Marx - The Key Ideas: Teach Yourself (Teach Yourself - General)

Is this the right book for me? Marx - The Key Ideas will familiarize you with the revolutionary thinking of this significant man. It will take you through all the essential concepts - from class struggle to dialectical materialism. Expressing Marx's sometimes complex ideas in simple terms, and backed up with references to his own texts, this book gives you everything you need to know. Marx - The Key Ideas includes: Chapter 1: Marx's early life Europe at the time of Marx The early life of Marx University life Life as a journalist The Communist Manifesto Exile Chapter 2: Marx's later life The move to London Family life in London Marx and Engels Work in London Das Kapital The International The later years Chapter 3: Marx and philosophy A brief history of philosophy Which philosophers influenced Marx? Ancient Greek philosophers European philosophy Utopian Socialists Revolutionaries and anarchists The importance of Hegel and Feuerbach How did Marx differ from those who went before? Political economy What part did Engels play? Chapter 4: Economic theory Dialectical materialism, historical materialism and economy The capitalist economy Commodities Theory of surplus value Profit and the division of labour Capitalism in crisis Falling wages and profits Social labour Accumulation and crisis Centralization of the economy Was Marx right about the economy? Chapter 5: Economy and society Imperialism and colonialism Fetishism Exploitation Chapter 6: Class, class struggle and revolution Introduction The development of capitalist society Dialectical materialism and class structure Class in the capitalist society Ideology Class struggle Workers' power and education The Communist League and class struggle The International Working Men's Association Is revolution inevitable? Chapter 7: Further Marxist thought After the revolution Communist society Religion Women's rights and the family Art and culture Freedom and the individual Chapter 8: Marxism after Marx - ideas that changed the world The spread of Marxist thought The development of socialism Russian communism Chinese communism The Cold War The decline of communism Has Marxism failed? Chapter 9: Marxism after Marx - the development of Marxist thought Types of Marxism Where does Marx fit in? Is Marxism relevant in the twenty-first century? The future Learn effortlessly with a new easy-to-read page design and interactive features: Not got much time? One, five and ten-minute introductions to key principles to get you started. Author insights Lots of instant help with common problems and quick tips for success, based on the author's many years of experience. Test yourself Tests in the book and online to keep track of your progress. Extend your knowledge Extra online articles to give you a richer understanding of the subject. Five things to remember Quick refreshers to help you remember the key facts. Try this Innovative exercises illustrate what you've learnt and how to use it.

Gill Hands has always been interested in all aspects of social history. After training as a teacher of English and History, she worked in Adult Training, where she began teaching adults with disabilities as well as those who had missed out on formal education for various reasons. She was also instrumental in setting up three women's groups and a small press to give women in rural areas a voice. It was from working with these varied people that she acquired the skill of breaking complex subjects down into easier steps and clarifying difficult concepts. She has worked as a freelance writer for many years, including writing a beginner's Guides to Marx. Like him, she believes that education is one of the first steps in the liberation of the individual.