/Marxist, 14 Oct 2008
Although only 40 pages long, you get an insight into the way that both Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels felt about the world they lived in and how it could change for the greater good (in their opinion anyway). I do encourage anyone with even a minor interest in European politics, to give this book a try.

Even though I was fascinated by the two authors ideology (Ultimately, the hope that a Proletariat will rise to conquer the all-oppressing Bourgeoise, in every country) I do feel that they did not make clear any kind of policies that they would enforce after they took power. All it seems is that they want to get the oppressers out, but after that they don't seem to know what they want to do (despite destroying any kind of private property and attempting to establish an equalised economy, which is mentioned countless times within the Manifesto). This failure to think of anything else may be one of the reasons why Communism failed so miserably in Europe.

Don't get me wrong, I feel that the theory of Communism is the greatest piece of political thought. It's just that when it is put not practive, it all goes horribly wrong. Communists (including Marx and Engels) seem to feel that everyone will just see that their ideology is the best, agree with them and allow them to do whatever they like. Marx and Engels fail to comprehend that not all humans think and feel about the world like they do, when people reach the top, they are corrupted by power and then their greed is all they care about (take Joseph Stalin as an example). It does seem that the authors are hoping for a bit much. I also found it funny near the end when they spoke of the "imminent" Proletariat uprising in Germany and that Communists should mainly focus on that country so that it could be taken from the Bourgeoise, when not even 100 years later we all know who was in charge of Germany. Definately not a friend of the Proletariat.

Overall, I found it to be a fascinating read, and credit to the well thought out introduction, which gave more imformation on the origins of Communism and the backgrounds of Marx and Engels. I recommend this book to everyone.


The introduction alone is worth your money, 01 Aug 2008
I will leave others to debate the relative merits of the actual Manifesto and say a couple of words about the introduction because the product distinction - criminally - doesn't seem to mention it. Gareth Stedman-Jones' introduction is a book in itself, longer than the Manifesto and an excellent and absolutely compelling introduction to the intellectual and historical context. By framing the intellectual debates of the Young Hegelians and others in a rich historical narrative Stedman-Jones makes them positively fascinating! He tells the story of the life of the young Karl Marx and describes his interactions with the intellectuals of the time, showing that Marx borrowed pretty much every element of his early (more philsophical) work from those around him but that his particular genius was to combine them all in such original formations. He even throws in a bit of completely original research about why Marx shied away from making his call for socialism a moral imperative (it was radical egoist Stirner's influence apparently). Its a hell of a lot of knowledge crammed into a very small space in a fascinating and readable manner and will double your appreciation and understanding of the Manifesto itself. All in all: if your trying to work out which edition to buy - get this one for the intro!

The Communist Manifesto - still relevent, 30 Jul 2008
After the Berlin wall fell, the so-called "communism" that "Marx envisioned" fell with it. Or so we are told. In actuality the class struggle that Marx wrote about in this booklet is still alive and kicking. The proletariat is still, according to Mr. Marx, destined to overthrow the bourgeoisie, fulfilling its' historical role. But we are told "No"; capitalism is the answer to all our problems now, it offers us democracy and freedom. Nothing could be father from the truth. In fact, capitalism doesn't work at all for the majority of the world's people: it is a grotesque caricature of freedom that Marx understood exactly. The victory of the individual comes with the destruction, the mass overthrow of capitalism. Do not let the likes of Firedman and others fool you. Serfdom already exists; the Soviet Union and others were just as fake as capitalism, and, as Marx pointed out "The emancipation of the working class must be an act of the working class".

This is not a manifesto like the Labour Part has a manifesto. It is a philosophical document that is invaluable to the labout movement and to working people worldwide.

Future prospects, 28 May 2008
Read this in context and as of its time. It's a Manifesto, just as Labour or the Conservarives or George Bush put out party manifestos at each election (or at least they did when they at least pretended to have policies and an idiology that went beyong simply making the world safe for the rich to get richer).

It's an election leaflet, party rallying call and outline of policies all in one. And what is the message? You poor take courage, you rich take heed...the World Turned Upside Down (where the rich and powerful become equal to the rest of us) is dawning. As a Socialist Party member that is this reviewers life work.



This edition has the greatest literary introduction ever, 16 Sep 2007
Greatest explanatory introduction ever, in fact could be as important or good as the book itself, really does Engels justice.

Good overview, 15 Nov 2008
This is good basic introduction to the works of Karl Marx.

Marx's ideas range across the disciplines of economics, history, philosophy and sociology and a book of this nature can only give a basic introduction to some of the main ideas. Even scholars on the subject are uncertain of his exact postion on many topics as his ideas developed over the years and some of his writings (like those of Hegel and other German thinkers) are very obscure.

I must admit that I am no fan of Marx and tend to regard his ideas as completely wrong both intellectually and morally.

Excellent if you are a beginner, 02 Feb 2006
If you don't know anything, or know very little about Marx and his ideas and you need to brush up but don't have the time to sit for hours in a library, then get this book. I am a complete beginner with Marx, I had heard of him but knew nothing about his ideas. I had to acquire this knowledge in a very short space of time for an essay that I was writing for my Masters. This book was perfect, just enough information to give me the basics without getting to indepth AND in an easy to read format.

It covers events in his life as well as his main achievements and ideas.

This book makes no assumptions that you know anythign about Marxism so it is very easy to follow whilst avoiding being patronising or school bookish. In fact the Very Short Introduction series are actually written by very eminent scholars in the field so it by no means superficial or textbook material.

This is an excellent introduction to Marxism, it will give you the basics and will help you identify areas of further reading or study if you are so inclined. If you need an indepth, detailed look at his ideas/theories/life, then this isn't the book for you.

A short intro, 06 Nov 2003
This book is a very short introduction to Marx's ideologies. It does briefly explore the influences on Marx such as Hegelian philosophy and Engel's contribution. The main text deals with the formation of Marxist theories, their change through time in Marx's writings and the main thrust of their opinion. This book is particularly useful for those who find KAPITAL hard going at first - it acts as a nice intro to some of the heavier economic stuff in Marx's own writings.

Classic doesn't really do it justice, 05 Sep 2008
Much has obviously been said of this work! Humanist-Marxists say it is too mechanistic whilst analytic Marxists try to ignore the Dickensian passages which describe working conditions. In truth this book, in true Marxian style is the 'dialectical' synthesis of basically all that went before. Marx forswears many of the grinding debates with other intellectuals and revolutionaries of the time in favour of a 'capitalism for dummies style'. Your hand is held as you progress from simple 'laws', each of which is taken to the limit of its logic before the next idea is broached.

In fact what is striking is how pertinent this book is even today. Granted things have moved on, and it is no longer 'grim up north' but even a quick consideration makes one realise how our service-industry-fueled economy still holds to most of the same processes as Marx noted all those years ago. Beaudrillard claimed Marx was superseded because consumption has now trumped production, but a read of Capital and a bit of thought soon puts that idea to rest.

It is worth ignoring the suggestions that The German Ideology is a good introduction to Marx, or that Capital is some advanced monolith. It is large, but completely readable; just as readable as Manifesto, only longer. Despite spawning abstruse French theorists, Russian and Chinese revolutions and analysis second only in quantity to the Bible there is nothing to be intimidated about.

A helpful insight into the mind of a Communist/Marxist, 14 Oct 2008
Although only 40 pages long, you get an insight into the way that both Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels felt about the world they lived in and how it could change for the greater good (in their opinion anyway). I do encourage anyone with even a minor interest in European politics, to give this book a try.

Even though I was fascinated by the two authors ideology (Ultimately, the hope that a Proletariat will rise to conquer the all-oppressing Bourgeoise, in every country) I do feel that they did not make clear any kind of policies that they would enforce after they took power. All it seems is that they want to get the oppressers out, but after that they don't seem to know what they want to do (despite destroying any kind of private property and attempting to establish an equalised economy, which is mentioned countless times within the Manifesto). This failure to think of anything else may be one of the reasons why Communism failed so miserably in Europe.

