I’m digging anarchists’ more hands on, pragmatic approach to politics. I finished The Conquest of Bread a couple of weeks ago and I’m currently working my way through Bullshit Jobs. Any suggestions about theory, praxis, mutual aid, etc. would be appreciated
I highly recommend “An Anarchist FAQ” :
https://www.anarchistfaq.org/afaq/index.html
This FAQ is what turned me to an Anarchist.
Seconding this.
AFAQ gives overviews on topics with a lot of quoting from books and essays. It often notes that a book is ‘essential reading’ for a certain topic.
So it’s not only an informative read in itself, it’s a great source for people looking for reading recommendations.
Awesome, thanks! Sounds a lot like what I’ve been looking for
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Thanks for the tips! I’ve found a mutual aid group in my city and apparently there’s a food not bombs chapter here too. I’ve looked through the anarchist Library a few times but their search function isn’t the greatest and being pretty new to leftist ideology, anarchism in particular, a lot of the authors are completely unfamiliar to me. I’m not sure if what I’ll be digging into is any good and/or too much for me to wrap my head around. I was hoping to find the general consensus among anarchists of where to start, what to look into, etc. so id be able to read more confidently and with most of the basics covered
and libcomm.org
I haven’t read any anarchist books myself yet, but I have read plenty of shorter texts I found online (mostly from The Anarchist Library).
Here are a few I found to be worth a read (in no particular order):
- Abolish Money! - Shūsui Kōtoku
- Are We Good Enough? - Peter Kropotkin
- Are You An Anarchist? The Answer May Surprise You! - David Graeber
- Ethics: Morality of the State - Mikhail Bakunin
- Power Corrupts the Best - Mikhail Bakunin
- Prisons and Crime - Alexander Berkman
- The Jobless - Alexander Berkman
- Where I Stand - Mikhail Bakunin
Since you already read The Conquest of Bread I decided to leave out most of Kropotkin’s shorter texts, as I assume that you should already be familiar with his ideas and principles.
Although not anarchists, I still find many libertarian Marxists to be pretty insightful as well (some may as well be Anarchists in denial). Anton Pannekoek’s and Rosa Luxemburg’s works being some I really enjoy reading.
- Letter on Workers Councils - Anton Pannekoek
- Theses On The Fight Of The Working Class Against Capitalism - Anton Pannekoek
I also have What is Anarchism? (by Alexander Berkman) and Anarcho-Syndicalism (by Rudolf Rocker) standing on my bookshelf, but I haven’t gotten around to reading them quite yet. If they sound interesting enough you could give them a try.
Thanks! I’ll check them out
On Anarchism, Noam Chomsky.
Fan of Bookchins work myself. I would suggest googling him, and if you’re into podcasts: give srsly wrong a listen. Its libertarian socialist thought broken down in a podcast with skits and well humored education/interviews. Their discord also has a fantastic bookclub with live readings and discussion.
give srsly wrong a listen
Can you recommend an episode or two to start with? Something representative of their typical quality, format, and tone? Preferably recent, too?
(Sorry if this is a bit of a weird request. I just like to know I’m giving a podcast a fair go, without having to listen to, like, 5 episodes to figure out what it’s usually like. 😆)
It would kind of depend on what topics you’re interested in. Episodes 242, 243, and the Social ecology series that starts at episode 219 are fantastic.
I would suggest listening to a few on topics you’re curious about. Each non-series episode is easy to follow by itself, no need to start form episode one.
Thanks!
An aside, but you should consider crossposting this to [email protected] - it could use the posts!
EDIT: It could use more subscribers, too, of course!
Can do!
In addition to the great suggestions others have already provided, check out Emma Goldman’s writings if you haven’t already. They might appeal to you and she has some interesting takes.
Here’s a good starting point: http://dwardmac.pitzer.edu/Anarchist_Archives/goldman/GoldmanCW.html
Sweet, thanks!
Good youtube channels would be nice too. So far i just know of submedia
Noncompete is pretty good, but posts infrequently. They have a sizeable backlog though. He’s an intersectionalist ancom if you’re curious
Sweet, thanks
Hey, someone posted some more comments in this thread and while I was here I thought of your comment. I just found zoe baker, she’s a PHD in anarchism and I’ve liked a lot of her content. You may be interested in it as well
Thanks! Ill search for her work
I also recommend Renegade Cut, Andrewism and Think That Through.
My only suggestion is that much of Errico Malatesta’s writings are better than Conquest of Bread. Don’t take Conquest of Bread too seriously, in my opinion.
I found “At The Café” dialogues by Malatesta to be a very entertaining yet insightful reas, especially when it comes to discussions among leftists about power structures.
Sounds interesting, I’ll check it out!
Sandströms anarchist accounting and most stuff by Öcalan.
What is Property by Pierre-Joseph Proudhon
The Conquest of Bread by Peter Kropotkin
Luigi Galleani
Emma Goldman
There’s a lot. I could make a more comprehensive list when I get done with work, if you’d like.
Awesome, thank you! I’d be happy to hear any other recommendations you have. I’m reading an anarchist programme by Malatesta next, then it’s on to anarchy by Malatesta. I might dive a bit deeper into David Graeber’s works after that. Bullshit Jobs was fascinating
Some more I thought of, by no means a comprehensive list though. Just what I’ve read on the subject that appealed to me as I was studying anarchism as a political philosophy.
Statism and Anarchy by Mikhail Bakunin
Anarcho-syndicalism: Theory and Practice by Rudolf Rocker
Mutual Aid by Kropotkin
Trotsky discusses anarchism in Marxism and Ararchism
Nestor Makhno has some interesting writings
Chomsky is good
Émile Armand has some good writings on Individualist Anarchism (he’s very anti-conflict though, which I tend to disagree with)
Lastly, something I would strongly recommend if you’re new to anarchist thought and philosophy is Anarchism: Arguments For and Against by Albert Meltzer.
I am leaving out tons of great writings and writers/philosophers/theorists (and theories)/poets/etc…
There is a lot out there. Let me know if you have any questions!
Awesome, I appreciate it! Especially the inclusion of something that would seem to have (at least some) criticisms of anarchism. I’ve been having trouble finding good faith critiques of leftist thought be it Marxism, anarchism, Maoism, etc. Searching “criticism of x” usually results in right wing hit pieces
Pyter Kropotkin’s Mutual aid and conquest of bread.
Both have somethings that are out dated. But both are very good for foundational understanding of anarchy.
The best libertarian left anarchism-compatible modern critique of capitalism has been put forward by libertarian left economist David Ellerman. He himself is not an anarchist, but his critique was cited in the anarchist FAQ. He also explains why capitalist economists defense of capitalism is besides the point.
A link to a short article where he explains his argument: https://www.ellerman.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Council_DemocracyCaseForWorkplaceDemocracy.pdf
His book where he completely details his anti-capitalist argument: https://www.ellerman.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/Ellerman-Property-and-Contract-Book.pdf
A legal system backed by state violence is *NOT* “anarchism-compatible”.
Legal systems don’t have to be backed by state violence per se
I just read this: https://slrpnk.net/post/9405230
and the OP (though not the pamphlet author) sent me here.
Specifically, with a question. The author mentions offhandedly that in an anarchistic society there would be no need for lawyers. But in a society governed by consensus and consent, wouldn’t professional advocates be more useful, not less? Any insight?
