Karl Marx

by Francis Wheen
Karl Marx  
published August 3rd 2000 by Fourth Estate
binding Paperback
isbn 1841151149   (isbn13: 9781841151144)
pages 448
description Karl Marx, whose influence on modern times has been compared to that of Jesus Christ, spent most of his lifetime in obscurity. Penniless, exiled in Lo...more
date added
06-04-07



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other reviews (showing 1-20 of 64)



Meirav
Meirav rated it: 5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars
07/04/08

bookshelves: communism, highly-recomnended
Read in June, 2008
recommends it for: history lovers, anyone who claims to be a Marxist, socialist, communist or even an anarchist,
Wheen's wonderfully written book illustraits, with colors as vivis as possible, the life and works of Karl Marx, warts and all; from blood-thirsty arguments with opponents, to medical details of the various many ailments Marx suffered from to the horrificly true and not-so-nice predictions of Europe's political future including the world wars and what brought them about.
Karl Marx is an educating idol for anyone who wants to think on their own, to conclude only what their mind understand by con...more
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Paul
Paul rated it: 5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars
06/23/08

Francis Wheen provide me with a greater understanding of the philosopher who has been a guiding force in my life. To paraphrase Marx, the fertlizer of revolutions is not political consciousness but class consciousness.

I have written previously in a different forum, "Much like Charles Darwin, who discovered immutable truths regarding of the origins and evolution of life, Karl Marx was a pioneering scientist. He guided humanity through the reasons capitalism was born, why it would thrive...more
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Randy
12/30/07

bookshelves: biographies
Read in January, 2001
recommends it for: Anyone who loves biographies
Francis Wheen tells a good story and really understands Marx's ideas. You don't have to be a philosopher to enjoy this book, though. It tells of the human side of Marx, his rumored affair with the nanny, his strong bond with his kids, his fondness for Shakespeare, and his impatience with most people he met. (Marx was a jerk, but a memorable one.)
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Paul
Paul rated it: 5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars
02/21/08

witty, more importantly, sympathetic bio of karl, who was funny, a poet, drank like a fish and was gentle and playful with his children....and all of him still speaking to the system. "...it is not consciousness that determines life, but life that determines consciousness."
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Kevin p.
Kevin p. rated it: 5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars
04/28/08

Read in January, 2004
I thought this was a very thorough, very well written, and even sometimes comical biography of Karl Marx. I'm not a Marxist (that I know of), but if I was I think I'd campaign for a special 'six star' category on GoodReads.
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Michael
Michael rated it: 3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars
07/22/07

Read in September, 2007
"Not since Jesus Christ has an obscure pauper inspired such global devotion- or been so calamitously misinterpreted."
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Doug
Doug rated it: 4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars
11/22/07

A great bio, and a great argument for Marx's relevance after the end of history.
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Mark
Mark rated it: 4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars
08/14/07

bookshelves: history
Read in December, 2001
Such a weird dude: if only another one would come along...
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Alex
Alex rated it: 4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars
06/10/07

bookshelves: biography
Read in August, 2006
pretty human biography. marx with all his flaws showing.
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Sarah
Sarah rated it: 2 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars
01/21/08

Nearly all of Karl Marx's kids killed themselves!
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Gyarradee
Gyarradee rated it: 4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars
12/14/07

 

David
David rated it: 4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars
06/04/07

 

Picoroco
Picoroco rated it: 5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars
12/09/07

bookshelves: biography
Read in January, 2003
 

Maggie
Maggie marked it as to-read (review of isbn 0393321576)
07/18/08

bookshelves: to-read
 

John
John added it
03/10/08

 

Gravity
Gravity marked it as to-read
01/31/08

bookshelves: to-read
 

Fiona
Fiona marked it as to-read
09/14/07

bookshelves: to-read
 

Martin
Martin rated it: 4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars
10/28/07

 

Shane
Shane is currently reading it
01/30/08

bookshelves: currently-reading
 


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book data (includes all editions)

avg rating (all editions): 4.17 (42 ratings)
avg rating (this edition): 4.10 (31 ratings)
number of reviews: 10






other editions

Karl Marx: A Life (Paperback)
Karl Marx (Hardcover)
Karl Marx: A Life (Hardcover)