Discussion Thread: What are all you reading in terms of fiction AND non-fiction? - #21
I'm reading The Collected Works of Ambrose Bierce (Delphi edition) on my tablet.
Just finished Legendborn as well.
The Dark Forest by Liu Cixin is also what I'm reading (second book in the trilogy of The Three-Body Problem)
In terms of non-fiction:
Fundamentals of Marxism-Leninism (2nd Edition) by Otto Wille Kuusinen (highly recommended!)
Class, Race and Black Liberation by Henry Winston (also highly recommmend! ...Though not before reading the prequel to the book Strategy for a Black Agenda)
Discussion questions:
What new books are you reading?
Do you prefer fiction or non-fiction?
Question of the week:
What books are you eager to read that you haven't read yet?
Started reading "Origins of family and private property" by comrade Friedrich Engels. It's a harder read than Lenin's "State and revolution", but I suppose it is expected from a scientific work. Interesting stuff, however. I like the unhurried, scientific approach to history and general matters. Goes to show that communism isn't just "some people are angry at rich folk", as it is often understood in popular culture.
In terms of fiction... I'm kinda stuck there. Pretty much nothing I've tried starting these past weeks makes me want to continue reading. It's all so tiresome
I've not read any fiction book lately (like, in the last 6 years or so). Only non-fiction and specially stuff related to Marxism and biology. Recently started "The Great Class War", by Jacques Pawels and "Red Theology", by Roland Boer.
I want to read some books that have been on my list for a while like "Liberalism: A counter history" by Losurdo, "The Liberal Virus" by Samir Amin, "This is Biology" and "What Evolution is" by Ernst Mayr and "American Exception. Empire and the Deep State", by Aaron Good.
The Second Sex by Simone de Beauvoir. In the first volume, Beauvoir tackles the alerity that Man imposed on women, from a historical and literary viewpoint. She goes over the male assumptions of women's inferiority or otherness in the fields of biology and psychoanalysis, and she has a few comments to say on historical materialism, specifically responding to what Engels' The Origin of the Family. It's an interesting read until now, and I'm wondering how this work relates to Beauvoir and Sartre's polygamous relationship.
I'm looking forward to read some of al-Kawakibi's works next.
I am currently reading Gwyn Alf Williams’ Proletarian Order: Antonio Gramsci, Factory Councils and the Origins of Communism in Italy 1911-1921. I am visiting France next month so I will probably pack Jean Jaurès A Socialist History of the French Revolution.
I tend to read non-fiction. I'd like to read more fiction but never seem to get around to it.
I'm currently reading Grace Can Lead Us Home by Kevin Nye. It's is about a housing-first approach to helping the unhoused(as opposed to the current mainstream systems). It's written by a Christian based on his experiences with working for the unhoused but I still think it's good literature regardless of your faith. It's been running fairly parallel with my experiences with helping the unhoused as well. I've since added it to my lefty lit I will recommend.
Up next I am gonna read either Killing Hope, Inventing Reality, or just read both. Then I want to get back to theory, which I am always taking suggestions on.
My wife was the one that suggested it to me. She's a leftist Christian and I am very much an atheist but have been thinking about where "leftist Christianity" fits with with Marxism(I know, opiate of the masses and all). But even regardless of the religious aspects, I think housing first and safe use sites should be the way we do things regarding this sort of outreach, and this book is definitely from that angle a well.
On my new ereader :) I’m reading The Dialectical Biologist (decent, recommend to biology interested people), On Practice by Mao (as part of FLPress’s five essays on philosophy, everyone should read), What is to be done (important read), and I’m finding it difficult to get back into Karl Marx’s ecosocialism (it’s dense and I’m a third through).
I probably prefer fiction, but nonfiction seems more important so I mostly read it.
There are a lot of books that I really want to read, but have not started. Some such books include What the Buddha taught, Decolonial Marxism, Socialist States and the Environment, and socialism with Chinese characteristics. I also does anyone know if the PSL book on future socialist construction in the US was any good, I’ve considered buying it and also don’t remember it’s title too.
Interesting. I think I know the person who wrote The Dialectical Biologist, but I forgot his name...
I would also recommend reading fiction as it gives respite from the hard and serious stuff that may be depressing at times or too "boring" (not enough dopamine).
Of course. For fiction, a few weeks ago I was reading some lovecraft, but the earlier stuff isn’t as good, and it’s also somewhat reactionary, so it feels like a chore trying to get through it so I can get to the more famous stuff. On my ereader I have the Crying of Lot 49, which should be good, but I feel weird opening another book. Maybe I should read something easier like the hunger games. I also need to get back into Octavia Butler, as I never finished the last part of wild seed, and have only read the graphic novel of parable of the sower, so that should be good in its original along with the sequel.
I've started reading Subversive Lives: A Family Memoir of the Marcos Years by Susan and Nathan Quimpo. I found it after reading The Jakarta Method and wanting to read more leftist history of SEA. (Also strongly recommend for anyone interested in anti-imeprialism)
I've only read about 1/6 of it so far, but I've found it very informative of the atrocities committed by the Marcos family. I'm genuinely brought to tears several times in the book reading the first hand accounts of the terrors brought upon them. What's been very interesting so far is how much infighting and splintering that occured between the several revolutionary groups of the Philippines of the era. One brother of the author was actually killed by his comrades early on in the book.
If anyone here has read it, I'd love to hear your thoughts on it as well.
Afterwards I'd like to read State & Revolution (yeah yeah, baby leftist, I know)
I've been in the leftist camp for the last few years now, but just recently self identifying as an ML, but probably agreeing with the general idea without realising it.
My mother who grew up in Soviet Crimea just recently gifted me a copy of the Manifesto, so I'll be reading that soon. I'd really appreciate a list of some recommended works. Also if you have any suggestions for some books in the perspective of a historical account like The Jakarta Method, that really resonated with me.