Political literature recommendations. AKA: GET WOKE, SON!
Nov 22, 2016 17:40:13 GMT -6
Random, Eugene Tea, and 2 more like this
Post by Mugwump on Nov 22, 2016 17:40:13 GMT -6
So I hate all the newspapers in the UK. All of them are awful. I only read the Metro because it's free and even then it feels over priced sometimes (backing first past the post, I'LL NEVER FORGIVE YOU!!). But I still try to read as much as I can about politics, fortunately for me there exists a little haven for socialists in the heart of Liverpool, a feminist book co-operative called News From Nowhere. And it is LIIIIT! So I thought I'd go into some of the stuff I've read and why I think you should check it out. As well as some of the stuff I haven't gotten to yet.
Road to Wigan Pier (George Orwell). A lot of people seem to think Orwell was a liberal because 1984 and Animal Farm. Not the case, Orwell was a staunch socialist. This book gives a clear unflinching look at the mining towns of Northern England and how the people coped. It also outlined the huge class divide and why Upper/Middle class liberals and Marxists struggled to relate to the proletariat of England. In short it's because they were patronizing and/or their language was too obtuse, Orwell's use of language cuts through all the bullshit. However Orwell is no romanticist, he doesn't paint the English working class as some noble beast, he calls them downright ugly, swol AF but still ugly. It also goes into things like their diets, why poor people tend to eat junk food. Lots of stuff that is still relevant to the modern socialist (especially if you're white middle class).
Homage to Catalonia (George Orwell). Aww yeah, fighting fascism! Orwell talks in depth about the tedious nature of war and how revolution can change the way people behave. He outlines a lot of the problems the CNT/FAI had, and from that it's easy to see why they lost, but at the same time it's remarkable that they held together for as long as they did. It's simultaneously inspiring and depressing. Definitely recommended.
The Communist Manifesto (Karl Marx & Friedrich Engels). What do you mean Marx didn't found the entire philosophy?! I haven't actually finished this yet but it's very short and cheap if you get an e-copy. It's even cheaper if you find a free version (I think LibCom.org might have one?). Anyway it helps clear up a lot of misconceptions about Communism if you actually read the stuff.
Resistance! (Anarchist Federation) You can pick up physical copies of Resistance! for free or for a donation. Much to my annoyance they don't distribute the current issue online, but if you can find yourself a copy it's worth taking a look at if you live in the UK, the most recent edition contains some really interesting stuff about grass roots organisation and strikes that have taken place this year.
Unite Works (Unite). If you're a member of Unite (like I am) you'll get a free copy of the most recent edition. It's pretty decent, it's mostly about how shit the Conservatives are, which I can get behind.
Still to read, On Anarchy by Noam Chomsky, and Deep Ecology Anarchy by various authors. I've also ordered another book called Making Stuff and Doing Things which I think contains some info on getting involved in direct action. AFED also distribute free e-pamphlets about strikes, Bakunin, Capitalism etc which I fully intend to check out.
So yeah, get posting them recommendations. Can't Agitate before you Educate.
Road to Wigan Pier (George Orwell). A lot of people seem to think Orwell was a liberal because 1984 and Animal Farm. Not the case, Orwell was a staunch socialist. This book gives a clear unflinching look at the mining towns of Northern England and how the people coped. It also outlined the huge class divide and why Upper/Middle class liberals and Marxists struggled to relate to the proletariat of England. In short it's because they were patronizing and/or their language was too obtuse, Orwell's use of language cuts through all the bullshit. However Orwell is no romanticist, he doesn't paint the English working class as some noble beast, he calls them downright ugly, swol AF but still ugly. It also goes into things like their diets, why poor people tend to eat junk food. Lots of stuff that is still relevant to the modern socialist (especially if you're white middle class).
Homage to Catalonia (George Orwell). Aww yeah, fighting fascism! Orwell talks in depth about the tedious nature of war and how revolution can change the way people behave. He outlines a lot of the problems the CNT/FAI had, and from that it's easy to see why they lost, but at the same time it's remarkable that they held together for as long as they did. It's simultaneously inspiring and depressing. Definitely recommended.
The Communist Manifesto (Karl Marx & Friedrich Engels). What do you mean Marx didn't found the entire philosophy?! I haven't actually finished this yet but it's very short and cheap if you get an e-copy. It's even cheaper if you find a free version (I think LibCom.org might have one?). Anyway it helps clear up a lot of misconceptions about Communism if you actually read the stuff.
Resistance! (Anarchist Federation) You can pick up physical copies of Resistance! for free or for a donation. Much to my annoyance they don't distribute the current issue online, but if you can find yourself a copy it's worth taking a look at if you live in the UK, the most recent edition contains some really interesting stuff about grass roots organisation and strikes that have taken place this year.
Unite Works (Unite). If you're a member of Unite (like I am) you'll get a free copy of the most recent edition. It's pretty decent, it's mostly about how shit the Conservatives are, which I can get behind.
Still to read, On Anarchy by Noam Chomsky, and Deep Ecology Anarchy by various authors. I've also ordered another book called Making Stuff and Doing Things which I think contains some info on getting involved in direct action. AFED also distribute free e-pamphlets about strikes, Bakunin, Capitalism etc which I fully intend to check out.
So yeah, get posting them recommendations. Can't Agitate before you Educate.