Karl Marx

Philosophy and Revolution

By: Shlomo Avineri

Narrated by: Roger Clark

Length: 7 hrs and 55 mins

Publisher's summary

Karl Marx (1818-1883) - philosopher, historian, sociologist, economist, current affairs journalist, and editor - was one of the most influential and revolutionary thinkers of modern history, but he is rarely thought of as a Jewish thinker, and his Jewish background is either overlooked or misrepresented. Here, distinguished scholar Shlomo Avineri argues that Marx's Jewish origins did leave a significant impression on his work. Marx was born in Trier, then part of Prussia, and his family had enjoyed equal rights and emancipation under earlier French control of the area. But then its annexation to Prussia deprived the Jewish population of its equal rights. These developments led to the reluctant conversion of Marx's father, and similar tribulations radicalized many young intellectuals of that time who came from a Jewish background.

Avineri puts Marx's Jewish background in its proper and balanced perspective, and traces Marx's intellectual development in light of the historical, intellectual, and political contexts in which he lived.

©2019 Shlomo Avineri (P)2019 Tantor

Best short reading of Marx

This is the best brief reading and biography of Marx I’ve encountered. After teaching Marx in 19th Century philosophy courses for years I wish I’d had read this before I retired

Making sense of the influence of Karl Marx

I had no idea who the author was. No idea who the narrator was. They are now two of my favorites. I looked up every book that Roger Clark is narrated to see if I could work them into my reading list. The authors use of obscure little known manuscripts and/or letters other documents to provideA better understanding of the true meanings of so many of marx’s well known but poorly understood quotations was very rewarding. It is clear as the book progresses that the revolutions in Russia China and other nationsWe’re not as marks pictured a proletariat revolution. This is tied together beautifully in the last 13 minutes of the audiobook. No thanks again to the author I will be reading many more of his books. Well I totally disagree with Marx’s economic theories that is in large part because this is now and that was then and like other comparisons using presentism it is not detract from the brilliance of his technique and attemptsRegardless of the results.