Capital: A Critique of Political Economy, V. 2 Paperback

I just finished reading Das Kapital yesterday. Sometimes, certain books carry with it a reputation that seems to take on a life of it's own. As a result, when reading a book like this, I try to get a feel for what people have said about it or what kind of insight they could provide as to it's contents by reading some it's reviews. One person says that it's a book with which you take your time. Indeed, it took me two and a half months to complete all three volumes, finishing on March 15th, incidentally a day after Marx's death in 1883. Another review says that along with texts like The Interpretation of Dreams by Sigmund Freud or On the Origin of Species by Charles Darwin, Das Kapital is a text for which you'd be at a disadvantage for not reading. "These books are famous for a reason," the same reviewer said. Das Kapital is widely regarded as the most comprehensive, thorough and scientific analysis and criticism of capitalism. It utilizes algebraic equations which can be challenging and confusing, but certainly within the realm of comprehension. If capitalism were an engine, Karl Marx disassembled every piece of it, examined it, analyzed it, documented his findings, and envisioned a better, more efficient people-oriented (as opposed to profit-oriented) engine. Marx wasn't just an economist, but a historian, philosopher, journalist, political theorist, and Revolutionary Socialist. Both Marx and Engels studied labor conditions in a variety of fields of work, including agricultural and industrial. They studied the circulation of money and commodities. The works and ideas of Adam Smith (commonly referred to as the father of modern economics) are thoroughly dissected and analyzed. Modern economics dances around the source of surplus-value, which is labor power, and scrambles to attribute that source of value to everything but the laborer. It's backwards. It effectively reduces capitalism to a scam, composed with the intent to further enrich the already wealthy (capitalism is an evolved form of feudalism) by exploiting the labor of the working class. Reading it puts current events in a clearer context, and I understand it instinctively. Because we all know capitalism. As the working class, we all bear the brunt of our system, and instinctively understand all too well capitalism's many pitfalls. Our government was never designed to benefit the People, but rather the wealthy. This is definitely a book worth experiencing. - Drew ☭

This complete 3 volume edition of Karl Marx's 𝘋𝘢𝘴 𝘒𝘢𝘱𝘪𝘵𝘢𝘭 was 𝑴𝑨𝑺𝑺𝑰𝑽𝑬! Marx explored the depths of the exploitative, unsustainable, vicious, replaceable economic system of capitalism and exposed it for the 𝑳𝑶𝑾 down system that it is!! It has 𝑻𝑨𝑷𝑬𝑹𝑬𝑫 with my sense of faith in the world. Karl Marx's philosophy and its long lasting impact will never 𝑭𝑨𝑫𝑬!!!!!

"Capital: A Critique of Political Economy" is a monumental work by Karl Marx that delves into the inner workings of capitalism and its impact on society. The book is divided into three volumes, with the first volume being the most well-known and widely read.Marx begins by examining the nature of labor and how it relates to the production and exchange of goods. He argues that the value of a good is determined by the amount of labor that goes into producing it, and that the exploitation of workers is inherent in the capitalist system. He also critiques the idea of "commodity fetishism," in which goods are seen as having a value in and of themselves, rather than being a product of human labor.One of the most powerful aspects of "Capital" is its analysis of how capitalist production shapes society. Marx argues that the pursuit of profit leads to the concentration of wealth and power in the hands of a small elite, while most people are left to struggle for survival. He also examines how capitalism creates a cycle of boom and bust, with periodic economic crises leading to unemployment and poverty for working people.Overall, "Capital" is a thought-provoking and powerful critique of capitalism. It is not an easy read, as it is dense and filled with economic theory and historical analysis. However, it is a must-read for anyone interested in understanding the dynamics of capitalist society and the potential for alternatives.

Great book

This is a perfectly conveniently sized edition of Capital that I can travel with. It's thick, don't get me wrong, but the font size isn't too small for my eyes and the paper quality is what you'd expect it to be for this price and format.

10/10

Like the headline says. Arrived slightly ahead of schedule and was in perfect condition.

Very informative.