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Vladimir Ilyich Lenin
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Essential Works of Lenin: "What Is to Be Done?" and Other Writings Kindle Edition

by Vladimir Ilyich Lenin (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 241 ratings
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Among the most influential political and social forces of the twentieth century, modern communism rests firmly on philosophical, political, and economic underpinnings developed by Vladimir Ilyich Ulyanov, later known as Lenin. In this volume, comprising the four works generally considered his most important publications, Lenin presents the goals and tactics of Communism with remarkable directness and forcefulness.
His first major work was The Development of Capitalism in Russia, written in prison after Lenin had been arrested for anti-government activities in 1895. Represented here by key sections, the book developed a number of crucial concepts, including the significance of the industrial proletariat as a revolutionary base. What Is to Be Done?, long regarded as the key manual of Communist action, is presented complete, containing Lenin's famous dissection of the Western idea of the political party along with his own concept of a monolithic party organization devoted to achieving the goal of dictatorship of the proletariat. Also presented complete is Imperialism, the Highest Stage of Capitalism, in which Lenin examines the final "parasitic" stage of capitalism. Finally, this volume includes the complete text of The State and Revolution, Lenin's most significant work, in which he totally rejects the institutions of Western democracy and presents his vision of the final perfection of Communism.
For anyone who seeks to understand the twentieth century, capitalism, the Russian revolution, and the role of Communism in the tumultuous political and social movements that have shaped the modern world, the essential works of Lenin offer unparalleled insight and understanding. Taken together, they represent a balanced cross-section of this revolutionary theories of history, politics, and economics; his tactics for securing and retaining power; and his vision of a new social and economic order.
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  1. Print length
    400 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Sticky notes
    On Kindle Scribe
  4. Publisher
    Dover Publications
  5. Publication date
    March 6, 2012
  6. File size
    2721 KB
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Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B008TVLJ16
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Dover Publications (March 6, 2012)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ March 6, 2012
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 2721 KB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 400 pages
  • Page numbers source ISBN ‏ : ‎ 0486253333
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 241 ratings

