Three Faces of Marxism (Leonhard)

Three Faces of Marxism, is a medium sized book of about 400 pages plus notes. Unfortunately, I didn't read it as carefully as I had wanted to. Last night I found myself studying for an exam and realizing that I would have to return this book to my university library since I wouldn't be on campus for the due-date. I skimmed the last seventy pages rather hurriedly before turning out the light last night.

Overall, I was satisfied with the content. I picked it up hoping to learn to distinguish between various forms of Marxism. With all the -isms it's sometimes hard to know and learn what is what. The book begins with a brief overview of what Marx and Engels believed, progresses to some basic information about the Russian revolution, carries on to Leninism, followed by Stalin and then Khrushchev. From there, the author proceeds to China where the reader is provided with a basic overview of how the Communist government came to power there and what Mao's policies were. Finally, the book deals with the third face of Marxism (the first being Russian and the second being Chinese), Humanist-Marxism.

Of all the various kinds of Marxisms described, I suppose I would most agree with Humanist Marxism, but I wouldn't put myself entirely in that camp as I really have very little knowledge of Humanist Marxism as a whole. The book is brief and that's the part that I began to skim. I do know that many of the country-specific Marxisms described in this book are not my cup of tea. It's no wonder that so many people are opposed to anything resembling or associated with Marxism, Socialism or Communism. The examples provided on the international stage are far from complimentary.

Unfortunately, this book appears to be out of print.