Marxism (Routledge Revivals) Philosophy and Economics [Paperback]

First published in 1985, Thomas Sowells book is a crisp, lucid and commonsensical introduction to Marxs own writings and to Marxist theory. It combines readability with intellectual rigour and distils more than a quarter of a century of Thomas Sowells research and thought on the philosophical and economic doctrines of Karl Marx.

Its central theme is that Marxian philosophy must be understood before Marxian economics can be defined. The book discusses Marxs ideas, including his philosophy of history, concept of capitalist exploitation , morality and business cycle theory. The authors treatment is balanced, though often critical and displays a mastery of Marxs own writings which are liberally extracted throughout the text.

1. Economics and Philosophy  2. The Dialectic Approach  3. Philosophic Materialism  4. The Marxian Theory of History  5. The Capitalist Economy  6. Marxian Economic Crises  7. Marxian Value  8. Political Systems and Revolution  9. Marx the Man  10. The Legacy of Marx

Among the best short accounts of Marxism ever, whatever the readers own politics are. I found it a real pleasure to read, clear and tight, full of both common sense and intellectual rigour. Bernard Crick

Very readable & The non-Marxist Mr Sowell is distinctly successful in opening up the scope and brilliance of Marxs very interesting mind. Brigitte Berger, New York Times Book Review