The Communist Manifesto

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Summary: My thoughs on the Communist Manifesto
Review: This is a good book for all people who want to read and understand the original principles of Communism and in particular, to judge for oneself and become aware of some of the misconceptions of it in our society. It outlines the division of the classes, between the Proletariat, the class which works for substinence by selling its own labour, and the Bourgeoisie which is the owner of capital and has a monopoly over the means of production, and thus controls society economically. It helps the reader to understand the difference between Marx/Engels conception of Communism and the infamous Stalinism and to head on to further reading. It is also interesting to note that democracy is a Communist concept and the book outlines that democracy should be taken at all levels, politically and economically, at a 'grass roots' level. In any case, I thoroughly enjoyed the book and it has given me some food for thought, as it still has some relevance even today...

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Summary: THE SPECTRUM AVANT LA LETTRE
Review: Live fast, die young an' have a good looking corpse ( knock at any door, nicholas ray, bogart ) : no way, the manifesto is alive an' on the road...

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Summary: Communism in a nutshell
Review: This is pretty much THE BOOK if you want to get the basic gist of Marxism. However, it seems like Marx was just padding most of it. The only Communist part was two or three pages long, and dreadfully scanty (it just says that everything is put into the control of the people through the government). You should take his ideas with a grain of salt. When you give the government control of industry, totalitarianism is bound to follow. Still, a good historical book.

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Summary: Lessons in what NOT to be
Review: Marx, though poverty stricken his whole life, managed to squeeze out some very good reading. Reading this and Das Kapital makes a person wonder if Marxism were truly imbedded in our culture today, would even be allowed to read it.... Makes one think...

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Summary: WORLD SHAKER
Review: I read Marx's political tract mainly because it ranks up with other books, such as Darwin's Origin of Species, the Bible, or Freud, as books that influenced and changed the world. Marx really gets the reader moved, and injects the reader with a passion to rise against the bourgeoisie, or the capitalist. The language is amazing, and no doubt each word followed to the literal T by some proponents that have also moved the world, notably Mao Zedong and V.I. Lenin. This book is highly recommended, because, now, it is a relatively IMMORTAL piece of work (no, not immoral!).

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Summary: Take it for what it's worth
Review: All of Marx's theories have pretty much been disproven and denounced. This is a book that probably resulted in millions of deaths at the hands of Communist governments inspired by Marx. Its contemporary worth lies in understanding the mentality of communists and how we can prevent such far-fetched theories from materializing in the future. The content of this book is pretty much useless now, but its historical importance shouldnt be forgotten.

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Summary: WORKERS OF THE WORLD UNITE!
Review: That is the concluding line and essential message of one of the greatest and most influential socio/political tracts of all time. The Communist Manifesto has stirred millions with its summation of the problems facing workers, why they find themselves in a subordinate state, and what they must do about ending the class tyranny of the Bourgeoisie, the capitalist class. Elsewhere, Marx says:"We are showing the world what it is in fact fighting for...and consciousness is something the world must acquire even if it does not want to." The Manifesto is the essential primer on the motives, aims and rationale of those who proclaim themselves communists, socialists, even anarchists everywhere. It stands as the classic "call to arms" for those willing and able to fight the good fight for justice, equality, democracy. Its flowery style and rhetoric cannot help but stir the soul. To those who say it is no more than propaganda for a system that can only fail, has failed, and has enslaved millions, I say look again. Socialism has yet to be established anywhere - not in Russia, not in China, not in Eastern Europe. It is fought tooth and nail by all ruling classes that seek to perpetuate their own power and privilege. Where there is no democracy, there can be no socialism and where there is no socialism, no true democracy. To those who invoke the tired cliche that socialism is against human nature, I say look at capitalism if you want to observe a system that is truly unnatural, anti-nature. War, economic crisis and instability, environmental devestation, unemployment, crime...if you consider all of this natural then we may as well just give up trying to do anything about anything. The Manifesto should be required reading. Instead it has been banned, burned, its author slandered and villified for many decades. That alone should tell you something of its power and import. It is the quintessential subversive tract. Its truth cuts through the real propaganda we're fed every day by corporate elites and their political mouthpieces. It goes a long way toward countering what we're supposed to believe with its revolutionary ideas, ideas intended to topple the "common wisdom". "The ruling ideas in any society are ever the ideas of its ruling class." I strongly suggest that readers delve into the words of Marx and Engels themselves rather than simply digest what has been said about them. I can guarantee (after reading the Manifesto and their other political and economic writings) that you'll come away with a new, deeper and fresh understanding of world events, politics, and the competing interests and struggles of mankind.

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Summary: This Book is what Killed 90 MILLION people Worldwide
Review: This book started communism. Communism is responsible for 90 MILLION deaths world-wide. Now, how can this book have such a high Amazon rating? It is beyond me. Shows how stupid people can be. Communism doesn't work, and it is not a fair way of living. So, don't buy this book. And if you do, don't forget that you are being brainwashed. Remember the 90 million dead as you read this. I mean, 30-40 million in China, 30 million in Russia, and more in other countries. That's how many communism has killed. And people say Hitler was a bad man!

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Summary: A Must Read
Review: If you have ever wondered about Communism and its true roots...read this.

Any Political Science Major should have read this book cover to cover.

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Summary: Misunderstood
Review: This book is quite enlightening. Not because Marx's ideas necessarily reflect reality, but it shows how little many of Marx's critics understand him. This book says alot of interesting things, the most important is that if certain conditions are met, the prolitariet will overthrown the bourguois. It also outlines what a Communist, by his/her very nature, is. However, there is no way to prove or disprove Marx's prediction, because the conditions for proletariet rule have not been met. Also, according to his definition, no one can be a real Communist unless they have zero self-interest which is impossible. The book is great until the last page when he calls for bloody revolution.

I do not see why people call this book evil. Surely the Bible has inspired worse, but most would hardly call it evil. Guns do not kill people, people do; if people choose not to critically think and be skeptical then all books will be evil. This book is an interesting, and brief, account of European history with regard to class struggle and merely makes a claim (before the call to arms). This book is hardly scientific, but is interesting and offers a usually shunned point of view. Highly recommended.