Don't get me wrong, I feel that the theory of Communism is the greatest piece of political thought. It's just that when it is put not practive, it all goes horribly wrong. Communists (including Marx and Engels) seem to feel that everyone will just see that their ideology is the best, agree with them and allow them to do whatever they like. Marx and Engels fail to comprehend that not all humans think and feel about the world like they do, when people reach the top, they are corrupted by power and then their greed is all they care about (take Joseph Stalin as an example). It does seem that the authors are hoping for a bit much. I also found it funny near the end when they spoke of the "imminent" Proletariat uprising in Germany and that Communists should mainly focus on that country so that it could be taken from the Bourgeoise, when not even 100 years later we all know who was in charge of Germany. Definately not a friend of the Proletariat.

Overall, I found it to be a fascinating read, and credit to the well thought out introduction, which gave more imformation on the origins of Communism and the backgrounds of Marx and Engels. I recommend this book to everyone.


The introduction alone is worth your money, 01 Aug 2008
I will leave others to debate the relative merits of the actual Manifesto and say a couple of words about the introduction because the product distinction - criminally - doesn't seem to mention it. Gareth Stedman-Jones' introduction is a book in itself, longer than the Manifesto and an excellent and absolutely compelling introduction to the intellectual and historical context. By framing the intellectual debates of the Young Hegelians and others in a rich historical narrative Stedman-Jones makes them positively fascinating! He tells the story of the life of the young Karl Marx and describes his interactions with the intellectuals of the time, showing that Marx borrowed pretty much every element of his early (more philsophical) work from those around him but that his particular genius was to combine them all in such original formations. He even throws in a bit of completely original research about why Marx shied away from making his call for socialism a moral imperative (it was radical egoist Stirner's influence apparently). Its a hell of a lot of knowledge crammed into a very small space in a fascinating and readable manner and will double your appreciation and understanding of the Manifesto itself. All in all: if your trying to work out which edition to buy - get this one for the intro!

The Communist Manifesto - still relevent, 30 Jul 2008
After the Berlin wall fell, the so-called "communism" that "Marx envisioned" fell with it. Or so we are told. In actuality the class struggle that Marx wrote about in this booklet is still alive and kicking. The proletariat is still, according to Mr. Marx, destined to overthrow the bourgeoisie, fulfilling its' historical role. But we are told "No"; capitalism is the answer to all our problems now, it offers us democracy and freedom. Nothing could be father from the truth. In fact, capitalism doesn't work at all for the majority of the world's people: it is a grotesque caricature of freedom that Marx understood exactly. The victory of the individual comes with the destruction, the mass overthrow of capitalism. Do not let the likes of Firedman and others fool you. Serfdom already exists; the Soviet Union and others were just as fake as capitalism, and, as Marx pointed out "The emancipation of the working class must be an act of the working class".

This is not a manifesto like the Labour Part has a manifesto. It is a philosophical document that is invaluable to the labout movement and to working people worldwide.

Future prospects, 28 May 2008
Read this in context and as of its time. It's a Manifesto, just as Labour or the Conservarives or George Bush put out party manifestos at each election (or at least they did when they at least pretended to have policies and an idiology that went beyong simply making the world safe for the rich to get richer).

It's an election leaflet, party rallying call and outline of policies all in one. And what is the message? You poor take courage, you rich take heed...the World Turned Upside Down (where the rich and powerful become equal to the rest of us) is dawning. As a Socialist Party member that is this reviewers life work.



This edition has the greatest literary introduction ever, 16 Sep 2007
Greatest explanatory introduction ever, in fact could be as important or good as the book itself, really does Engels justice.

Good overview, 15 Nov 2008
This is good basic introduction to the works of Karl Marx.

Marx's ideas range across the disciplines of economics, history, philosophy and sociology and a book of this nature can only give a basic introduction to some of the main ideas. Even scholars on the subject are uncertain of his exact postion on many topics as his ideas developed over the years and some of his writings (like those of Hegel and other German thinkers) are very obscure.

I must admit that I am no fan of Marx and tend to regard his ideas as completely wrong both intellectually and morally.

Excellent if you are a beginner, 02 Feb 2006
If you don't know anything, or know very little about Marx and his ideas and you need to brush up but don't have the time to sit for hours in a library, then get this book. I am a complete beginner with Marx, I had heard of him but knew nothing about his ideas. I had to acquire this knowledge in a very short space of time for an essay that I was writing for my Masters. This book was perfect, just enough information to give me the basics without getting to indepth AND in an easy to read format.

It covers events in his life as well as his main achievements and ideas.

This book makes no assumptions that you know anythign about Marxism so it is very easy to follow whilst avoiding being patronising or school bookish. In fact the Very Short Introduction series are actually written by very eminent scholars in the field so it by no means superficial or textbook material.

This is an excellent introduction to Marxism, it will give you the basics and will help you identify areas of further reading or study if you are so inclined. If you need an indepth, detailed look at his ideas/theories/life, then this isn't the book for you.

A short intro, 06 Nov 2003
This book is a very short introduction to Marx's ideologies. It does briefly explore the influences on Marx such as Hegelian philosophy and Engel's contribution. The main text deals with the formation of Marxist theories, their change through time in Marx's writings and the main thrust of their opinion. This book is particularly useful for those who find KAPITAL hard going at first - it acts as a nice intro to some of the heavier economic stuff in Marx's own writings.

Classic doesn't really do it justice, 05 Sep 2008
Much has obviously been said of this work! Humanist-Marxists say it is too mechanistic whilst analytic Marxists try to ignore the Dickensian passages which describe working conditions. In truth this book, in true Marxian style is the 'dialectical' synthesis of basically all that went before. Marx forswears many of the grinding debates with other intellectuals and revolutionaries of the time in favour of a 'capitalism for dummies style'. Your hand is held as you progress from simple 'laws', each of which is taken to the limit of its logic before the next idea is broached.

In fact what is striking is how pertinent this book is even today. Granted things have moved on, and it is no longer 'grim up north' but even a quick consideration makes one realise how our service-industry-fueled economy still holds to most of the same processes as Marx noted all those years ago. Beaudrillard claimed Marx was superseded because consumption has now trumped production, but a read of Capital and a bit of thought soon puts that idea to rest.

It is worth ignoring the suggestions that The German Ideology is a good introduction to Marx, or that Capital is some advanced monolith. It is large, but completely readable; just as readable as Manifesto, only longer. Despite spawning abstruse French theorists, Russian and Chinese revolutions and analysis second only in quantity to the Bible there is nothing to be intimidated about.

Cuba: A New History, 02 Nov 2008
'Cuba: A New History' is an excellent account of Cuban history up until this books publication in 2004. Gott manages to write in a completely engaging way and draws you in to the rich and diverse history of this amazing Caribbean island. This is in no way a dry and uninspiring read, but one that helps you immerse yourself in the history and developments over the years. From Spanish colonial rule, US intervention and soviet support, Cuba has managed to retain some remnant of it's own identity and this book shows this side perfectly. The first 100 pages (looking at Spanish Colonial rule and the slave trades to Cuba) were the hardest to engage with for me, but as soon as the revolution occurred and the book focused on the Castro government and all that it entails, I became hooked to this masterly text. The author doesn't seem overly biased one way or the other, although you can tell he has respect for this tiny island nation. He doesn't seem to be too sensationalist either, for example when Che Guevara dies it is noted in quite an understated way and not overly hyped to have a greater impact. Two minor flaws with this book are the tiny font which by the end had given me serious eye strain, why academic texts insist on using this size font I'll never know. And the other flaw is a distinct lack of decent photography to add to the package. There are a few pages of grey photos in the middle, but not on good quality paper, or especially relevant to the overall text, i've come to expect better from history books these days. These are minor flaws in what is a brilliant account of Cuban history which leaves you with some indication of what the future may hold as well. If Cuba interests you in the slightest, I'd seriously recommend you take a look at this book.

