- Hardcover: 350 pages
- Publisher: Thomas Dunne Books (22 Aug 2006)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0312305389
- ISBN-13: 978-0312305383
- Product Dimensions: 23.6 x 14.5 x 3.3 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
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Amazon Bestsellers Rank:
311,504 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #51 in Books > History > Political History > Anarchism
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Product Description
Product Description
The spellbinding story of both the man and the theory, Bakunin chronicles one of the most notorious radicals in history, as well as the founding of anarchism, here revealed as a practical moral philosophy based in a critique of wealth and power. Marl Leier corrects many of the popular misconceptions about Bakunin and his ideas, offering fresh interpretations of his life and thoughts. Bakunin is an insightful read for all those who wish to better understand the fundamental basis of modern radical movements.
--This text refers to the
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I have only recently become interested in the roots of Anarchy as a political movement - like most people I have equated it purely with rather physically violent social disorder for purely destructive ends - OK that is/was very naive - mea culpa! Of course I knew about the relationship between Marx and Bakunin, but had never heard it from Bakunin's POV. Mark Leier does a very good job of filling out the picture with the historico-cultural context at the same time explicating the main drivers of Bakunin's personality and behaviour, thankfully free of psychobabble. He writes extremely well - so well that I found it difficult to stop reading to make notes as I went along - my usual strategy when reading 'heavy' books. This IS a heavy book, but it carries its weight very lightly.
I certainly recommend it to others on a similar path of discovery. It is also well referenced and is, therefore, an excellent (as far as I can judge) source book with 18 pages of 'notes'.
Would be an excellent holiday read for Samantha to buy for Dave, who could then share it with Nick. Might just have relevance for the their(?)vacuous concept of 'The Big Society'.
I certainly recommend it to others on a similar path of discovery. It is also well referenced and is, therefore, an excellent (as far as I can judge) source book with 18 pages of 'notes'.
Would be an excellent holiday read for Samantha to buy for Dave, who could then share it with Nick. Might just have relevance for the their(?)vacuous concept of 'The Big Society'.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
I was very interested to read about Bakunin and anarchism as it seemed to be a political philosophy that, on the face of it, was entirely negative and destructive and I wondered if this was really the case. This book is subtitled 'a biography', which to be fair it is, but the reader should be aware that the biographical details of the life of Bakunin are relatively brief and large sections of the book are concerned with the development of the anarchist views of Bakunin; their origins, and their differences to those views propounded by Marx and other political thinkers of the day. Bakunin had an unusual domestic life, involving a menage-a-trois, but we are only furnished with the barest of details.
The influence of the philosophy of Hegel and the German Idealists on the ideas of Bakunin is carefully explained. The development of socialist philosophy and thought and the gradual parting of the ways of Marx and Engels, first from William Weitling and subsequently from Bakunin and the Proudhonist anarchists are painstakingly dealt with by the author. In fact, in some ways, too painstakingly described, because the reader is treated to many pages of philosophical discussion elucidating these developments and differences and on occasion this can become repetitive to the point of tedium, especially in the closing chapters. The book immediately gains pace and interest when Leier returns to actual life events and relationships rather than critical analysis of publications. The author could have provided a service to the reader if he had presented some of Bakunin's work in a more concise and condensed form rather than reproducing some unpolished and rambling texts.
Given the author's interest in describing in detail the very significant differences between the political ideas of Marx and Bakunin, particularly with regard to authoritarian socialism and anarchism, it comes as quite a shock for him to suggest in the closing pages that perhaps, after all, their views were not so very different.
Leier sprinkles his text with Americanisms, (it is an American book), slang, and references to present day politics and entertainment which can be quite amusing when you get used to it but will serve to confuse readers in a few years time. It was irksome in the biographical sections that the author chose to omit specific dates of events and meetings.
Despite these criticisms the book is well worth reading and is very enlightening even if a little hard going at times. To answer my own first question, I found that anarchism of Bakunin was not entirely negative or destructive, but does not resolve into a coherent programme for reasons that are explained.
The influence of the philosophy of Hegel and the German Idealists on the ideas of Bakunin is carefully explained. The development of socialist philosophy and thought and the gradual parting of the ways of Marx and Engels, first from William Weitling and subsequently from Bakunin and the Proudhonist anarchists are painstakingly dealt with by the author. In fact, in some ways, too painstakingly described, because the reader is treated to many pages of philosophical discussion elucidating these developments and differences and on occasion this can become repetitive to the point of tedium, especially in the closing chapters. The book immediately gains pace and interest when Leier returns to actual life events and relationships rather than critical analysis of publications. The author could have provided a service to the reader if he had presented some of Bakunin's work in a more concise and condensed form rather than reproducing some unpolished and rambling texts.
Given the author's interest in describing in detail the very significant differences between the political ideas of Marx and Bakunin, particularly with regard to authoritarian socialism and anarchism, it comes as quite a shock for him to suggest in the closing pages that perhaps, after all, their views were not so very different.
Leier sprinkles his text with Americanisms, (it is an American book), slang, and references to present day politics and entertainment which can be quite amusing when you get used to it but will serve to confuse readers in a few years time. It was irksome in the biographical sections that the author chose to omit specific dates of events and meetings.
Despite these criticisms the book is well worth reading and is very enlightening even if a little hard going at times. To answer my own first question, I found that anarchism of Bakunin was not entirely negative or destructive, but does not resolve into a coherent programme for reasons that are explained.
2 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Bakunin much like anarchism itself is widely misunderstood. Mark Leier in a similar vein to Francis Wheen tries to inject humour into an otherwise complex narative which weaves together philosophy, history, and a series of protracted personal disputes with Karl Marx all without being dry or the least bit academic.
Considering the morass of silliness that is claimed against anarchism the author has done a sterling job in refuting slanders, psycho-babble and managed to put a human face to Bakunin, his eventful life and his political insights. A worthwhile and sympathetic read.
Considering the morass of silliness that is claimed against anarchism the author has done a sterling job in refuting slanders, psycho-babble and managed to put a human face to Bakunin, his eventful life and his political insights. A worthwhile and sympathetic read.
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