Bhaskar Sunkara

I just could never get past the fact that the author never addresses the existence of disabled people. In socialism, according to the author, of course you can "earn more" you just have to do more. Never once does the author acknowledge the existence of people who will still be shoved aside by this "better world" he believes he has created. While Communism proclaims "from each according to their abilities, to each according to their needs," Socialism, as presented here, is a banking system in which you get out of it what you put into it. I feel like it tries to straddle some nebulous line which they fear, if crossed, Capitalist indoctrinated people will be turned away if they believe that 1) they won't get more for working more and 2) anyone else but me and mine will benefit from my labor. In so doing, Sunkara and his group create a world in which, as under Capitalism, disabled people are still less than.… (mehr)

The ABCs of Socialism is an introductory primer on the main ideas of Marxist socialism. Coming into this, I really only knew the bare minimum about socialism. It’s something I’m determined to know more about in 2021. This collection of essays was recommended online for dipping my toes into the concept, in a format more accessible than The Communist Manifesto or Capital right off the bat.

This primer is presented through essays prompted by common criticizing questions of the movement, such as, “But at least capitalism is free and democratic, right?”, “Don’t the rich deserve to keep most of their money?, or “Doesn’t socialism always end up in dictatorship?” Each essay is set up based off of questions such as these, and then refuted.

I found the setup intriguing especially because some of these questions were almost word-for-word critiques (propaganda?) that I was taught growing up about the “Red Menace” and how socialism/communism is doomed to fail.

With my newborn knowledge on the topic, The ABCs of Socialism does indeed seem like a good starting point - it has accessible language and was written recently, so the politics are more relatable to right now. (Though it was written before Trump was elected, so I’d be curious about a new edition.)

I had main two problems with the book – namely, a lot of the same concepts are repeated. The answers to some of the questions - though the questions appear very different - are much the same. Secondly, it feels almost too much for beginners. There were some topics that I wish the authors had delved a little deeper into. It felt like they were oversimplifying at times. It’s clear I need to do more reading and research.

Regardless, coming out of this book I feel already better versed in the topic - like I finally say “I’m interested in socialism”, or, “it seems like I’m meant to do more in life than work and spend my free time getting ready for work” - and articulate why exactly I feel that way. Not to mention I’m better prepared to contest my boomer relatives next time they tell me how evil universal healthcare is because communism.

Overall, from a beginner’s perspective, this seems to be a pretty good starting point for learning more about socialism.

3.5 Stars.… (mehr)