A good survey, but occasionally problematic, 17 Aug 2008
Cuba's history is vast and complex, and Gott does an admirable job in trying to make sense of it all. However, particularly in the first two and a half chapters, he struggles to maintain interest, and at times it can descend into what feels like a list of battles and names, with little overall coherence. Additionally, he constantly looks forward to the future, forseeing revolution 200 years before it happened. Such a teleological approach can be frustrating, and at times does lead to some inaccurate comparisons between historical figures and Raul, Fidel and Che.

However, in the more modern chapters, Gott does a fantastic job of providing a fair-minded review of Cuba's history. His analysis of the 20th century, and particularly the survey of Cuban-American relations, is detailed and wonderfully written. He makes sense of a complex subject, and provides an account which gives a strong sense of impartiality and intellectual analysis, free from moral critique of either side. For the later chapters, Gott really gets into his stride, and the book is very much worth reading for this analysis alone. Struggle through the first couple of dry chapters and you will discover a rich, well-written history.

AN EXCELLENT SURVEY, 19 Nov 2004
This book should be read by everyone interested in Cuba, in Fidel Castro, and in a nation whose history goes back far earlier than its modern manifestation. Richard Gott has brought a lifetime of expertise to the task, and writes, as in all his books, with wit and wisdom. He has an enviable eye for fascinating, and telling detail, and he unravels history's "granny knots" with unerring skill.

Useful account of Cuba's long struggle for sovereignty, 19 Nov 2004
Richard Gott is a British journalist and historian with many years' experience of covering Latin America. He has written a very useful book on Cuba's long struggle for national independence and sovereignty. The first third of the book examines the Cuban people's struggle against Spanish occupation from the 16th to the 19th centuries. The rest of the book looks at Cuba's 20th century struggle against the US empire.

The USA intervened militarily in Cuba in 1906-09, 1912, 1917-23 and 1961, always on the pretexts of establishing democracy and order. In 1902 the US state imposed the Platt Amendment on Cuba. Its seventh paragraph gave the USA the 'right' to establish permanent military bases on Cuba. It was repealed in 1934, but the dictator Batista signed a new treaty allowing the USA to keep its huge military base at Guantanamo Bay.

Gott shows how in 1959 the people defeated the US-backed dictator by relying on their own forces. He observes that the British and Yugoslavian governments armed Batista to the last moment.

Gott possibly devotes too little attention to the Cuban people's successes in developing their country. He notes, without exploring, Cuba's remarkable achievements in health and education and he fails to mention its pioneering pharmaceutical industry.

But he gives due prominence to Cuba's internationalism, particularly to its selfless military support to the Angolan people in 1988. Nelson Mandela later visited Havana to thank Fidel personally for Cuba's assistance in the struggle against apartheid. He said, "The decisive defeat of the racist army in Cuito Cuanavale was a victory for all Africa ... It made it possible for Angola to enjoy peace and establish its own sovereignty ... and for the people of Namibia to achieve their independence. The decisive defeat of the aggressive apartheid forces destroyed the myth of the invincibility of the white oppressor. The defeat of the apartheid army served as an inspiration to the struggling people of South Africa."

Cuba has a proud record of upholding workers' nationalism and of practical internationalism. Whatever foreign observers hope or fear, the Cuban people will never surrender their national independence and sovereignty.

A helpful insight into the mind of a Communist/Marxist, 14 Oct 2008
Although only 40 pages long, you get an insight into the way that both Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels felt about the world they lived in and how it could change for the greater good (in their opinion anyway). I do encourage anyone with even a minor interest in European politics, to give this book a try.

Even though I was fascinated by the two authors ideology (Ultimately, the hope that a Proletariat will rise to conquer the all-oppressing Bourgeoise, in every country) I do feel that they did not make clear any kind of policies that they would enforce after they took power. All it seems is that they want to get the oppressers out, but after that they don't seem to know what they want to do (despite destroying any kind of private property and attempting to establish an equalised economy, which is mentioned countless times within the Manifesto). This failure to think of anything else may be one of the reasons why Communism failed so miserably in Europe.

Don't get me wrong, I feel that the theory of Communism is the greatest piece of political thought. It's just that when it is put not practive, it all goes horribly wrong. Communists (including Marx and Engels) seem to feel that everyone will just see that their ideology is the best, agree with them and allow them to do whatever they like. Marx and Engels fail to comprehend that not all humans think and feel about the world like they do, when people reach the top, they are corrupted by power and then their greed is all they care about (take Joseph Stalin as an example). It does seem that the authors are hoping for a bit much. I also found it funny near the end when they spoke of the "imminent" Proletariat uprising in Germany and that Communists should mainly focus on that country so that it could be taken from the Bourgeoise, when not even 100 years later we all know who was in charge of Germany. Definately not a friend of the Proletariat.

Overall, I found it to be a fascinating read, and credit to the well thought out introduction, which gave more imformation on the origins of Communism and the backgrounds of Marx and Engels. I recommend this book to everyone.


The introduction alone is worth your money, 01 Aug 2008
I will leave others to debate the relative merits of the actual Manifesto and say a couple of words about the introduction because the product distinction - criminally - doesn't seem to mention it. Gareth Stedman-Jones' introduction is a book in itself, longer than the Manifesto and an excellent and absolutely compelling introduction to the intellectual and historical context. By framing the intellectual debates of the Young Hegelians and others in a rich historical narrative Stedman-Jones makes them positively fascinating! He tells the story of the life of the young Karl Marx and describes his interactions with the intellectuals of the time, showing that Marx borrowed pretty much every element of his early (more philsophical) work from those around him but that his particular genius was to combine them all in such original formations. He even throws in a bit of completely original research about why Marx shied away from making his call for socialism a moral imperative (it was radical egoist Stirner's influence apparently). Its a hell of a lot of knowledge crammed into a very small space in a fascinating and readable manner and will double your appreciation and understanding of the Manifesto itself. All in all: if your trying to work out which edition to buy - get this one for the intro!

The Communist Manifesto - still relevent, 30 Jul 2008
After the Berlin wall fell, the so-called "communism" that "Marx envisioned" fell with it. Or so we are told. In actuality the class struggle that Marx wrote about in this booklet is still alive and kicking. The proletariat is still, according to Mr. Marx, destined to overthrow the bourgeoisie, fulfilling its' historical role. But we are told "No"; capitalism is the answer to all our problems now, it offers us democracy and freedom. Nothing could be father from the truth. In fact, capitalism doesn't work at all for the majority of the world's people: it is a grotesque caricature of freedom that Marx understood exactly. The victory of the individual comes with the destruction, the mass overthrow of capitalism. Do not let the likes of Firedman and others fool you. Serfdom already exists; the Soviet Union and others were just as fake as capitalism, and, as Marx pointed out "The emancipation of the working class must be an act of the working class".

This is not a manifesto like the Labour Part has a manifesto. It is a philosophical document that is invaluable to the labout movement and to working people worldwide.

Future prospects, 28 May 2008
Read this in context and as of its time. It's a Manifesto, just as Labour or the Conservarives or George Bush put out party manifestos at each election (or at least they did when they at least pretended to have policies and an idiology that went beyong simply making the world safe for the rich to get richer).

It's an election leaflet, party rallying call and outline of policies all in one. And what is the message? You poor take courage, you rich take heed...the World Turned Upside Down (where the rich and powerful become equal to the rest of us) is dawning. As a Socialist Party member that is this reviewers life work.



This edition has the greatest literary introduction ever, 16 Sep 2007
Greatest explanatory introduction ever, in fact could be as important or good as the book itself, really does Engels justice.

Good overview, 15 Nov 2008
This is good basic introduction to the works of Karl Marx.

