Terrorism and Communism (Revolutions Series)

Slavoj Zizek presents Trotsky

By: Leon Trotsky, Slavoj Žižek

Narrated by: Sean Barrett

Soon after the Bolshevik victory in the Russian Revolution, Leon Trotsky led the Red Army against the counter-revolutionary White armies. Written in the white heat of the Civil War, "Terrorism and Communism" is one of the most potent defences of revolutionary dictatorship of the twentieth century. In his provocative commentary in this new edition, the coruscating critic Slavoj Zizek argues that Trotsky's attack on the illusions of democracy has a vital relevance to today.

©2007 Verso (editorial matter), Slavoj Zizek (P)2011 Audible Ltd

Thought provoking!

a primary source of the ideas and aspirations of Soviet communism at it's birth (1920).

From the Cauldron of the Russian Revolution

It is a pleasant surprise to find audible producing an audio edition of a work by Trotsky, especially a work such as this. This is Trotsky fresh from the front of the Civil War, writing just a few eventful years since the October Revolution (which is called the November revolution here for the usual reasons). While many will, no doubt, purchase the book for Slavoj Zizek's lengthy introduction, it is Trotsky's text that is the major work here. Sean Barrett does a fine job of reading the text and thus conjuring back to life the indomitable spirit of the Russian Revolution in its most ruthless and thus its most resolutely utopian moment. I can only say I hope for more works such as this from audible in the future.

A strange audiobook - but no waste of money

For me this was my first exploration of leftist literature. I felt a bit like Alice in Wonderland because I had nothing to compare it with. I now have discovered a part of history that I never knew about. It's a weird but intriguing text.

Justifications for a ruinous and murderous ideology

Defenders of the deadly “isms” often state that their deadly ideology wasn’t “really” tried because it was hijacked by totalitarian cults of personality. As Trotsky often cited as the rightful idealist heir to Lenin, kindly points out for us in this work, that is nonsense. The ideology itself is murderous, dictatorial, and requires slavery. Sorry, compulsory labor. With Trotsky, You’ll still end up dead in a gulag, but the notice will be more eloquently written.

I gave this work high marks because while the foundations of it are horrific, it is essential for understanding the nature of socialism.

This is Trotsky

At his best
Nothing is even said in jest
This is before he was slain
In Mexico with ice pick in the brain