The Communist Manifesto

Remarkably Still Relevant In Ways

(4 stars)

bloodyknuckles

It's an important read for anyone living in Trump's America where the propaganda often erroneously conflates Socialism and Communism. Indeed in a place and time where the social equality movements are being labeled as the new Marxism, the value of a text explicitly defining what Marxism is cannot be understated.

amazing but Outdated read.

(5 stars)

E.T. Fletcher

The Communist Manifesto written by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels is but no means is as relevant as it once was. Children don't work in cramped factories that is in first world countries anyways and men certainly don't suffer fourteen hour work days anymore but there still is something to learn here about class struggle and the worth of economic systems as a whole that allows and requires one to study Marxist thought as a whole to be used in a practical societal use rather than a political one. Overall it an amazing read with a wonderful narration by Jon Ingram.

(4 stars)

Aaron

Reader is pretty good. As an American I struggle with the British accent at times. Although I think the root of the problem is that this book doesn't really work in this form. I try to think on and understand (historical context, etc.) what I just heard and BLAM, next sentence, and my mind is racing to catch up. Hence I struggle at quickly digesting some of the words. Might try hitting pause a bunch of times or give it a second go.

(4 stars)

Will

A decent enough read and like any idea, it had its time. Sadly the authors were completely misguided both in terms of human behaviour and in failing to recognise how the proletariat would also gain under capitalism. It is if course far from perfect and requires varying degrees of regulation but still offers more freedom than the totalitarian mindset of regimes and movements which claim to speak for or represent 'the people' when invariably speak for and represent only their own narrow ideologies. Well done to the reader though.

(3 stars)

Im sure then, that by the declarations of communism and anti communism, those whom speak are all Properly Educated? It does work in the right mindset. the right Administration. it does not work were those whom don't accept it dwell. as Capitalism. as Religion. as Faith (not religion) as Anything Embraced Truly. our Capacity Is Our Choice. See the Successful Communist Society's in our world. Including China. but look into the secular Communities that function and flourish by communism. and look around to see the flourishing counties of the U.S.A. that practice capitalism. be it where You are, give Your Best.

True communism remains unattainable

(3 stars)

Matthew Adkins

When anylizing this manifesto, we must note that true communism has yet to be attained. Rather most all attempts result in varying degrees of statism or dictatorships both which oppress the people they were supposed to free. That said, there are many reasons why the idea of communism has failed. First and foremost it ignores the true nature of man. Secondly, it adopt a loose form of morality in which the end justify the means. Third, it remains hostile to individual religions and ideologies, therefore suppressing free thought which is essential to a free people. Fourth, it sacrifices indidual liberty for an equality of outcomes. These, along with various other reasons is why communism has failed and why communism in it's purest form will never be reached.

(0.5 stars)

What a stinking pile! Imagine a package of hate and envy wrapped with a slanted narrow view of history containing the faulty premise that economic inequality necessarily means inequity and oppression, and you have the Communist Manifesto. The living and true God gives out gifts and talents in different portions and areas. To assert that economic inequalities arise necessarily from exploitation ignores this and primes the riots of revolution with wicked envy and class hatred. While fairness and justice lend themselves to providing equal opportunity, this does not necessitate equal outcomes which should not and cannot be mandated by the state. For when this has been attempted, the resulting tyrannical concentration of power in the hands of the few, the political mass killings and desperate economic poverty have been profound from Stalinist Russia to Maoist China to today's Un's North Korea. This ugliness of communism in theory and practice appears to be lost on the most recent generations of Westerners including Americans. The throngs of millennials who supported socialism, communism's half-wit step brother, in 2016's Democratic primaries exhibits how far the principles supporting private ownership of property and free trade have fallen into disrepair. What does this have to do with poetry? Nikolai Stepanovich Gumilev (1886-1921) was a Russian poet, literary critic, traveler and military officer. He fought in World War 1 in the Russian cavalry. After the Bolshevik revolution, he was open about his anti-communist sentiments and continued to act as a professing Christian by crossing himself in public. He wrote as an anti-communist in "The Pillar of Fire”, a collection of poems. The Cheka police arrested him in 1921 as a co-conspirator in an anti-communist movement. He was taken into the forest and executed along with 60 others without trial- Communism in its purist. Knowing this background, his poem "Descendants of Cain" can be read as drawing parallels between the temptation of Satan in Eden with the false promises of the Communists in Russia and elsewhere. Both promised much and delivered "horror"to those who followed that only the Cross in the end can remedy. Good week, C Descendants of Cain by Nikolai Stepanovich Gumilev He told us no lies, that harsh spirit with sad eyes and the morning star’s name: he said, “Don’t worry about Heaven’s vengeance; eat of the fruit and be like gods.” Young men can go anywhere, now, old men can do anything, and girls have amber fruit and unicorns white as snow. But why do our knees go weak, why do we feel forgotten by Someone, why do we understand the horror of the ancient temptation When someone’s hand, by accident and only for a moment, knots two sticks, two blades of grass, two poles, and shapes a cross?

a good place to start...

(3 stars)

Can we please dispense with this kneejerk 'communism is bad' or 'its a good idea on paper' or read '1984' or some other half baked automated response. It's old hat. this text is a philosophical work and in it has ideas, ideas which are worth thinking on, so think on it that's all that this text asks of you and that's all you should give it. That being said this work is easily digestible and it is a good place to start for anyone interested in leftist philosophy.