Marx's ideas range across the disciplines of economics, history, philosophy and sociology and a book of this nature can only give a basic introduction to some of the main ideas. Even scholars on the subject are uncertain of his exact postion on many topics as his ideas developed over the years and some of his writings (like those of Hegel and other German thinkers) are very obscure.

I must admit that I am no fan of Marx and tend to regard his ideas as completely wrong both intellectually and morally.

Excellent if you are a beginner, 02 Feb 2006
If you don't know anything, or know very little about Marx and his ideas and you need to brush up but don't have the time to sit for hours in a library, then get this book. I am a complete beginner with Marx, I had heard of him but knew nothing about his ideas. I had to acquire this knowledge in a very short space of time for an essay that I was writing for my Masters. This book was perfect, just enough information to give me the basics without getting to indepth AND in an easy to read format.

It covers events in his life as well as his main achievements and ideas.

This book makes no assumptions that you know anythign about Marxism so it is very easy to follow whilst avoiding being patronising or school bookish. In fact the Very Short Introduction series are actually written by very eminent scholars in the field so it by no means superficial or textbook material.

This is an excellent introduction to Marxism, it will give you the basics and will help you identify areas of further reading or study if you are so inclined. If you need an indepth, detailed look at his ideas/theories/life, then this isn't the book for you.

A short intro, 06 Nov 2003
This book is a very short introduction to Marx's ideologies. It does briefly explore the influences on Marx such as Hegelian philosophy and Engel's contribution. The main text deals with the formation of Marxist theories, their change through time in Marx's writings and the main thrust of their opinion. This book is particularly useful for those who find KAPITAL hard going at first - it acts as a nice intro to some of the heavier economic stuff in Marx's own writings.

Classic doesn't really do it justice, 05 Sep 2008
Much has obviously been said of this work! Humanist-Marxists say it is too mechanistic whilst analytic Marxists try to ignore the Dickensian passages which describe working conditions. In truth this book, in true Marxian style is the 'dialectical' synthesis of basically all that went before. Marx forswears many of the grinding debates with other intellectuals and revolutionaries of the time in favour of a 'capitalism for dummies style'. Your hand is held as you progress from simple 'laws', each of which is taken to the limit of its logic before the next idea is broached.

In fact what is striking is how pertinent this book is even today. Granted things have moved on, and it is no longer 'grim up north' but even a quick consideration makes one realise how our service-industry-fueled economy still holds to most of the same processes as Marx noted all those years ago. Beaudrillard claimed Marx was superseded because consumption has now trumped production, but a read of Capital and a bit of thought soon puts that idea to rest.

It is worth ignoring the suggestions that The German Ideology is a good introduction to Marx, or that Capital is some advanced monolith. It is large, but completely readable; just as readable as Manifesto, only longer. Despite spawning abstruse French theorists, Russian and Chinese revolutions and analysis second only in quantity to the Bible there is nothing to be intimidated about.

Cuba: A New History, 02 Nov 2008
'Cuba: A New History' is an excellent account of Cuban history up until this books publication in 2004. Gott manages to write in a completely engaging way and draws you in to the rich and diverse history of this amazing Caribbean island. This is in no way a dry and uninspiring read, but one that helps you immerse yourself in the history and developments over the years. From Spanish colonial rule, US intervention and soviet support, Cuba has managed to retain some remnant of it's own identity and this book shows this side perfectly. The first 100 pages (looking at Spanish Colonial rule and the slave trades to Cuba) were the hardest to engage with for me, but as soon as the revolution occurred and the book focused on the Castro government and all that it entails, I became hooked to this masterly text. The author doesn't seem overly biased one way or the other, although you can tell he has respect for this tiny island nation. He doesn't seem to be too sensationalist either, for example when Che Guevara dies it is noted in quite an understated way and not overly hyped to have a greater impact. Two minor flaws with this book are the tiny font which by the end had given me serious eye strain, why academic texts insist on using this size font I'll never know. And the other flaw is a distinct lack of decent photography to add to the package. There are a few pages of grey photos in the middle, but not on good quality paper, or especially relevant to the overall text, i've come to expect better from history books these days. These are minor flaws in what is a brilliant account of Cuban history which leaves you with some indication of what the future may hold as well. If Cuba interests you in the slightest, I'd seriously recommend you take a look at this book.

A good survey, but occasionally problematic, 17 Aug 2008
Cuba's history is vast and complex, and Gott does an admirable job in trying to make sense of it all. However, particularly in the first two and a half chapters, he struggles to maintain interest, and at times it can descend into what feels like a list of battles and names, with little overall coherence. Additionally, he constantly looks forward to the future, forseeing revolution 200 years before it happened. Such a teleological approach can be frustrating, and at times does lead to some inaccurate comparisons between historical figures and Raul, Fidel and Che.

However, in the more modern chapters, Gott does a fantastic job of providing a fair-minded review of Cuba's history. His analysis of the 20th century, and particularly the survey of Cuban-American relations, is detailed and wonderfully written. He makes sense of a complex subject, and provides an account which gives a strong sense of impartiality and intellectual analysis, free from moral critique of either side. For the later chapters, Gott really gets into his stride, and the book is very much worth reading for this analysis alone. Struggle through the first couple of dry chapters and you will discover a rich, well-written history.

AN EXCELLENT SURVEY, 19 Nov 2004
This book should be read by everyone interested in Cuba, in Fidel Castro, and in a nation whose history goes back far earlier than its modern manifestation. Richard Gott has brought a lifetime of expertise to the task, and writes, as in all his books, with wit and wisdom. He has an enviable eye for fascinating, and telling detail, and he unravels history's "granny knots" with unerring skill.

Useful account of Cuba's long struggle for sovereignty, 19 Nov 2004
Richard Gott is a British journalist and historian with many years' experience of covering Latin America. He has written a very useful book on Cuba's long struggle for national independence and sovereignty. The first third of the book examines the Cuban people's struggle against Spanish occupation from the 16th to the 19th centuries. The rest of the book looks at Cuba's 20th century struggle against the US empire.

The USA intervened militarily in Cuba in 1906-09, 1912, 1917-23 and 1961, always on the pretexts of establishing democracy and order. In 1902 the US state imposed the Platt Amendment on Cuba. Its seventh paragraph gave the USA the 'right' to establish permanent military bases on Cuba. It was repealed in 1934, but the dictator Batista signed a new treaty allowing the USA to keep its huge military base at Guantanamo Bay.

Gott shows how in 1959 the people defeated the US-backed dictator by relying on their own forces. He observes that the British and Yugoslavian governments armed Batista to the last moment.

Gott possibly devotes too little attention to the Cuban people's successes in developing their country. He notes, without exploring, Cuba's remarkable achievements in health and education and he fails to mention its pioneering pharmaceutical industry.

But he gives due prominence to Cuba's internationalism, particularly to its selfless military support to the Angolan people in 1988. Nelson Mandela later visited Havana to thank Fidel personally for Cuba's assistance in the struggle against apartheid. He said, "The decisive defeat of the racist army in Cuito Cuanavale was a victory for all Africa ... It made it possible for Angola to enjoy peace and establish its own sovereignty ... and for the people of Namibia to achieve their independence. The decisive defeat of the aggressive apartheid forces destroyed the myth of the invincibility of the white oppressor. The defeat of the apartheid army served as an inspiration to the struggling people of South Africa."

Cuba has a proud record of upholding workers' nationalism and of practical internationalism. Whatever foreign observers hope or fear, the Cuban people will never surrender their national independence and sovereignty.