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Vladimir Ilyich Lenin

Vladimir Ilyich Lenin

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Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars
4.5 out of 5
241 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Magickal Merlin
5.0 out of 5 stars Best Collection of Lenin's Writings & Thoughts,Both Logical and Illogical
Reviewed in the United States on May 19, 2007
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This is probably the best book on the personal writings and political blueprints of Vladimir Ilyich Lenin.The main problem that Leninism ran into, was that an oligarchy of the communists can became as insenitive and remote from the laboring masses, as a czarist monarchy had been before. Lenin felt the peasants did not have the savvy intellectual prowess to keep the socialist-labour movement going forward.And also that the peasants would be prone towards nostalgia for the czar and his church beliefs.Regicide did little to stop the peasants human need for a spiritual superman figure and Joesf Stalin fit the bill.Many remaining WW2 Soviet veterans carry a picture of 'Uncle Joe' with them.The world war and later the cold war,gave stalwart leaders a reason to justify a 'closed-market system'. Yet this lead to another problem with Leninism.The idea of laboring for the sake of labor,regardless of real economic-market/social value.In America,Richard Nixon tried 'fixed-prices and price-caps' on some large domestic products,which only lead to a worsening of the economy with even higher inflation rates. Ronald Reagan also had the strange idea of 'Supply-side economics',which was correctly lampooned by George Bush Sr. as 'VooDoo Economics'.The faulty idea that a large supply produced would induce a large demand for the product.For example, if the government produced a hefty supply of 'reusable solar-powered flashlights(with modest capacitance)',would there then be a hefty demand for them in the dark fall-winter months and also in the light spring-summer months?If disposable batteries became scarce,because of strict local/state/federal environmental laws imposed,then demand for 'solar-powered flashlights'would increase to meet market-demand. The need and value of the product is driven by market-demand.-Lenin ,who was an admirer and distorter of the scientific ideas of Charles Darwin,did not understand that people are fickle humans .Whose tastes and values are subject to ready change.Regardless,of what laws and penalities the bureaucrats impose upon them.-Interesting book concerning socialist economic theory.
14 people found this helpful
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Mitchem
5.0 out of 5 stars Leftist Must-Read
Reviewed in the United States on January 11, 2022
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You can’t truly understand how to be leftist until you read this book. The writings on what is to be done is huge for movement building. His chapter on capitalism and imperialism resonates with today. State and Revolution inevitably adds a lot to communist/socialist theory and also shows what can be built upon. Don’t listen to anyone else who tells you to judge him without reading his writing first. They are scared of what you might figure out.
4 people found this helpful
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Thomas D.
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Collection
Reviewed in the United States on September 11, 2019
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This provides an excellent collection of Lenin’s most important works. That being The Development of Capitalism in Russia, What is to be Done?, Imperialism: The Highest Stage of Capitalism, and State and Revolution. State and Revolution is arguably his most important, but it shouldn’t be the first Marxist work a beginner should read.
3 people found this helpful
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Will Jerom
4.0 out of 5 stars Dense, but a Good Introduction
Reviewed in the United States on August 11, 2007
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The Essential Works of Lenin does provide a remarkably concise introduction to Lenin's thought. It will not be easy for the novice reader, so a perusal of The Communist Manifesto, or other introductory writings will be important to get a firm grasp on Lenin's Marxist views. The final 90 page chapter "The State and Revolution" may be the most accessible and intelligible of Lenin's views; much of the earlier portions of this 364 page book deal with Lenin's critique of other socialists who have deviated from true Marxism (this is the most difficult part to read, because it assumes a knowledge of his historical context). The book then, is a good one, but introductory exposure to Marxist thought will help. It does provide a valuable, concise biography of Lenin in the introduction.
That aside, let us turn to a critique of Lenin's thought. Lenin was a very intelligent critic of capitalism, with many penetrating insights into the function and abuses of a capitalist economy. It is not that Marxism was based on a complete illusion, but that it was based on a partially-true, compelling illusion that perhaps makes it so seductive, and so dangerous. I dissent, for example, in thinking that only the "dictatorship of the proletariat" can supplant the dictatorship of the bourgeoisie, and that somehow a freer, fuller democracy will result from a worker-managed society in which the state will subsequently "wither away." History demonstrated that instead of withering away, the Communists party only solidified its tyranny over the masses, and substituted one dictatorship for another. That Lenin or Marx possessed a real historical "science" of political-economy I think has been disproved. While claiming not to be a utopian, it is difficult to see how some of Lenin's claims are anything but - in terms of the transformation of human beings by the abolition of class antagonisms. People remain people, inherently biased, often selfish, not concurring, and striving to realize two very difficult things: a society with the greatest possible freedom and equality for all.
Do not be mistaken, however. Just because Lenin (as Marx) made serious errors in their theory, does not excuse the student of ethics, politics, or religion from treating these writings of Lenin with the serious academic study they deserve. Lenin may have been wrong about much, but right about a great deal too. Understanding his thought will be important for any student of history and politics.
That said, this book does very little to comment on religion. Famous for their antipathy towards religion, choose another book if you are interested in their ideas about religion. This book does do very well on Lenin's political-economic theory. Lenin also draws quite considerably on Engels, considering him and Marx to be the only true interpreters (beside himself) of the doctrine.
A final note - the book also does not mention Adam Smith - it is just assumed that capitalist theory is wrong, and Lenin spends much of its time battling the "false" or "opportunist" Marxists (Bernstein, Kautsky, the anarchists). See Marx or perhaps another volume on Lenin for a more direct confrontation of Smith and classical economists.
25 people found this helpful
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Razhian
5.0 out of 5 stars The Essential Works of Lenin: a heady read.
Reviewed in the United States on August 19, 2015
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Some of the material was heady. Imperialism: The Final Stage of Capitalism was fantastic, and is relevant to this modern era post 2010. A century later and Lenin's work has much relevance. The last book contained within "The State and Revolution" summed up what is to be done, how and why. The other work assist with building up to the two I mentioned above, but are still good reads for one who has a curiosity of communism. The book also assists with understanding capitalism, and how the East views the West.
7 people found this helpful
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Adam Kozman
5.0 out of 5 stars Read this or else you are being silly
Reviewed in the United States on April 30, 2021
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This kindly old man has a lot of good ideas and i have heard he really loved cats.
3 people found this helpful
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Earth Belongs To The Dinosaurs
5.0 out of 5 stars Thanks For Making This Book Non Biased
Reviewed in the United States on January 22, 2014
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I had been interested in Vladimir Lenin since High School but never had a chance to read more on about him. Unfortunately most books on him are biased. So i finally decided that it best to read his own writings. This book has some of his greatest work and it really gives you a lot of detail and what he really wanted to do. My favorite part of the book is "Imperialism: The Highest Form of Capatilism"
7 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

Trotskii
5.0 out of 5 stars excellent book
Reviewed in Canada on May 7, 2019
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three of Lenin's most important works in one convenient volume
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gelholton
5.0 out of 5 stars Good coverage
Reviewed in Australia on November 18, 2019
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Good selection of books
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Bartosz Scheller
5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
Reviewed in Canada on February 20, 2016
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An important read in one's understanding of why the revolution was necessary and why it happened in Russia.
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Maitland Kelly
4.0 out of 5 stars Good Price
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 10, 2019
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Book bought for University. Good price. Unfortunately book is slightly damaged. I'll hold onto it rather than sending it back. A little bit disappointed it arrived in that condition.
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peter peters
5.0 out of 5 stars EXCELLENT BOOK.
Reviewed in Canada on February 24, 2017
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EXCELLENT BOOK.THANKS
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