Written during the winter of 1857-8, the Grundrisse was considered by Marx to be the first scientific elaboration of communist theory. A collection of seven notebooks on capital and money, it both develops the arguments outlined in the Communist Manifesto (1848) and explores the themes and theses that were to dominate his great later work Capital. Here, for the first time, Marx set out his own version of Hegel's dialectics and developed his mature views on labour, surplus value and profit, offering many fresh insights into alienation, automation and the dangers of capitalist society. Yet while the theories in Grundrisse make it a vital precursor to Capital, it also provides invaluable descriptions of Marx's wider-ranging philosophy, making it a unique insight into his beliefs and hopes for the foundation of a communist state.

The Grundrisse is the 1857-8 draft of Capital. It also includes the material published in 1859 by Marx under the title Zur Kritik der politischen Oeconomie, with the well-known preface giving a brief summary of what is now customarily referred to as the materialist conception of history. The Grundrisse contains an analysis of the contrasting development of Antiquity and Asian society. [Marxism 1961]

The argument outlined on pages 375-376 [concerning precapitalist economic formations] is among the most brilliant and incisive of Marx's writings. Unfortunately, it remained a mere sketch and, what is worse, it did not see the light until 1939-1941. Had it been published around 1900, instead of remaining unknown until our days, one may suppose that Max Weber and his school would have found even better reason for relating themselves to Marx's researches. Marx in fact anticipated a good deal of what Weber had to say about Oriental society. [Oriental Despotism, 1963]

This was my second foray into Marx- having only completed The Communist Manifesto. It's a complex, multi-layered, sophisticated and extremely interesting document. While I feel I need some supplemental reading to comprehend better what I have rerad, I still feel that with this core text I have picked up on a lot of theory and information that Marx wished to relate. Overall, an illuminating read and not my last Marx book to be sure.

3.5 stars. ( )

An essential introduction to Marx's economic thought. It marks the transition between the early Marx and the mature activist-scholar.

1/19/23