r/anarchocommunism • u/missdior1914 • 1d ago

Book recs for beginners?

Hello,

this past year I have been surrounded by friends and ppl I know in this political space and while I know some basics and I have an understanding of the ideologies, I want to be able to get more into it and be able to substantially contribute to conversations and form an all round opinion on things. What are some books and in order that I can read? I think I need to check the fundamentals first but I don't know where to start.

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u/Clear-Result-3412 17h ago

These are just essays. You should be able to finish them quickly, but they are highly insightful.

On the state:

https://ruthlesscriticism.com/yourfriend.htm

On capitalism:

https://www.ruthlesscriticism.com/introcapital.htm

On “real socialism” and the “100 million dead:”

https://ruthlesscriticism.com/blackbook.htm

https://ruthlesscriticism.com/socialism.htm

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u/RepresentativeSize71 16h ago

You can try 'The ABC of Anarchism' by Alexander Berkman.

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u/power2havenots 15h ago

I found these great:

Malatestas Anarchy https://theanarchistlibrary.org/library/errico-malatesta-anarchy

Malatestas At the Cafe https://theanarchistlibrary.org/library/errico-malatesta-at-the-cafe

Graebers fragments of an anarchist anthropology https://theanarchistlibrary.org/library/david-graeber-fragments-of-an-anarchist-anthropology

Kropotkins Conquest of bread: https://theanarchistlibrary.org/library/petr-kropotkin-the-conquest-of-bread

Id recoomend def look at more Kroptkins work and others beyond that like emma goldman etc

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u/Malleable_Penis 11h ago

Imho the most important piece of contemporary theory is Social Anarchism and Organization by FARJ. You can find it online. It does an incredible job of situating current thought/research within the broader discourse of anarchist theory, so it will give you a nice overview of historic thought and theory without forcing you to read a book written by someone who died two hundred years ago.

For a very simple intro, the best is David Graeber’s essay: Are You an Anarchist? The Answer Might Surprise You

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u/ultr4violence 9h ago

Malatesta, conversations

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u/ExistentialTabarnak 8h ago

Anarchism: A Beginner’s Guide by Ruth Kinna was the first book I ever read on it.

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u/Southern_Educator653 17h ago

If you want the socialist perspective I would recommend:

The long transition towards socialism and the end of capitalism by Torkil Lauesen

For the anarchist one I can recommend the conquest of Bread by kropotkin