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Why Marx Was Right Kindle Edition
by Terry Eagleton (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 296 ratings
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One of the foremost Marxist critics of his generation forcefully argues against Marx's irrelevancy
"Reading a book by Terry Eagleton is like watching fireworks."—Dennis O'Brien, Christian Century
"[Eagleton is] a witty, insightful thinker with a penchant for glib asides and wry dashes of humor. It’s probably the only book that makes references to Tiger Woods and Mel Gibson along with Charles Fourier and Michel Foucault."—Michael Patrick Brady, PopMatters
In this combative, controversial book, Terry Eagleton takes issue with the prejudice that Marxism is dead and done with. Taking ten of the most common objections to Marxism—that it leads to political tyranny, that it reduces everything to the economic, that it is a form of historical determinism, and so on—he demonstrates in each case what a woeful travesty of Marx's own thought these assumptions are. In a world in which capitalism has been shaken to its roots by some major crises, Why Marx Was Right is as urgent and timely as it is brave and candid. Written with Eagleton's familiar wit, humor, and clarity, it will attract an audience far beyond the confines of academia.
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Print length
277 pages
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Review
"Each of the chapters of this erudite and breezy . . . tract begins with a series of assertions about Marx and Marxism, which Eagleton then proceeds to debunk . . . through excursions into philosophy, political practice and literary analogy. . . . Polemically charged and enjoyable."--Guardian
"A lively defense. . . . Eagleton offers a richer, more complex and nuanced picture of the father of modern socialism. . . . Throughout, the author is witty, entertaining, and incisive."--Publishers Weekly
"Eagleton is a compelling writer and raconteur. . . . He's a witty, insightful thinker with a penchant for glib asides and wry dashes of humor. It's probably the only book that makes references to Tiger Woods and Mel Gibson along with Charles Fourier and Michel Foucault."--Michael Patrick Brady, PopMatters
"Reading a book by Terry Eagleton is like watching fireworks. . . . The list of Marxism's shortcomings is common coinage, and Eagleton offers convincing counterarguments."--Dennis O'Brien, Christian Century
"Professor Eagleton covers the spectrum of critiques of Marxian ideas like only an actual critic of Marx could. As such, most of the rebuttals to these critiques are well contrived and incredibly sharp."--Greg Linster, Bookslut
About the Author
Terry Eagleton pursues the concept of sacrifice through the history of human thought, from antiquity to modernity, in religion, politics, and literature. He sheds skewed perceptions of the idea, honing in on a radical structural reconception that relates the ancient world to our own in terms of civilization and violence.
Product details
ASIN : B07B52PT32
Publisher : Yale University Press; Second edition (10 April 2018)
Language : English
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From other countries
Autonomeus
5.0 out of 5 stars Strong arguments, fun to read
Reviewed in the United States on 23 February 2024
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Terry Eagleton (b. 1943) tackles a weighty and serious topic with verve and wit, giving us some fun while we try to make the world a better place.
The structure is ten chapters, each addressing a common mistaken view about Marx:
1) Capitalism has changed, so Marx's theory is no longer relevant.
2) In practice, Marxism results in tyranny and mass murder.
3) Marx's theory is determinist, against freedom and individuality.
4) Marxism is a utopian dream because humans are essentially selfish.
5) Marxism is economically reductionist.
6) Marxism is materialist, against spirituality.
7) Marxism is obsessed with class.
8) Marxism is a violent doctrine -- "the ends justifies the means."
9) Marxism advocates an all-powerful state.
10) New social movements are not working class movements so Marxism is irrelevant.
Each of these misconceptions is systematically dismantled. Eagleton reflects his British setting with a Marxism strongly informed by the history and existence of the Labour Party and Trotskyism. He is no supporter of Stalin, the old U.S.S.R., or Mao.
I'm sure many would be surprised that Eagleton is not only a Marxist and a socialist, but also a Christian!
5 people found this helpful
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J. B. Hornby
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent, a great read.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 6 October 2018
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A great read, wonderfully vibrant prose as usual from Eagleton.
