original in Mexico 1979

Teaching this for class this week. It's kind of silly—Rius sort of oscillates between annoying and reductive snark and really, really clear explanations. It's fine for some high school students who haven't heard of Marx before but. ( )

I don't get on well with philosophy and social sciences at the whole because words seem so imperfect and insubstantial compared to the simple beauty of formal and natural sciences, so my review isn't really objective. But I'm trying to fathom some basic ideas to not be plain stupid. This book works well in this case. It pays a lot of attention to history and evolution of philosophy which helps to understand difference between idealism and materialism, dialectical and metaphysical. I feel that this duality and antagonism are probably simplicated, but wiki page on "Metaphysics" causes me a headache, so this simplicity is welcome.
As for the Marx theory, it was not a revelation. Raised in post Soviet country, I happened to have a good grasp of this idea without really noticing it. It's strange that being born in the first years of independance I know every big phrases from this book. I even have a feeling that I've read The Communist Manifesto before, but it's impossible. Obviously, it's a knowledge of the Soviet time history. They really tried to build a socialism (or showed their trying), so big reforms, especially the early ones, correspond well to the manifesto.
Said it, I don't understand author's occasional praising of Lenin. Because you cannot be serious to praise any man who tried to make Marx theories into practice.

So, I recommend this book who want to understand the basic principles, especially if you are bad in philosophy. Though, it's not very easy to read, but much better than usual school books.
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Marx is a significant figure and it is as well to have a grasp of his philosophy. Surely, I hear you say, the best way to do that is to read Marx's writings. Have you tried reading Karl's oeuvre, without help?

Rius has produced a comic book style offering which contains a surprising amount of serious information. Topics which I have read in Marx's books suddenly make more sense. The book does use humour and is unashamedly pro Marx but, neither of these facts should, in any way, deter your reading of same. The text goes surprisingly deep but somehow remains comprehensible.

This is the first of the 'For Beginners' series that I have read, I shall certainly look out for other examples. ( )

It's written in comic book form and while I hate comic books it's incredibly reader friendly and does a great job of making Marx very accessible. It's my #1 most recommended book to people who are interested in Marx. Plus, it's cute. ( )