Doors of Perception, 23 Jan 2007
If :
- Your mum has taught you lots of valuable things (eat your vegetables, be nice to old people and little dogs, don't be late to school, keep a clean nose) but she was never really able to explain why you had to WORK for a living - instead of, you know, just living;
- Your teachers packed your head full with all kinds of useful knowledge (about prepositions and adverbs, mineralogy and astrophysics, the reproductive organs of plants, x+2-y=0) but they never told you how exactly PROFITS are made - and why anybody would want to make them anyway;
- Your friends and lovers can spend hours yakking about various interesting topics (the latest music machine, videogames, designer shoes, imitation leather sofas, blockbuster movies, pink underwear and cherry flavoured bubble-gum) but they call you a bore and a nitpick whenever you wonder why you're all surrounded by so many COMMODITIES and publicity ads promising you bigger, better and faster useless things.
- You often have the impression that some greater truth is lacking in your life (and you've tried all the legal/illegal drugs, exciting TV shows, gurus and psychoanalysts, help-yourself books and bestsellers about kid sorcerers)...

...Then the time may have come to have a long talk with good old Uncle Karl - the black sheep of the social sciences, the guy nobody likes to mention at social occasions (except in the form of a joke: "have you heard the one about Karl Marx in Las Vegas?"), the most misquoted and misinterpreted modern thinker.
In "Capital", he kindly invites you to break on through to the other side (that's how countercultural he was) and check out what's really happening behind the glitzy appearances of everyday life. You don't even have to be a genius to understand him (it will be enough if you can count to ten without choking). And you might be surprised about how obvious some things will seem after he explains to you about the cage you're sitting in.

Of course, mum will probably be broken-hearted and fear that you'll join the next anarcho-pinko-terrorist organization down the block. Your teachers might refer to a vast list of successful anti-Marx books and charity organizations. And your friends and lovers will find you an even greater bore than before.


Surplus value, 17 Nov 2006
The most important issue in economics today is an evaluation of Marx's theory of surplus value. If corporations were getting smaller, if labor's lot overall was improving, if peace was breaking out all over, we might well conclude Marx was wrong. Marx must be dealt with. It is incredible that most economics PhD's have never read Capital.

why you should read marx, 12 Jan 2000
In Marx' economic works and above all in "capital" we find the deepening of the classical economists' theory of value, an understanding of the origins of crises as the text develops throughout 3 volumes, a superior method in the way of treating economic problems, and an historical background to the theory generally. All the criticisms of Marx are well-known by now and have been effectively discussed by other marxist writers such as David Harvey in "The Limits to Capital" and Guglielmo Carchedi in "New Frontiers in Political Economy". If one looks throughout history violence is almost always committed when poltical/economic systems change. To blame Marx for a 100 million deaths is complete idiocy as one could likewise blame Nietzsche for WW2 or George Washington for the death of all the original inhabitants of the US plus all the deaths attributable to US meddling around the world. As someone with substantial knowledge of world history Marx was aware of the necessity of violence when society was split between irreconcilable forces and didn't shrink from pointing this out. Those who still advocate neo-liberalism and free markets are those in power who have benefited from their pre-existing superior strength and have little concern for the deteriorating environment and the awful labour conditions in most of the world. Marx is still relevant in these times (the neo-liberals still invoke Adam Smith, an 18 century political economist), so if all we have to look forward to is the "mutual ruination of the contending classes" I'll see you all on the barricades!

The Influence Of Good on Evil, 07 Jan 2000
Criticisms of Marx arise mainly from reading this volume of "Capital", yet it is his whole body of thought that needs to be considered when assessing such a thinker, especially before one makes bold, unqualified statements. In that "Capital" is probably the most important and relevant economic text now, a century after he completed it, does it solely deserve to be read. Fellow reviewers have brought to attention the violence this book has caused - this has arisen from ignoring the whole body of Marx' work. I would recommend this, therefore, to only students of Marxian thought or economics - where, of course, its influence lies. It is certainly true that the historical part of the text is a little dry - but this is only to be expected of Marx's materialist approach. A work of genius from a genius, then, but for anyone wishing to see the main thrust of Marx's body of thought is better off starting with part one of "The German Ideology" or the weightier "Grundrisse", where he states his conditions for revolutionary violence - conditions which still haven't been reached today.

Overreach of a genius, 21 Nov 1998
Marx was an extraordinary analyst of economics. He was a serviceable philosopher, but the problem is that he tried to play prophet. Capital is worth reading for its insight into the workings of early, unrestrained capitalism and its recognition of the importance of the trade cycle. On the other hand, the prophecies that Marx made were farreaching and illogical. It is only in the ambitiousness of his project that Marx fails to reach the heights of a Hume or a Smith. Personally, I could not agree less with the tenets of violence and collectivism laid down by Marx, but even I cannot ignore the huge contribution that Marx has made to today's world.

Few political reputations have collapsed quite as quickly as that of Lenin, the ideological guru of Russian Communism, the hero of the revolution of October 1917, and the first leader of the Soviet Union. Just as the Berlin Wall was pulled to the ground, so were thousands of statues of Lenin toppled across Eastern Europe and the new Russia in the early 1990s. But now that the dust has settled, and the Cold War is over, historians can be more objective about the life and achievements of Vladimir Ilich Ulyanov (Lenin was his adopted revolutionary name). Robert Service's book is the first major biography of Lenin for several decades and it benefits from the thaw that has opened up previously inaccessible material, particularly on Lenin's family and his medical history. Born into a wealthy family of landowners, lawyers and government officials, Lenin's revolutionary path was marked out when his elder brother was executed for his part in an assassination plot on the Tsar. From that point on, aided by his sisters, his wife and a loyal but argumentative band of Bolshevik followers, Lenin committed himself to the overthrow of the Tsarist regime, enduring exile, prison and ostracism in the process. This compelling and action-packed book brings Lenin and Leninism to life in a way that no previous account has managed to do. --Miles Taylor

A helpful insight into the mind of a Communist/Marxist, 14 Oct 2008
Although only 40 pages long, you get an insight into the way that both Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels felt about the world they lived in and how it could change for the greater good (in their opinion anyway). I do encourage anyone with even a minor interest in European politics, to give this book a try.

Even though I was fascinated by the two authors ideology (Ultimately, the hope that a Proletariat will rise to conquer the all-oppressing Bourgeoise, in every country) I do feel that they did not make clear any kind of policies that they would enforce after they took power. All it seems is that they want to get the oppressers out, but after that they don't seem to know what they want to do (despite destroying any kind of private property and attempting to establish an equalised economy, which is mentioned countless times within the Manifesto). This failure to think of anything else may be one of the reasons why Communism failed so miserably in Europe.

Don't get me wrong, I feel that the theory of Communism is the greatest piece of political thought. It's just that when it is put not practive, it all goes horribly wrong. Communists (including Marx and Engels) seem to feel that everyone will just see that their ideology is the best, agree with them and allow them to do whatever they like. Marx and Engels fail to comprehend that not all humans think and feel about the world like they do, when people reach the top, they are corrupted by power and then their greed is all they care about (take Joseph Stalin as an example). It does seem that the authors are hoping for a bit much. I also found it funny near the end when they spoke of the "imminent" Proletariat uprising in Germany and that Communists should mainly focus on that country so that it could be taken from the Bourgeoise, when not even 100 years later we all know who was in charge of Germany. Definately not a friend of the Proletariat.

Overall, I found it to be a fascinating read, and credit to the well thought out introduction, which gave more imformation on the origins of Communism and the backgrounds of Marx and Engels. I recommend this book to everyone.


The introduction alone is worth your money, 01 Aug 2008
I will leave others to debate the relative merits of the actual Manifesto and say a couple of words about the introduction because the product distinction - criminally - doesn't seem to mention it. Gareth Stedman-Jones' introduction is a book in itself, longer than the Manifesto and an excellent and absolutely compelling introduction to the intellectual and historical context. By framing the intellectual debates of the Young Hegelians and others in a rich historical narrative Stedman-Jones makes them positively fascinating! He tells the story of the life of the young Karl Marx and describes his interactions with the intellectuals of the time, showing that Marx borrowed pretty much every element of his early (more philsophical) work from those around him but that his particular genius was to combine them all in such original formations. He even throws in a bit of completely original research about why Marx shied away from making his call for socialism a moral imperative (it was radical egoist Stirner's influence apparently). Its a hell of a lot of knowledge crammed into a very small space in a fascinating and readable manner and will double your appreciation and understanding of the Manifesto itself. All in all: if your trying to work out which edition to buy - get this one for the intro!

