The Communist Manifesto

Rating:
Summary: The Bible of Communism
Review: The Communist Manifesto was, is, and always will be the Bible of the left, no matter how many millions have died, are dying, and will die at the hands of nations that worship piously at Marx's altar. When will the left finally be satiated? When will their blood lust finally succumb to pangs of conscience? Or is it as it was with Stalin and Hitler, the more blood spilt, the more one becomes committed to the cause. When will the left realize that there is essentially no difference between the totalitarianism of the communist and the fascist? Both communist and fascist hold the state sacrosanct, and an individual's worth is determined only by how well he/she conforms in faithful servitude. How many more must be sacrificed to "the good of the state" before the Left starts to question its religion?

There is absolutely no empirical evidence to support Marx's notion of the Labor Theory of Value. Of course there are more ingredients in determining a nation's or a corporation's wealth generative power than labor; i.e. land, capital, entrepreneurial ability. The scientific method demands testing of hypotheses. Marxism has been tested for nearly 100 years, with nary a success to point to, in fact every experiment has met with colossal failure in terms of economic ruin and human suffering. Economic success and Marxism have about as much in common as the standard of living in the U.S. compared to that of Russia.

For all the intellectually bankrupt that argue, "Marxism has not succeeded because it has not really been tried,'' consider this. Which country has put forth more of a concerted effort to adopt Marxist ideals, which country has tried its level best to adopt economic policy more in line to that espoused by the Communist Manifesto: U.S. or Russia? Japan or China? Kenya or Tanzania? Puerto Rico or Cuba? Namibia or Angola? Hong Kong or Viet Nam? West Germany or East Germany? In every instance, the national economic conditions as well as the standard of living is immeasurably better in the non-Marxist country. Yet, no matter the size of the ever growing mountain of evidence refuting the claims of Marx, those of the left continue to cling to their faith. The left continues to turn a blind eye to the evidence of failure and a deaf ear to the cries of the oppressed. The left continues to place a blind faith in the bible of blood, the Communist Manifesto.

Rating:
Summary: The Manifesto: Ending the Myths
Review: When most people in the United States hear the words "communism" or "communist" they think of the words "evil" or "subversive". But the fact is that most Americans don't know what communism really is. This is the main reason why people should read The Communist Manifesto; to learn and understand the theory of communism.

I'm not saying that if someone reads this book they will become communist, but if one reads The Manifesto and decides to oppose communism, they would then have a much more valid reason for doing so.

Contrary to popular belief, The Manifesto is not written in a matter that declares communism to "be the only way". It is a short, concise book that simply explains the "theory" of one economic system evolving into another in various ways (violent revolution or political elections) and the economic system of communism.

Although some parts of it might seem obsolete, if you read deeper into Marx's and Engles' description of society you can clearly see the accuracy of their observations and predictions.

Rating:
Summary: A good book for a general understanding
Review: This is a great book for the understanding of the basics of class society and conflict, but it is not the most important Marx writing for a thorough understanding. For a better understanding of Marxism for those serious about exploring the truthful, wonderful ideas of Marx, one should read the Economic and Philosophical Manuscripts of 1844 and some critiques Marx gives of attempted communist societies, such as The Critique of the Gotha Program.

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Summary: it's a tool!
Review: Regardless of how you feel about communism, capitalism, and democracy this book is highly informative. Some claim that it shows the weakness of communism, others hold it be a great vision of how things should be. Either way this is an important historical and philosophical work. Written in the mid-1800's it gives modern readers a glimpse of the growing pains of the industrial revolution. Other works by Marx are very long winded and complicated. This is to the point. Marx's Communist Manifesto is the counter-part to Dicken's romantic works about life in early industrial Europe.

