Marxism

Rating:
Summary: Great book
Review: How ironic that Sowell, a famed conservative economist, would have written such a brilliant explanation of Marxism. Sowell clearly and intelligently lays out Marx's ideas while avoiding the 'disciples' or Marx who have misinterpreted him. While Sowell has a scathing critique of Marx's ideas at the end of the book, the bulk of it is written to help make sense of Marx. He is very fair to Marx, in fact I have never been so sympathetic to Marxism as I was after reading this work. Sowell is truly a great scholar.

Rating:
Summary: Great book
Review: How ironic that Sowell, a famed conservative economist, would have written such a brilliant explanation of Marxism. Sowell clearly and intelligently lays out Marx's ideas while avoiding the 'disciples' or Marx who have misinterpreted him. While Sowell has a scathing critique of Marx's ideas at the end of the book, the bulk of it is written to help make sense of Marx. He is very fair to Marx, in fact I have never been so sympathetic to Marxism as I was after reading this work. Sowell is truly a great scholar.

Rating:
Summary: Not one of Sowell's best
Review: I'm a big Sowell fan, but this book is bor-ing. Almost anything by him is much better. Try one of the other Sowell titles.

Rating:
Summary: So you want to understand Marxism...
Review: I'm admittedly vehemently anti-communist. Moreover, I've devoted quite a bit of time studying communism, Marxist-Leninist ideology, its history, the murderous history of the Soviet Union and Red China, its influence in America and Europe and how its shaped other ideologies. This book is rather objective for a conservative like Sowell. It makes no presumptions and geniunely goes out on a limb to present the Marxist worldview from the Marxist's vantage point.

Marxist writings on economics and history are found on the Internet in public domain archives. Moreover, must are incredibly dry reads written in verbage that is non-sensical, technical and forceful in its sometimes unsupported assertions. Thus, if you're looking to understand Marxism in précis, I'd recommend this strategy. Get Sowell's book, which outlines the basic tenets of the Marxist Worldview... Get Understanding the Times: The Religious Worldviews of our Time by David Noebel... and get the Communist Manifesto programme.

Sowell's book outlines the Marxist view of history... its spin on the Hegelian dialectical that views class strugle as the driving force of history and the Marxist belief the communism is inevitable. Sowell looks at Marx in the 'pure' Marxist context minus Leninist assumptions... Though, it is readily apparent that following Marx's prescription for change will ultimately led to Soviet-style totalitarianism. Lastly, though some may find the book and indeed the subject boring, Sowell writes lucidly with the implicit purpose of surmising Marxist ideology less the arcane language.

By understanding the Marxist perspective on history - you can see how many communists feel communism didn't die with the Soviet Union, and it is the unknown ideal somehow destined for mankind.

Rating:
Summary: Pompous and unreadable!
Review: If you like phrases like "one-way causation" and "political super-structure," if you want to be impressed with Dr. Sowell's knowledge of Marxism -- and Philosophy and Economics in general -- then by all means buy this book. If you actually want to understand Marxism, then keep looking.

To prove that it is possible to write clearly about a complex subject, read Complexity by M. Mitchell Waldrop.

Dr. Sowell needs to drop his next six courses in Philosophy and take Basic Writing for Freshman.

Rating:
Summary: Pompous and unreadable!
Review: If you like phrases like "one-way causation" and "political super-structure," if you want to be impressed with Dr. Sowell's knowledge of Marxism -- and Philosophy and Economics in general -- then by all means buy this book. If you actually want to understand Marxism, then keep looking.

To prove that it is possible to write clearly about a complex subject, read Complexity by M. Mitchell Waldrop.

Dr. Sowell needs to drop his next six courses in Philosophy and take Basic Writing for Freshman.

Rating:
Summary: Best overview of the man and his ideas ever put to print
Review: In the clear prose and incisive thought that marks all of his writings, Thomas Sowell explores a subject thought to be nearly incomprehensible except to a very few in a manner that any intelligent layman can absorb. In it, he describes the man, his life, and his ideas in a manner to make Karl Marx and his ideas understandable to those who might be afraid to tackle the subject otherwise. This book should be the mandatory first read for any person attempting to understand the ideas that made this century.

Rating:
Summary: Sowell's study of marxism in "Marxism" best in genre
Review: In the genre of books attempting to put Karl Marx's ideas and personae into context, this is by far the best in the field, leaving runners' up in the field far behind. As most books in this genre are written in unapproachable prose and in the language of arcane terminology, Sowell's book is stunning in it's presentation, lucid in prose, and sublime in characterization. Especially interesting is Sowell's treatment of Marx the man. As the final part of the book, Sowell put's Marx's ideas in context with the man. This is in stark contrast to most of the book's in the field either treating Marx's personal life as that of an uncannonized saint(mostly), or as an unspeakable monster. In pure character of book, one can do no better.

Rating:
Summary: Yes and No
Review: Overall, I was pleased with the book. But when it came to the philosophical commentary, I felt Sowell to be lacking in understanding of mode of thought prevalent in Marx' Germany. So while the book is well worth reading for the other commentaries on Marx and Marxism, its examinations of Marx' philosophy qua philosophy just didn't hit the target.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent book - well written and balnced view
Review: This is the most succinct presentation of the ideas of Marx I've ever read. Indeed, Sowell explains Marxism better than Marx ever did. It is very well written and a fair analysis by one of the countries best economists and writers. Sowell, a former Marxist himself, explains the essential Marxian concepts with a balance perspective.

Those people who read this expecting to have Marx bashed or praised will be disappointed. Those wishing to understand Marxism and learn about Marx the man will be very happy with this book.