The Communist Manifesto - still relevent, 30 Jul 2008
After the Berlin wall fell, the so-called "communism" that "Marx envisioned" fell with it. Or so we are told. In actuality the class struggle that Marx wrote about in this booklet is still alive and kicking. The proletariat is still, according to Mr. Marx, destined to overthrow the bourgeoisie, fulfilling its' historical role. But we are told "No"; capitalism is the answer to all our problems now, it offers us democracy and freedom. Nothing could be father from the truth. In fact, capitalism doesn't work at all for the majority of the world's people: it is a grotesque caricature of freedom that Marx understood exactly. The victory of the individual comes with the destruction, the mass overthrow of capitalism. Do not let the likes of Firedman and others fool you. Serfdom already exists; the Soviet Union and others were just as fake as capitalism, and, as Marx pointed out "The emancipation of the working class must be an act of the working class".

This is not a manifesto like the Labour Part has a manifesto. It is a philosophical document that is invaluable to the labout movement and to working people worldwide.

Future prospects, 28 May 2008
Read this in context and as of its time. It's a Manifesto, just as Labour or the Conservarives or George Bush put out party manifestos at each election (or at least they did when they at least pretended to have policies and an idiology that went beyong simply making the world safe for the rich to get richer).

It's an election leaflet, party rallying call and outline of policies all in one. And what is the message? You poor take courage, you rich take heed...the World Turned Upside Down (where the rich and powerful become equal to the rest of us) is dawning. As a Socialist Party member that is this reviewers life work.



This edition has the greatest literary introduction ever, 16 Sep 2007
Greatest explanatory introduction ever, in fact could be as important or good as the book itself, really does Engels justice.

Good overview, 15 Nov 2008
This is good basic introduction to the works of Karl Marx.

Marx's ideas range across the disciplines of economics, history, philosophy and sociology and a book of this nature can only give a basic introduction to some of the main ideas. Even scholars on the subject are uncertain of his exact postion on many topics as his ideas developed over the years and some of his writings (like those of Hegel and other German thinkers) are very obscure.

I must admit that I am no fan of Marx and tend to regard his ideas as completely wrong both intellectually and morally.

Excellent if you are a beginner, 02 Feb 2006
If you don't know anything, or know very little about Marx and his ideas and you need to brush up but don't have the time to sit for hours in a library, then get this book. I am a complete beginner with Marx, I had heard of him but knew nothing about his ideas. I had to acquire this knowledge in a very short space of time for an essay that I was writing for my Masters. This book was perfect, just enough information to give me the basics without getting to indepth AND in an easy to read format.

It covers events in his life as well as his main achievements and ideas.

This book makes no assumptions that you know anythign about Marxism so it is very easy to follow whilst avoiding being patronising or school bookish. In fact the Very Short Introduction series are actually written by very eminent scholars in the field so it by no means superficial or textbook material.

This is an excellent introduction to Marxism, it will give you the basics and will help you identify areas of further reading or study if you are so inclined. If you need an indepth, detailed look at his ideas/theories/life, then this isn't the book for you.

A short intro, 06 Nov 2003
This book is a very short introduction to Marx's ideologies. It does briefly explore the influences on Marx such as Hegelian philosophy and Engel's contribution. The main text deals with the formation of Marxist theories, their change through time in Marx's writings and the main thrust of their opinion. This book is particularly useful for those who find KAPITAL hard going at first - it acts as a nice intro to some of the heavier economic stuff in Marx's own writings.

Classic doesn't really do it justice, 05 Sep 2008
Much has obviously been said of this work! Humanist-Marxists say it is too mechanistic whilst analytic Marxists try to ignore the Dickensian passages which describe working conditions. In truth this book, in true Marxian style is the 'dialectical' synthesis of basically all that went before. Marx forswears many of the grinding debates with other intellectuals and revolutionaries of the time in favour of a 'capitalism for dummies style'. Your hand is held as you progress from simple 'laws', each of which is taken to the limit of its logic before the next idea is broached.

In fact what is striking is how pertinent this book is even today. Granted things have moved on, and it is no longer 'grim up north' but even a quick consideration makes one realise how our service-industry-fueled economy still holds to most of the same processes as Marx noted all those years ago. Beaudrillard claimed Marx was superseded because consumption has now trumped production, but a read of Capital and a bit of thought soon puts that idea to rest.

It is worth ignoring the suggestions that The German Ideology is a good introduction to Marx, or that Capital is some advanced monolith. It is large, but completely readable; just as readable as Manifesto, only longer. Despite spawning abstruse French theorists, Russian and Chinese revolutions and analysis second only in quantity to the Bible there is nothing to be intimidated about.

Cuba: A New History, 02 Nov 2008
'Cuba: A New History' is an excellent account of Cuban history up until this books publication in 2004. Gott manages to write in a completely engaging way and draws you in to the rich and diverse history of this amazing Caribbean island. This is in no way a dry and uninspiring read, but one that helps you immerse yourself in the history and developments over the years. From Spanish colonial rule, US intervention and soviet support, Cuba has managed to retain some remnant of it's own identity and this book shows this side perfectly. The first 100 pages (looking at Spanish Colonial rule and the slave trades to Cuba) were the hardest to engage with for me, but as soon as the revolution occurred and the book focused on the Castro government and all that it entails, I became hooked to this masterly text. The author doesn't seem overly biased one way or the other, although you can tell he has respect for this tiny island nation. He doesn't seem to be too sensationalist either, for example when Che Guevara dies it is noted in quite an understated way and not overly hyped to have a greater impact. Two minor flaws with this book are the tiny font which by the end had given me serious eye strain, why academic texts insist on using this size font I'll never know. And the other flaw is a distinct lack of decent photography to add to the package. There are a few pages of grey photos in the middle, but not on good quality paper, or especially relevant to the overall text, i've come to expect better from history books these days. These are minor flaws in what is a brilliant account of Cuban history which leaves you with some indication of what the future may hold as well. If Cuba interests you in the slightest, I'd seriously recommend you take a look at this book.

A good survey, but occasionally problematic, 17 Aug 2008
Cuba's history is vast and complex, and Gott does an admirable job in trying to make sense of it all. However, particularly in the first two and a half chapters, he struggles to maintain interest, and at times it can descend into what feels like a list of battles and names, with little overall coherence. Additionally, he constantly looks forward to the future, forseeing revolution 200 years before it happened. Such a teleological approach can be frustrating, and at times does lead to some inaccurate comparisons between historical figures and Raul, Fidel and Che.

However, in the more modern chapters, Gott does a fantastic job of providing a fair-minded review of Cuba's history. His analysis of the 20th century, and particularly the survey of Cuban-American relations, is detailed and wonderfully written. He makes sense of a complex subject, and provides an account which gives a strong sense of impartiality and intellectual analysis, free from moral critique of either side. For the later chapters, Gott really gets into his stride, and the book is very much worth reading for this analysis alone. Struggle through the first couple of dry chapters and you will discover a rich, well-written history.

AN EXCELLENT SURVEY, 19 Nov 2004
This book should be read by everyone interested in Cuba, in Fidel Castro, and in a nation whose history goes back far earlier than its modern manifestation. Richard Gott has brought a lifetime of expertise to the task, and writes, as in all his books, with wit and wisdom. He has an enviable eye for fascinating, and telling detail, and he unravels history's "granny knots" with unerring skill.

