Marx: A Guide for the Perplexed

Description

It is widely acknowledged that Karl Marx was one of the most original and influential thinkers of modern times. His writings have inspired some of the most important political movements of the past century and still has the power to arouse controversy today. Marx: A Guide for the Perplexed is a clear and thorough account of Marx's thought, his major works and theories, providing an ideal guide to the important and complex ideas of this major figure in the history of political thought. The book introduces key Marxist concepts and themes and examines the ways in which they have influenced philosophical and political thought. Geared towards the specific requirements of students who need to reach a sound understanding of Marx's ideas, the book provides a cogent and reliable survey of some of the most important debates surrounding his often controversial theories. This is the ideal companion to the study of this most influential and challenging of thinkers.

John Seed is Senior Lecturer in History at Roehampton University, London, UK.

"This elegant and beautifully written guide is, in its own way, a perfect complement to the brilliance and wit of Marx's own writing. It manages to combine a scholarly and comprehensive account of its subject with a compelling narrative, presented in an engaging and very readable style." - Janet Wolff, University of Manchester, UK "In a field not noted for lucid exposition, John Seed brings Marx's thought to life in a beautifully written text which puts us back in touch with one of the formative thinkers of the modern world. It is not only a guide for the perplexed, but a significant contribution to the study of Marx." - John Tosh, Roehampton University, UK John Seed's book is a masterly introduction to the thought and politics of Karl Marx. The book is, first, ambitious, reflecting on a wide range of material... Throughout, the study is well organised, rhetorically sharp and engaging, but it is most impressive in the clarity and direction it imparts to difficult concepts within Marx's oeuvre, including texts co-authored with Engels... Marx: A Guide for the Perplexed should not only serve as an excellent aid to reading Marx, but qualifies in its own right as an original contribution to Marx's thought and politics. -- Political Studies Review Vol. 10