I wish there were more books like this. A collection of short essays, from a Marxist viewpoint, about the emergence of capitalism. Really useful for tI wish there were more books like this. A collection of short essays, from a Marxist viewpoint, about the emergence of capitalism. Really useful for thinking about methodology, would be great for a class about historical methods and historiography. Well-edited and summarized by Hilton. ...more
I was recently at a panel of some Marxist men talking about Marxism, and one of them would not stop talking in a kind of scornful way about biography.I was recently at a panel of some Marxist men talking about Marxism, and one of them would not stop talking in a kind of scornful way about biography. He sat with his hands interlocked upon his belly and tapped his index fingers together as he pontificated how biography, in its messiness, its particularity, its use of emotion and narrative, gets in the way of the purity of theory, of which we need lots of, apparently, pure clear geometric theory, in order to understand the structures of capitalism. Perhaps then, after we have nicely graphed capitalism on the Cartesian plane, can we locate a little gap in the system where we can go in and blow it all up. I'm not totally adverse to this sort of Death Star approach to understanding capitalism- re-creating the schematics in minute detail to ostensibly find the fatal flaw- but how effectively do we fight the system when we forever ignore the people it destroys? What is a Marxism that requires several advanced degrees to parse?
Anyways, I wanted to throw this book at the guy. Both because it is large, and because I think that, while everyone should read it, it is that good, Marxist Men in permanently stuck in AbstractionLand really especially need to read it. In this biography of Tussy, her messiness, her particularity, her emotion, and her commitment, we find the living breathing heart of anti-capitalism- concern for the well-being of all the people we share the world with. I was in tears at the end.
Superlative book. If anyone knows where Freddie Demuth is buried, please comment, I will go to England to bring flowers to his grave. ...more
Edited to five stars after realizing how useful this was in actually reading Capital, especially with some of the economic concepts that Harvey isn't Edited to five stars after realizing how useful this was in actually reading Capital, especially with some of the economic concepts that Harvey isn't as helpful with. Absolutely worth reading.
An overview of the main concepts of all three volumes of Capital, including some indications of where they diverge from mainstream economic theories, along with chapters on Marx in the 21st century and the 2008 financial crisis, all in under 200 pages! Many dense, algebra-laden sections that will be tricky for people without an economics background; but even skimming those, still a valuable introduction to Marxian economics. ...more
