The Anarchist Library

Socialism@beehaw.org – 37 points – 1 years ago

This isn't any article in particular, but rather a fantastic resource for anyone who wants to research leftist theory, or improve their praxis.

Disregard the name as it is a wealth of knowledge for socialists, anarchists and communists alike. I'm sure many here have learnt about this free and open library in the past, but just in case it's the first some have heard of it, I thought I'd share.

a fantastic resource

Not just any fantastic resource...

Probably the best resource.

Maybe creating a reading list for this Community and pinning it to the top also wouldn't be a bad idea.

I would add The Abolition of Work though that might be a controversial choice. Did a lot to get me thinking back in the day, though.

Maybe creating a reading list for this Community and pinning it to the top also wouldn’t be a bad idea.

@OneRedFox@beehaw.org probably has one of these laying around; it's possible i can scrounge one up too if needed

Theory suggestions:

Propaganda in the Information Age: Still Manufacturing Consent — Alan MacLeod (2019): for understanding corporate media.
The Reactionary Mind: Conservatism from Edmund Burke to Donald Trump — Corey Robin (2017): for understanding the chuds.
Bullshit Jobs: A Theory — David Graeber (2018): for understanding your boss.
Debt - Updated and Expanded: The First 5,000 Years — David Graeber (2014): for understanding your debt.
A People's History of the United States — Howard Zinn (2005): for understanding the US.
The Divide: A Brief Guide to Global Inequality and its Solutions — Jason Hickel (2017): for understanding wealth inequality under neoliberalism.
Bowling Alone: The Collapse and Revival of American Community — Robert D. Putnam (2001): for understanding the atomization of American society.

19th century classics:

The Conquest of Bread — Peter Kropotkin (1892): the ideas hold up, but the examples are quite dated.
Mutual Aid: A Factor of Evolution — Peter Kropotkin (1891): was very influential over modern sociology, but of course newer research on this subject exists.

Love David Graeber's work. Bullshit Jobs is iconic.

He was taken from us too soon.

Suggest adding:

The Solutions Are Already Here: Strategies of Ecological Revolution From Below - Peter Gelderloos
Anarchy Works - Peter Gelderloos

Looks good so far! I've never heard about Propaganda in the Information Age, The Reactionary Mind and Bowling Alone. I'll probably add them to my list though.

Maybe it would also be a good idea to add some shorter texts as a simple and introductory primer? Something that's only a few pages long. I know a few if you would like some suggestions.

I'm down for suggestions.

Just to name a few for now:

Theses On The Fight Of The Working Class Against Capitalism - Anton Pannekoek
Are You An Anarchist? The Answer May Surprise You! - David Graeber
Why Socialism? - Albert Einstein
The Socialization of Society - Rosa Luxemburg
The Destruction of Nature - Anton Pannekoek
Public Ownership and Common Ownership - Anton Pannekoek
Process Under Socialism - Peter Kropotkin
Prisons and Crime - Alexander Berkman

Also, I'd like some feedback on this list. I could theoretically add a few more, but that's probably not necessary and would just overwhelm any newcomers.

Funny, I just started to read Bullshit Jobs on there, because it showed up on Hacker News and wondered, if it would be a good contribution to this community :)

It's one of my favourites honestly, glad it's already well known around here.

Wow the whole book is on there? That’s amazing!

yeah--quite a lot of full books are, actually. with graeber especially though his bibliography is quite easy to find online.

Another, more intro list from Bread and Roses.