Nickhil Singh
Title: Marx Engels Reader
If you haven't read any of Marx's works before, let alone heard of the man, this is the book that will provide you with everything you would need or want to know about him. The Marx Engel's Reader does not only contain The Communist Manifesto, but it has some of Marx's other seminal works, too. Remember, like Nietzsche, Marx's works are valuable because he raises several key points about current society. Various works in The Marx Engels Reader support this stance.
One of those works in the Marx Engel's Reader with that aforementioned value is the The Jewish Question. The Jewish Question helps to identify Marx's concerns about religion and all societal impositions. Specifically, Marx believes that man is locked in chains. When Jewish people complain about Christian impositions on their lives, they want liberty to choose their own lives. Even if they do get this liberty, they still only get to choose their chains and not be freed from them. Instead, Marx believes that only by destroying society's current set of mores and values will man be free. Most importantly. Marx's response to the Jewish question clarifies the aim of his communist revolution because it shows that he wants to get rid of all the components of society that restrict liberty.
In a sense, Marx is correct for though religous liberty may indeed give one the chance to believe their own faith, the same is person is still governed by their religous dogma. This is a truth that not even most religous person could deny.
Another of Marx's writings worth reading is Wage, Labor and Capital. In Wage, Labor and Capital we learn more about the downfall of specialization. As you may already know, Marx believes in historical materialism, which posits that man's current set of values comes from the labor period of the time. Furthermore, it is only by changing the modes of labor that govern work efficiency, which will change those set of values. Marx believes that the evolution of time will lead to the downfall of industrialization and out of the ashes will arise a new Eutopian society dominated by Communism. Marx's idyllic feelings aside, his critique of man's alienation from his labor is astounding and quite motivating, too. Marx concieves of a time when man's tasks become so menial from specialization that he doesn't even get enough money to support himself, let alone his family.
In the context of today's society, this seems a bit true. In corporate America, many individuals work 9-5 jobs that give them no satisfaction or pleasure. Ultimately, they live for the weekend. Marx would say that this is the perversion of man's species being. To clarify, Marx argues that man and his labor are intimately connected; man's labor is an expression of his soul. When man becomes alienated from his work, the role of free time and work get reversed; man lives for the free time instead of the work .As the above example shows, this vision is not too far from reality.
If you want to get a better grasp of Marx or just learn about him for the first time, I suggest reading this book. Putting aside all the jokes Marx has received since the fall of the Soviet Union, you will gain a better appreciation for the dream that was communism.
Want to reach me? E-mail me at nickhil@nickhil.com
