5 Leftist Books that Changed my Life

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[Andrewism]

If I may add a sixth book to this list of recommendations, Prefigurative Politics: Building Tomorrow Today by Paul Raekstad and Sofa Saio Gradin is a solid, critical, and accessible read.

Another, older yet surprisingly engaging read I've loved is At The Cafe by Errico Malatesta. And of course, I think practically anything by David Graeber and James C Scott are mind-expanding gems.

[bboyosmu]

Full List
1: Manufacturing Consent
2: The Jakarta Method
3: Why Socialism?
4: Red Plenty
5: Less Is More

[HarperOC]

I should be clear: those "dusty old political philosophy books" are truly essential, and not as daunting as you might think, anyway. BUT if you're a complete beginner, there's no shame in working your way up. My goal is to get you started on your political education journey, and that's going to look different for everyone.

[johnphillips]

My list of essentials:
- Why Socialism?
- Blackshirts & Reds, by Michael Parenti
- Liberalism: A Counter-History by Domenico Losurdo
- The Jakarta Method
- A Brief History of Neoliberalism (Harvey)
- Less Is More (Hickel)

[Yourstrulymc]

The left seriously needs this tone and audience targeting. You’re doing incredible work reaching the demographic the left is notoriously bad at speaking to. Hats off and keep up the amazing work.

[whathidude]

I appreciate how your channel came into my life at the right time. As a nursing student, my experiences with the American healthcare system have prompted me to reflect deeply on how we arrived and what steps we can take to improve it. While I understand that I might never enact sweeping changes, conversations with my peers and professors have reinforced my belief that a more informed and engaged populace is the key to building a better future.

[jenna]

The biggest thing that needs to happen is for people to understand that their PERSONAL PREFERENCES aren't necessarily good PUBLIC POLICY.

[JimmyTheGiant]

brother lets jump on a stream sometime! Keep doing what you are doing

[communistravenn]

If I might suggest some strong postcolonial theory, The Wretched of the Earth by Frantz Fanon is incredible. Fanon's other works are very much worthwhile as well, but he really speaks his whole mind in The Wretched of the Earth.

[thefunbuns]

Some more recommendations I’d love more people to read:
Washington Bullets - Vijay Prashad
Blackshirts and Reds - Michael Parenti
Inventing Reality - Michael Parenti
State and Revolution - Vladimir Lenin
Ten Days That Shook The World - John Reed
Blood In My Eye - George Jackson
Is The Red Flag Flying? - Albert Szymanski

This is just a hodgepodge of stuff I read throughout my leftist development on a lot of different topics. Anything by Szymanski, Parenti, or Prashad will not disappoint imo.

[jacobdimpsey]

The Shock Doctrine by Naomi Klein was the biggest eye-opening book for me as a leftist. Really well-researched and precise in its examination of the US as a global empire that works based on the best interest of western capital and the investor class and not in the best interest of the people. Sounds like The Jakarta Method is kind of similar, but I would still highly recommend checking out The Shock Doctrine if you haven't already.

[CadeeWinter]

Thank you for making this video. I grew up in a conservative Christian household, never really thinking about what I believed or why I believed it. I just adapted my parents beliefs because they were familiar to me. It's what I grew up with; it's what I was taught. But recently I started questioning everything, and I realized my "beliefs" weren't really mine; they were my parents. I was never taught to think about things or why they are the way they are; they just were. Now it's incredibly difficult figuring out what the truth is and what I believe. This video gave me an amazing place to start to learn about ideas and opinions that differ from the only ones I have ever known. I'm going to try to go into this with an open mind and form opinions not based on my parents or to defy my parents but to find the truth, to figure out what I believe.

[glaucusatlanticus]

You're growing quick! Here's a boost! We definitely need more people like you!

[McHobotheBobo]

2:00 MC is solid, I've found Parenti's "Inventing Reality" (2 yrs before MC) and "Make-Believe Media" to be the strongest works on the topic

[barny]

Manufacturing consent is such an amazing book that really opened my eyes, glad to see you recommended it. Your last few videos have been really good for me being one of those depressed, lost leftist.

[andrewschon]

My favorite Leftist book is, without a doubt, "Hammer and Hoe" by Robin DG Kelley. Even if you read it 6 pages at a time, you'll be thinking about it from the second you put it down until you pick it back up again. Another Leftist book that I care a lot about is "Poor People's Movements" by Cloward & Piven. That book is basically the founding document of the tenant union I organize with. Truly a book that is a gateway from theory to praxis. One more... "Fossil Capital" by Andreas Malm. It's about the intrinsic link between hydrocarbons and capitalism. It's got so much: Eco-socialism, Marxist economics, class struggle, gender issues, town & country, etc. Those three books (especially) shifted the furniture around in my head. There's no going back after reading them.

[wlxlhmk]

The best book to start with is only one:
*A Concise Introduction to Logic* by Hurley and Watson. Everyone bookish needs to learn informal logic and critical thinking. It’s essential for all types of politics. This book is the best intro to this.

Read the 1st of 3 sections. Do the odd problems & check the odd answers in back. If you’re a math person, do the 2nd of 3 sections on formal logic also. Do the 3rd if you’re also interested.

[postiepaul]

I’d like to suggest ‘Atlas Shrugged’ by Ayn Rand. Hear me out. She makes capitalism so abhorrent that the only alternative can be socialism.

[zaviersyed]

All Americans/Westerners insterested in leftism MUST read Blackshirts and Reds by Michael Parenti. It’s short, well sourced, and very digestible

[kren]

Killing Hope is a brilliant expose of American imperialism so I would definitely recommend that as well