Marx in 90 Minutes

By: Paul Strathern

Narrated by: Robert Whitfield

Karl Marx's devastating critique of capitalism, and his proposal of communism as the answer to the failings of the capitalist system, bore their greatest fruits in the twentieth century with the formation of the communist state in the Soviet Union. This great venture has now all but completely failed. Yet the force of the communist belief offered the prospect of "justice on this earth" to countless numbers. And Marx's critique has influenced generations of thinkers who call themselves Marxists.

In Marx in 90 Minutes, Paul Strathern offers a concise, expert account of Marx's life and ideas, and explains their influence on man's struggle to understand his existence in the world. The book also includes selections from Marx's work, a brief list of suggested readings for those who wish to delve deeper, and chronologies that place Marx within his own age and in the broader scheme of philosophy.

©2001 Paul Strathern (P)2005 Blackstone Audiobooks

Critic reviews

"Well-written, clear, and informed, they have a breezy wit about them. I find them hard to stop reading." (The New York Times)

Very good summery

Very good, though there was too much of the author’s voice (and opinion) in it. I already know modern thoughts on Marx. I wanted him in his time and place.

Based.

Save 100 hours reading and listen to this. People who don’t like this probably think Stalin did a good job.

The sponge as genius.

I have learned that towering historical figures are (as once I heard) like mountains. Their majesty is best appreciated from a distance. So it is with Karl Marx. Undoubted political genius. Undoubted personal slob and sponge. Marx' genius, like most, came from who knows where. But its effect on the world was massive and terrible. Would the world have been a better place without him. We can never know. But, I know how I would vote.

A Capitalist Reduction of Marx

This was so blatantly bias that it was hard to take it seriously at times. Not recommended for serious study. Skip it.

Great content, wish it went more into the thought process

The book was a great read--definitely worth the time. I just wish there was more about communism to understand the thought frame. However perhaps the summation is sufficient considering it's an attempt to explain it all in "90 minutes".