Useful account of Cuba's long struggle for sovereignty, 19 Nov 2004
Richard Gott is a British journalist and historian with many years' experience of covering Latin America. He has written a very useful book on Cuba's long struggle for national independence and sovereignty. The first third of the book examines the Cuban people's struggle against Spanish occupation from the 16th to the 19th centuries. The rest of the book looks at Cuba's 20th century struggle against the US empire.

The USA intervened militarily in Cuba in 1906-09, 1912, 1917-23 and 1961, always on the pretexts of establishing democracy and order. In 1902 the US state imposed the Platt Amendment on Cuba. Its seventh paragraph gave the USA the 'right' to establish permanent military bases on Cuba. It was repealed in 1934, but the dictator Batista signed a new treaty allowing the USA to keep its huge military base at Guantanamo Bay.

Gott shows how in 1959 the people defeated the US-backed dictator by relying on their own forces. He observes that the British and Yugoslavian governments armed Batista to the last moment.

Gott possibly devotes too little attention to the Cuban people's successes in developing their country. He notes, without exploring, Cuba's remarkable achievements in health and education and he fails to mention its pioneering pharmaceutical industry.

But he gives due prominence to Cuba's internationalism, particularly to its selfless military support to the Angolan people in 1988. Nelson Mandela later visited Havana to thank Fidel personally for Cuba's assistance in the struggle against apartheid. He said, "The decisive defeat of the racist army in Cuito Cuanavale was a victory for all Africa ... It made it possible for Angola to enjoy peace and establish its own sovereignty ... and for the people of Namibia to achieve their independence. The decisive defeat of the aggressive apartheid forces destroyed the myth of the invincibility of the white oppressor. The defeat of the apartheid army served as an inspiration to the struggling people of South Africa."

Cuba has a proud record of upholding workers' nationalism and of practical internationalism. Whatever foreign observers hope or fear, the Cuban people will never surrender their national independence and sovereignty.

Doors of Perception, 23 Jan 2007
If :
- Your mum has taught you lots of valuable things (eat your vegetables, be nice to old people and little dogs, don't be late to school, keep a clean nose) but she was never really able to explain why you had to WORK for a living - instead of, you know, just living;
- Your teachers packed your head full with all kinds of useful knowledge (about prepositions and adverbs, mineralogy and astrophysics, the reproductive organs of plants, x+2-y=0) but they never told you how exactly PROFITS are made - and why anybody would want to make them anyway;
- Your friends and lovers can spend hours yakking about various interesting topics (the latest music machine, videogames, designer shoes, imitation leather sofas, blockbuster movies, pink underwear and cherry flavoured bubble-gum) but they call you a bore and a nitpick whenever you wonder why you're all surrounded by so many COMMODITIES and publicity ads promising you bigger, better and faster useless things.
- You often have the impression that some greater truth is lacking in your life (and you've tried all the legal/illegal drugs, exciting TV shows, gurus and psychoanalysts, help-yourself books and bestsellers about kid sorcerers)...

...Then the time may have come to have a long talk with good old Uncle Karl - the black sheep of the social sciences, the guy nobody likes to mention at social occasions (except in the form of a joke: "have you heard the one about Karl Marx in Las Vegas?"), the most misquoted and misinterpreted modern thinker.
In "Capital", he kindly invites you to break on through to the other side (that's how countercultural he was) and check out what's really happening behind the glitzy appearances of everyday life. You don't even have to be a genius to understand him (it will be enough if you can count to ten without choking). And you might be surprised about how obvious some things will seem after he explains to you about the cage you're sitting in.

Of course, mum will probably be broken-hearted and fear that you'll join the next anarcho-pinko-terrorist organization down the block. Your teachers might refer to a vast list of successful anti-Marx books and charity organizations. And your friends and lovers will find you an even greater bore than before.


Surplus value, 17 Nov 2006
The most important issue in economics today is an evaluation of Marx's theory of surplus value. If corporations were getting smaller, if labor's lot overall was improving, if peace was breaking out all over, we might well conclude Marx was wrong. Marx must be dealt with. It is incredible that most economics PhD's have never read Capital.

why you should read marx, 12 Jan 2000
In Marx' economic works and above all in "capital" we find the deepening of the classical economists' theory of value, an understanding of the origins of crises as the text develops throughout 3 volumes, a superior method in the way of treating economic problems, and an historical background to the theory generally. All the criticisms of Marx are well-known by now and have been effectively discussed by other marxist writers such as David Harvey in "The Limits to Capital" and Guglielmo Carchedi in "New Frontiers in Political Economy". If one looks throughout history violence is almost always committed when poltical/economic systems change. To blame Marx for a 100 million deaths is complete idiocy as one could likewise blame Nietzsche for WW2 or George Washington for the death of all the original inhabitants of the US plus all the deaths attributable to US meddling around the world. As someone with substantial knowledge of world history Marx was aware of the necessity of violence when society was split between irreconcilable forces and didn't shrink from pointing this out. Those who still advocate neo-liberalism and free markets are those in power who have benefited from their pre-existing superior strength and have little concern for the deteriorating environment and the awful labour conditions in most of the world. Marx is still relevant in these times (the neo-liberals still invoke Adam Smith, an 18 century political economist), so if all we have to look forward to is the "mutual ruination of the contending classes" I'll see you all on the barricades!

The Influence Of Good on Evil, 07 Jan 2000
Criticisms of Marx arise mainly from reading this volume of "Capital", yet it is his whole body of thought that needs to be considered when assessing such a thinker, especially before one makes bold, unqualified statements. In that "Capital" is probably the most important and relevant economic text now, a century after he completed it, does it solely deserve to be read. Fellow reviewers have brought to attention the violence this book has caused - this has arisen from ignoring the whole body of Marx' work. I would recommend this, therefore, to only students of Marxian thought or economics - where, of course, its influence lies. It is certainly true that the historical part of the text is a little dry - but this is only to be expected of Marx's materialist approach. A work of genius from a genius, then, but for anyone wishing to see the main thrust of Marx's body of thought is better off starting with part one of "The German Ideology" or the weightier "Grundrisse", where he states his conditions for revolutionary violence - conditions which still haven't been reached today.

Overreach of a genius, 21 Nov 1998
Marx was an extraordinary analyst of economics. He was a serviceable philosopher, but the problem is that he tried to play prophet. Capital is worth reading for its insight into the workings of early, unrestrained capitalism and its recognition of the importance of the trade cycle. On the other hand, the prophecies that Marx made were farreaching and illogical. It is only in the ambitiousness of his project that Marx fails to reach the heights of a Hume or a Smith. Personally, I could not agree less with the tenets of violence and collectivism laid down by Marx, but even I cannot ignore the huge contribution that Marx has made to today's world.

Excellent book, impressively written, 26 Jul 2008
Definitely a must-have for anyone interested in Russian history. Well written, brilliantly researched, a classic.

Lenin - The Genius, 10 Mar 2008
What do you know about Lenin? I knew he was chief instigator of the October Revolution and the man behind Leninism and inside the mausoleum. That was all until this book came along. It turns out that Volodya was an intellectual jagganath and an egoist of manic proportions.

It is instructive to trace how someone so well educated can turn out to be so tunnel visioned and so monstrous. I think Robert Service provides an incredible account from Lenin's youth and his stellar academic record to his conversion to the cause through to his duplicitous rise to power. This is an amazing tale of a madcap without whom the history of the 20th century would have been so very different and arguably better.

The problem here is that Service spoils the good work with a healthy sprinkling of personal comments like "that serves him right" etc. This give the writing a polish of amateurism. Nevertheless, this is the only Lenin book that I will read. If you're looking for a book heavy on political writings and revolutionary theory then this is probably quite not the book for you. However if you just wish to understand this oddball of a genius - spoilt brat, lover, anarchist, marxist, fervid revolutionary, friend and foe, doublecrosser, rhetorician, leftist saint - then you should read this.

Take care to step over the author's irritating opinions.

