Status Updates From Essential works of socialis...

insightful!

Inching my way through theoretical criticism of vulgar marxists and stalinism which I am very thankful for.

Finally almost done with this beast of a book - also finally moving into territory critical of Marx which I've needed after my last year steeped in his writings and the writings of other Marxists.

I can already tell I will reluctantly need another book where this one leaves off full of non Marxist Socialists

Moving through the Bolshevik writers to the non Marxist socialists, its clear that the musings of John Stewart Mill and Oscar Wilde were more fantasy than theoretical critiques and practical maneuvering. Revolution will likely only come from the latter. But the former is more fun to read!

Working through the Bolshevik revolution having finished the excerpts from Trotsky. This is the first time I've read him and I found the distinction he makes between Plekhanov, Lenin, Stalin and himself extremely compelling. Specifically the notion that Stalinism was a reactionary totalitarian response to October Revolution NOT a foregone conclusion of the belief system and methods.