Rating:
Summary: Thought provoking, regardless of your stance on communism
Review: This is a book that definitely deserves to be read. Marx's examination of a modern bourgeois society and its historically inevitable change from capitalism to communism will illicit much praise from some readers and harsh repudiation from others. The reason it desrves to be read rests in the conflict of opinion. The fact a book like this, whether enjoyed or detested, can affirm one's own beliefs so strongly for or against communism shows it does have an intriguing power. Just look at all the conflicting reviews below. We have, on one side, people saying that the reason communism hasn't worked so far is because there has been no real communist societies while, on the other side, we have people saying these "unreal" communist societies that become totalitarian are the direct by product of attempting to implement communism, ergo communism cannot work. I find that this heated debate becomes the reason one should at least read Marx's work. It does develop and mold one's belief systems in some way and any book that powerful is deserving of readership. "The Communist Manifesto" and the ideas expressed within are things you won't forget... whether you like it or not.

Rating:
Summary: Belongs in the trash can of history...
Review: It is absolutely chilling to see people endorse this book or give it any praise. That people should be screaming for enslavement and collectivism is beyond me. Proud as I am to live in a free country, I do recognize that censorship of this book would be a tacit agreement of the principles in the book itself. The communistic thought and system died an ignomonious death in the Soviet Union and it's demise was long overdue. Basically this primer on slavery touts a dead political system. Yet there are those among us, no matter how few their number, who believe that their thinking and living would best be done for them by a collectivist society, instead of by themselves, and it is for that reason that all freedom loving men and women jealously defend their right to freedom of thought. May the death of communism be an oppurtunity for dancing and rejoicing in the street and may this book be always be remembered as the centerpiece of the failed and defeated political system it was.

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Summary: Communism and how it changed my life
Review: I absolutely loved this book and I highly reccomend it to anyone else who hates capitalist pigs. This book rocks. Oh, it was well written. Buy it now. :-)

By world renowned book critic, YjimK

Rating:
Summary: Surpassing the good, then the bad, and then the ugly...
Review: The only reason this book doesn't recieve one star is that it clearly states the moral principles of communism, and any collectivist government you wish to find. It is incredibly useful if you want to understand the morality (or lack thereof) of communism. Relatively clearly written, it doesn't openly fall into the basic faults of communism.

Still, if you're not looking for ammunition against Communism/collectivism and instead are looking for a philosophy to guide your actions, avoid this book like the plague.

Rating:
Summary: So Real and Clearly Written that you should read
Review: This is actually a quite well written book. It explains what's so different yet true from our traditional culture. As a reader, read it as an enjoyment of literary work and social article, and you will find it so true and accurate that you can't resist. Take a look at the insight of the book, and you will find that Karl Marx is not an enrager at all. He is idealist and knowledgeable rather than radical and enraging. Honestly, Marx had done nothing to democracy at all - he is just a poor and idealist writer with sympathy to the working class, and I believe that he was damaged by his government rather than trying to doom Europe and the world (very true). Very true theory. Very truthful book. Read it, and think.

Rating:
Summary: Great Work! Read it, and understand yourself
Review: Despite the fact that this book seems a little too challenging to our social system and too radical according to our culture, it is really so greatly written. It sounds so true even today that I can't help rating it five stars. We are living in a democratic nation; however, sesorship seems to shut me from talking too much about communism. However, things in the real world is not always divided into good and bad so clearly. Yes, it is so true that most communist, or so called, socialist, countries today or sevral ten years ago are totalitariate, but I feel that this is not really the fault of communist or giving the right to rule to the working class. It is more likely that almost everyone has some sort of selfishness in their heart even if they don't notice this. Communism is based on sharing and equality of everyone, thus no one would really enforce it; and at the same time, no one can enforce anything inside a real communist country at all because a real communist country actually has no social phase at all - it is ruled by all the people, and therefore, no one actually rule over anyone else. Also, most communist rulers use their system to gain power and advatages rather than regarding communism as something. As well, everything has its opposite. Our opposite and enemy somehow is just a competitor. This competitor is just competiting with us, so we have no way to say it good or bad - naturally. Of course, we are going to rate it to the worst basis because they (the rulers) rate us on teh same basis. Any way, this book is worth-reading.