A Life Looking Forward: Memoirs of an Independent Marxist

by Samir Amin, Patrick Camiller (Translator)

Samir Amin, one of the twentieth century's leading radical intellectuals, has lived his personal and political life at the intersection of various cultures and international progressive currents - from Egypt to France to West Africa, from communism to national-liberation socialism, Maoism and finally a mature anti-imperialism.

His memoirs are not only a fascinating personal narrative but a penetrating historical-political analysis, as well as an introduction to his most important theoretical contributions. They offer a unique vantage point for observing the operations of global capitalism and the evolution, crises and potentialities of radical movements, especially in the third world.

This book will be invaluable not only to readers interested in Amin's profoundly influential work or in the history of the global left but to anyone concerned with today's worldwide struggles against capitalist globalization.

272 pages, Paperback

First published November 1, 2006

About the author

Samir Amin (Arabic: سمير أمين) (3 September 1931 – 12 August 2018) was an Egyptian-French Marxian economist, political scientist and world-systems analyst. He is noted for his introduction of the term Eurocentrism in 1988 and considered a pioneer of Dependency Theory.

Reviews

[Sara Salem]

Fascinating account of Samir Amin's political life. With interesting people it is always nice to see events and theories through their eyes. I also had no idea he was half French, and his memoir reminded me a lot of transnational experiences. Above all, his immense knowledge of African society and politics distinguishes him from a lot of other Egyptian scholars.

[Ali · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wrong cover here!
Generally good. Better to read "rereading the postwar era" before this because he references it a lot.