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Showing reviews 1-5 of 45
 Outdated. July 28, 2010
Antonis (Cyprus)
This review is for The Communist Manifesto: A Modern Edition.
The Communist Manifesto, by Marx and Engels, is from the start an outdated work. The principles and ideas presented are either concerned with the conditions of the working class in the 19th century, where child labor, the absence of worker's rights and the terrible living and working conditions were a miserable reality for the people of Europe, and with the predictions of Marx that the capitalist system is doomed to fail because of its own contradictions. The Manifesto presents many ideas of Marx, such as the materialistic conception of history, or the criticism of the Utopian socialists and the concept of the class struggle, but does not explain or analyze on them. Therefore, reading the Manifesto to understand Marx's thought is hardly enough, although it is a decent foundation.
The Communism presented in the Manifesto has little to do with the Communism that the world came to know in the 20th century. Therefore, reading the Manifesto to understand political and economic systems such as the Soviet Union and today's Cuba, again, is hardly enough. In this case, you would be interested in reading the works of Lenin, who was the thinker who influenced these political and economic systems.
So, is there any significance left in the Communist Manifesto? Certainly, its historical significance cannot be denied. In addition, it offers an alternative perspective and will make the reader agree, or disagree, but above all think for him/herself. It is however, a difficult read, with outdated terminology and passionate language which could also be described as propaganda.
Read the Manifesto, understand it, but also criticize it.
The Communist Manifesto: A Modern Edition is an excellent edition of the work of Marx and Engels. I give this work 5 stars, for the great edition of a historically significant text.
For those people who constantly attack Marx. Karl Marx influenced, apart from politics, philosophy, economics, history, and is credited as one of the three main founders of Sociology. So for all those that cannot understand the significance of Marx beyond politics, have a bit of respect of an intellectual who has provided so much to the modern social sciences.
 Extremely important historically, but a very heavy read for the politically untainted May 30, 2010
Mr. C. Scott (Birmingham, England)
One cannot underestimate the importance of the document enclosed in this text, or rather the last third of it. A set of ingenious rules and regulations which, when read make perfect sense as to the makings of a fair world. Marx and Engels are true visionaries, and their text should be read by all.
But, the long, extremely meticulous and biased introduction doesn't need to be in this edition. It should be cheaper by leaving this out, and minus such a heavy block of pedantic and vague historical references that nobody without a very decent background in Franco/Germanic history could possibly understand fully, be a far more engaging and thought provoking read.
I do urge you however, to buy this text. It is such a crucial part of history. And as with all Penguin Classics, of a good quality, at affordable prices.
Brilliant April 21, 2010
Connor Mcelwaine
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
This book is a must read for politics, history, economic students or just about anyone with an interest in anything.
Communist what? January 31, 2010
Gerald D. D. S. Croft
1 out of 6 found this review helpful
Some people are born equal, some more than others. Communism has failed, and so did this book in trying to impress me. It's a failed experiment. Try as communist ideaology might. Someone has to be in charge and as soon as it happens the whole idea falls to pieces. Saying that, capitalism is failing too!
 If you ask me, the emperor is naked January 25, 2010
Printul Noptilor (Eastern Europe)
4 out of 9 found this review helpful
I grew up in a socialist country and was made to read this book repeatedly during my school and university years. Of course, I was also made to read tons of other communist stuff. So I know far more about communist literature than an average West European. And I can tell you that this is one of the most inept communist works I've ever read.
I am absolutely not talking about ideological acceptability. Yes, I've always hated communism, but even communist works can be more intelligent or less intelligent. For instance, Mao Zedong writes disgusting stuff, but in an intelligent manner. If you have leftist leanings, you are absolutely advised to read his "Quotations from Chairman Mao Tse-tung" (the so-called little red book). "The Communist Manifesto", though, is remarkably unintelligent. Occasionally, two consecutive sentences contradict each other. I find it hard to imagine that it would be very enlightening to anyone.
Showing reviews 1-5 of 45
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