Genre: Non-Fiction, Economics, Political
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
🚀 The Book in 3 Sentences
- The Communist Manifesto describes the history of how the capitalist machine has developed and how it supports the bourgeoisie (the rich) in their oppression of the proletariat (the working class).
- Marx and Engels outline how a communist revolution can happen and what must be done to enable the proletariat to break their chains.
- The authors then distinguish communism from other forms of socialism they believe prop up capitalism instead of helping the working class.
🎨 Impressions
Being the last great political text of the Enlightenment and having influenced centuries of communists, reading this book for the first time was interesting to say the least. I think that Marx and Engels were visionary in not only their insight in the history of labour and industrialisation, but also to the direction of the future of the world. They even predicted the speed and reach of the globalisation of the next 150 years.
While communism may not practically be the best economic system, and there have been a number of academic arguments suggesting an update of the manifesto is needed for the 21st century, it was still very worthwhile reading.
How I Discovered It
I’ve heard of The Communist Manifesto for years, but I hadn’t read it in full until March, 2021 for the same literature class I read Persuasion for.
Who Should Read It?
Even if you are an ardent capitalist, I think The Communist Manifesto is worthwhile reading just to understand the perspective of an economic and political movement that has lasted for over 150 years. Seriously, for how short the book is, it’s worth it.
☘️ How the Book Changed Me
- Reading the book has made me think about how elements of communism is evident in society today. Things like universal healthcare, low-cost public transport, and state-supported industries are just a few of the effects of the The Communist Manifesto.
- 150 years later, Marx and Engels were insightful in their description of how capitalism would continue to develop and expand. For example, they stated capitalism would always seek to expand to new markets of people, and in the past 50 years, globalisation has been rampant, leaving almost no one untouched.
✍️ My Top Quotes
- “A spectre is haunting Europe—the spectre of communism. All the powers of old Europe have entered into a holy alliance to exorcise this spectre: Pope and Tsar, Metternich and Guizot, French Radicals and German police-spies.”
- “The proletarians have nothing to lose but their chains. They have a world to win. WORKING MEN OF ALL COUNTRIES, UNITE!”