A Party Without Guests, 30 Dec 2007
There is no doubt that Lenin achieved a level of recognition that will continue for as long as humans maintain a sentient capacity. The fact remains, however, that he gained this recognition largely through his association with others. Robert Service's biography does not acknowledge this aspect. In fact, those central to Lenin's rise are not even mentioned.
Martin Amis brilliantly encapsulated this problem in his 2004 Guardian review: 'Service's biography of this unique figure is flawed not by its inclusions but by its myopic exclusions. It is impossible to present a balanced account of Lenin without reference to the other three Beatles.'

Very Good, 17 Dec 2007
Lenin by Robert Service is a very interesting and well-written book which deals with the life of the great revolutionary. Although it is perhaps not as detailed as some people would like it is very enjoyable and gives an insight into the life of this middle-class intellectual who became a working-class leader.

Well written, but don't expect the full story of 1917, 03 Jan 2007
A very well written book that successfully evokes the atmosphere of turn of the century Russia. Unusually for a biography, the youth of Lenin is actually quite interesting, and Service knows to quickly move on to keep the narrative moving. Occasionally, however, you wish for more details - the execution of his brother, for example, happens so suddenly it is almost shocking.

By the middle of the book you are yearning to get to the revolutionary events of 1917, but again once there, it would have been good to have more details about events 'on the ground', and if you want a book about the 1917 revolution, it may be better to buy something more specifically about that (the impression here is that Lenin capitalised on circumstances more than he was actually involved in them). That aside, the whole is a fascinating tale told well. Service is not afraid to give his own occasional opinion on matters, while there's some analysis of how the communist revolution affected politics elsewhere in Europe, particularly in the reactive rise of fascism.

A helpful insight into the mind of a Communist/Marxist, 14 Oct 2008
Although only 40 pages long, you get an insight into the way that both Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels felt about the world they lived in and how it could change for the greater good (in their opinion anyway). I do encourage anyone with even a minor interest in European politics, to give this book a try.

Even though I was fascinated by the two authors ideology (Ultimately, the hope that a Proletariat will rise to conquer the all-oppressing Bourgeoise, in every country) I do feel that they did not make clear any kind of policies that they would enforce after they took power. All it seems is that they want to get the oppressers out, but after that they don't seem to know what they want to do (despite destroying any kind of private property and attempting to establish an equalised economy, which is mentioned countless times within the Manifesto). This failure to think of anything else may be one of the reasons why Communism failed so miserably in Europe.

Don't get me wrong, I feel that the theory of Communism is the greatest piece of political thought. It's just that when it is put not practive, it all goes horribly wrong. Communists (including Marx and Engels) seem to feel that everyone will just see that their ideology is the best, agree with them and allow them to do whatever they like. Marx and Engels fail to comprehend that not all humans think and feel about the world like they do, when people reach the top, they are corrupted by power and then their greed is all they care about (take Joseph Stalin as an example). It does seem that the authors are hoping for a bit much. I also found it funny near the end when they spoke of the "imminent" Proletariat uprising in Germany and that Communists should mainly focus on that country so that it could be taken from the Bourgeoise, when not even 100 years later we all know who was in charge of Germany. Definately not a friend of the Proletariat.

Overall, I found it to be a fascinating read, and credit to the well thought out introduction, which gave more imformation on the origins of Communism and the backgrounds of Marx and Engels. I recommend this book to everyone.


The introduction alone is worth your money, 01 Aug 2008
I will leave others to debate the relative merits of the actual Manifesto and say a couple of words about the introduction because the product distinction - criminally - doesn't seem to mention it. Gareth Stedman-Jones' introduction is a book in itself, longer than the Manifesto and an excellent and absolutely compelling introduction to the intellectual and historical context. By framing the intellectual debates of the Young Hegelians and others in a rich historical narrative Stedman-Jones makes them positively fascinating! He tells the story of the life of the young Karl Marx and describes his interactions with the intellectuals of the time, showing that Marx borrowed pretty much every element of his early (more philsophical) work from those around him but that his particular genius was to combine them all in such original formations. He even throws in a bit of completely original research about why Marx shied away from making his call for socialism a moral imperative (it was radical egoist Stirner's influence apparently). Its a hell of a lot of knowledge crammed into a very small space in a fascinating and readable manner and will double your appreciation and understanding of the Manifesto itself. All in all: if your trying to work out which edition to buy - get this one for the intro!

The Communist Manifesto - still relevent, 30 Jul 2008
After the Berlin wall fell, the so-called "communism" that "Marx envisioned" fell with it. Or so we are told. In actuality the class struggle that Marx wrote about in this booklet is still alive and kicking. The proletariat is still, according to Mr. Marx, destined to overthrow the bourgeoisie, fulfilling its' historical role. But we are told "No"; capitalism is the answer to all our problems now, it offers us democracy and freedom. Nothing could be father from the truth. In fact, capitalism doesn't work at all for the majority of the world's people: it is a grotesque caricature of freedom that Marx understood exactly. The victory of the individual comes with the destruction, the mass overthrow of capitalism. Do not let the likes of Firedman and others fool you. Serfdom already exists; the Soviet Union and others were just as fake as capitalism, and, as Marx pointed out "The emancipation of the working class must be an act of the working class".

This is not a manifesto like the Labour Part has a manifesto. It is a philosophical document that is invaluable to the labout movement and to working people worldwide.

Future prospects, 28 May 2008
Read this in context and as of its time. It's a Manifesto, just as Labour or the Conservarives or George Bush put out party manifestos at each election (or at least they did when they at least pretended to have policies and an idiology that went beyong simply making the world safe for the rich to get richer).

It's an election leaflet, party rallying call and outline of policies all in one. And what is the message? You poor take courage, you rich take heed...the World Turned Upside Down (where the rich and powerful become equal to the rest of us) is dawning. As a Socialist Party member that is this reviewers life work.



This edition has the greatest literary introduction ever, 16 Sep 2007
Greatest explanatory introduction ever, in fact could be as important or good as the book itself, really does Engels justice.

Good overview, 15 Nov 2008
This is good basic introduction to the works of Karl Marx.

Marx's ideas range across the disciplines of economics, history, philosophy and sociology and a book of this nature can only give a basic introduction to some of the main ideas. Even scholars on the subject are uncertain of his exact postion on many topics as his ideas developed over the years and some of his writings (like those of Hegel and other German thinkers) are very obscure.

I must admit that I am no fan of Marx and tend to regard his ideas as completely wrong both intellectually and morally.

Excellent if you are a beginner, 02 Feb 2006
If you don't know anything, or know very little about Marx and his ideas and you need to brush up but don't have the time to sit for hours in a library, then get this book. I am a complete beginner with Marx, I had heard of him but knew nothing about his ideas. I had to acquire this knowledge in a very short space of time for an essay that I was writing for my Masters. This book was perfect, just enough information to give me the basics without getting to indepth AND in an easy to read format.

It covers events in his life as well as his main achievements and ideas.

This book makes no assumptions that you know anythign about Marxism so it is very easy to follow whilst avoiding being patronising or school bookish. In fact the Very Short Introduction series are actually written by very eminent scholars in the field so it by no means superficial or textbook material.

This is an excellent introduction to Marxism, it will give you the basics and will help you identify areas of further reading or study if you are so inclined. If you need an indepth, detailed look at his ideas/theories/life, then this isn't the book for you.

A short intro, 06 Nov 2003
This book is a very short introduction to Marx's ideologies. It does briefly explore the influences on Marx such as Hegelian philosophy and Engel's contribution. The main text deals with the formation of Marxist theories, their change through time in Marx's writings and the main thrust of their opinion. This book is particularly useful for those who find KAPITAL hard going at first - it acts as a nice intro to some of the heavier economic stuff in Marx's own writings.

Classic doesn't really do it justice, 05 Sep 2008
Much has obviously been said of