Resources for the Aspiring Communist

If you liked Marx's theories and want to learn more about communism, this post is for you.

Our reading assignment was "Alienated Labour" by Karl Marx. While this is an excellent text, it is by no means all one must read to understand communism. If I could only recommend one introductory text to someone about communism, I would recommend "Why Socialism?" by Albert Einstein. Many people think socialists are unintelligent, so they would be surprised to learn that Einstein, someone whom many consider to be the smartest person who ever lived, was a socialist. Einstein's essay is relatively short, and he summarizes many socialist arguments and beliefs.

Next, I would recommend you read the Communist FAQ: "The Principles of Communism" by Friedrich Engels. He answers many common questions people had about communism. While a couple of them are outdated, since it was written in 1847, most are still relevant. I recommend reading this before the Manifesto, because it is a lot more relevant today, and it is a better introductory text for communism.

Then, I would recommend that you read the books on the Basic Marxism-Leninism Study Plan. This is a long list, so reading all of the books on it would probably take you several months, not factoring in other college assignments. However, it's well worth it. A strong understanding of Marxist theory is essential for any communist, and I think it should be taught to everyone (which is why I'm so thankful to Dr. Johnson for including Karl Marx in the curriculum).

If you need help understanding anything, ask your question on reddit's Communism101 board, or RevLeft's learning board. Be sure to read all of the above texts slowly and carefully, so that you don't miss anything.

Of course, learning is only part of being a communist. Activism is also essential for any good communist. If you want to join a communist party, I would recommend that you not join the Communist Party of the USA, because they are a reformist party, which means that they want to fix the problems with capitalism by voting the right people into office, instead of overthrowing the system. My favourite 2 communist parties in the US are Fight Imperialism, Stand Together and the Party for Socialism and Liberation. I would recommend learning about communism before joining a party, since there are different "factions" of communism, and you will not know which one you agree with the most until you have read quite a bit about each one.

Joining a party is not all there is to activism. One of the biggest problems for communists right now is misinformation, and because of that, lack of interest. If everyone knew what communists really want, I think far more people would be communist. But, as it is, many people only hate communism because they think that Stalin killed 4 times as many people as Hitler, or that socialism is a good idea in theory, but it doesn't work in practice. If you think this is true, refer to the Debunking Anti-Communism Masterpost. It is important for communists to debunk these lies and educate people about what communism really is, so that those who would otherwise support us aren't turned away.

When the material conditions of the proletariat become bad enough, a revolution will happen. Until that day comes, it is our job to reach out to others, spread class-consciousness, and increase our numbers. So, learn about communism, and get active! The liberation of the human race depends on it.