Not trying to diss the Manifesto but I never recommend it to people to read first. Everyone who I've met who isn't a Comrade and only read the Manifesto always walk away saying the same shit about how it's "a great idea but not realistic and there's no real plan" blah blah or they just straight up say it's dumb because it isn't serious.

I think Principles of Communism is great as a real beginner FAQ and Socialism: Utopian and Scientific to dispel most of the "unrealistic" attacks. Stalin's Dialectical and Historical Materialism is even better if they already read analytical works generally.

You have a lot more experience actually creating reading lists and guides though, just sharing what I've noticed.

[–] Cowbee@lemmy.ml 6 points 3 months ago (2 children)

Yep, fully agreed! I don't even have the manifesto on my intro list, if you've seen it, and I'm debating adding Stalin's Foundations of Leninism, or Dialectical and Historical Materialism. It's going through a bit of a refresh right now.

[–] anarchoilluminati@hexbear.net 5 points 3 months ago (1 children)

Nice, good luck with the refresh!

You know, I've never even read Foundations of Leninism. I'm going to put that on my own list. Thanks!

[–] Cowbee@lemmy.ml 4 points 3 months ago

No problem! FoL is a nice refresher, and a great intro IMO, so it's all stuff you likely have already read before but still worthwhile.

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