2 people found this helpful
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Sam
4.0 out of 5 stars Worth reading
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 23 July 2019
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Eagleton offering thought provoking re-framings of some of the classic critiques of Marxism. Inventive, engaging, and witty if not always entirely convincing...
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Johnny Mayhem
5.0 out of 5 stars Superb introduction to Marxism
Reviewed in the United States on 27 March 2021
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This was my first ever book on Marxism and I'm so glad I bought it. The author does have a tendency to ramble occasionally, but his thoughts are poignant, insightful and amusing. He explains the history and concepts of Marxism and skillfully takes down its critics with intelligence and accuracy in a way that is simple and easy to grasp.
This book is fantastic for those who are just getting into Marxism and would also be a great addition to any comrade's bookshelf, experienced or not.
14 people found this helpful
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Elizabeth M.
4.0 out of 5 stars Thrilling but got boring, then some more thrills
Reviewed in the United States on 6 May 2019
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For left leaning politico's who want to speak to their open minded conservative maties who have bought into the ludicrous fear of socialism engendered by American Oligarchical power structures - this book shows the common good in Marx'S thought. Despite popular American perception, Socialism has some modern day exemplars in sane and healthy socieities, and capitalism and communism are equally failed systems. Recognising that any system can get out of balance is what the author reveals - at length. He tells you why Marx was right. He doesnt categorically insist that Marx never made a mistake, nor that Marx predicted an inevitable future for humankind. For capitaism , yes . The roots of our surviving systems are in our hearts, not our wallets.
31 people found this helpful
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Vincent M. Maysee
5.0 out of 5 stars Marx was INDEED right!
Reviewed in the United States on 6 February 2020
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This is an easy to follow explanation of Marxism in general. I recommend it highly for anyone interested in Marxist theory.
24 people found this helpful
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M. McClure
3.0 out of 5 stars Erudite, witty nonsense.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 29 June 2018
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Whatever one's views on Marxism this is a fun read. Terry Eagleton is unfailingly witty and definitely erudite. I was somewhat worried when I purchased this book that he might persuade me to become a Marxist. I needn't have worried. Marxism is pseudo-religious cult disguised as an academic thesis. This is why it appeals to so many intellectuals. It allows you to have to apocalyptic fantasies of world redemption, its own branch of metaphysics, a concept of original sin and a communion of saints (Marx, Engels, Rosa Luxembourg, Gramsci, etc., etc) without doing God talk. Like all religions it has its own epistemology. If you don't buy into its epistemology then, like the secularist advocating the benefits of sex to the ardent Christian, you are automatically tainted. You are a class enemy and a counter-revolutionary. The trouble with Marx is that much of his analysis of capitalist society is correct, especially when he talks about alienation and the bogus identities propagated by modern capitalist, technological society. This accounts for the plausibility of Marxism, which Terry Eagleton is very good at putting across in his bumptious, breezy way. The trouble is that Marx was a good analyst but a rotten prophet. When the Revolution comes all will happen is that the ruling class will change. It will continue to be self-important, make life difficult for those who inconvenience it and propagate it own fictions. As the French, "Plus ca change, plus ca meme chose" - the more it changes, the more it is the same thing." It might even be like North Korea.
24 people found this helpful
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Skiamakhos
2.0 out of 5 stars Pretty boring tbh so far
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 5 September 2020
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Honestly, and I like Marx, so far this reads like chapter 1 of Das Kapital. It's not inspiring me nearly so much as David Harvey's video lectures on the Crises of Capitalism taken from Grundrisse. I'm not fully done with it yet though & if there's some gem at the end that makes the rest worth sitting through I'll edit this & let you know but so far, dry as the Gobi.
2 people found this helpful
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Ana
1.0 out of 5 stars A very difficult read
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 3 November 2020
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I bought the book to gain some insights into Marxism, but found the first two chapters very difficult to read - there is no structure to the content. Felt like someone was just having a rant or scribbled some random thoughts together. I tried to keep on reading after chapter 1 but after chapter decided it was not worth my time and efffort.
4 people found this helpful
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MikeInTheGutter
3.0 out of 5 stars Not that accessible.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 1 June 2018
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Struggling my way through this.
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