Pipes, a harvard university historian, tells a story of lofty ideals betrayed by sordid, indeed criminal, practices. Then a week later she peered at me again, frowned, and asked the same question. Communism modern library chronicles audiobook by richard. That being the case, you might reasonably expect it to be written with a. Other readers will always be interested in your opinion of the books youve read.
Richard pipes does an excellent service by providing the reader with a concise history of communism. At its heart, the book is a history of the soviet union, the most comprehensive. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. For richard pipes, the anticommunist ideologue and historian, soviet tyranny was rooted not in communism, but in the russian soul. The answer lies in the story the author tells and in his power to tell that story. Richard pipes, who died on may 18 at the age of ninetyfour, was a proud, ardent anticommunist. From the acclaimed modern library chronicles comes an exploration of a promising theory that when put to practice wreaked havoc on the world. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. During the 1970s and 1980s, pipes was also a significant figure in the formulation of american foreign policy. July 11, 1923 may 17, 2018 was an american academic who specialized in russian history, particularly with respect to the soviet union, who espoused a strong anticommunist point of view throughout his career. An expert on communism, richard pipes follows the history of the soviet union from the 1917 revolution to the cold war, and finally, to its deterioration and collapse. Pipes railed against the history of the soviet system from below, advanced by social historians.
Beginning with plato and the first expressions of a utopian vision of a propertyless society, richard pipes describes communism s historical antecedents, through to marx, engels and the birth of communism as a theory calling for the abolition of property and a call to arms. Traces the history of communism from the antecedents of karl marx, through its spread to russia and adoption by a group of radical intellectuals led by lenin, to the fall of the soviet empire and beyond. A history by richard pipes, my wife asked me why it was taking so long to read such a short book. Richard pipes audio books, best sellers, author bio.
Beginning with plato and the first expressions of a utopian vision of a propertyless society, richard pipes describes communisms historical antecedents, through to marx, engels and the birth of communism as a theory calling for the abolition of property and a call to arms. Richard pipes has 56 books on goodreads with 9239 ratings. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read communism. At its heart, the book is a history of the soviet union, the most comprehensive reorganization of human society ever attempted by a nationstate. From one of our greatest historians, a magnificent reckoning with the modern worlds most fateful idea. A history has 2 available editions to buy at half price books marketplace. Richard pipes does an excellent service by providing the reader with a concise history of. With astonishing authority and clarity, richard pipes has fused a lifetimes. An expert on communism, richard pipes follows the history of the soviet union from the 1917 revolution to the co. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc. As harvard university professor richard pipes shows in communism.
Richard pipes, baird professor of history, emeritus, at harvard university, is the author of numerous books and essays, including the russian revolution, russia. Nov 06, 2001 from one of our greatest historians, a magnificent reckoning with the modern worlds most fateful idea. The sections on communism in other countries are much shorter and not as strong. But this was the least interesting thing about him his anticommunist books represented his most banal work. Richard pipes, the author of communism, a history of the intellectual and political movement is described in the front of his book as baird professor of history emeritus at harvard university.
The family later moved to warsaw but were forced to flee the nazi invasion in 1939. A history modern library chronicles reprint by pipes, richard isbn. A history modern library chronicles series book 7 kindle edition by pipes, richard. Here is an exporation of a promising theory that, when put into practice, wreaked havoc on the world. At its heart, the book is a history of the soviet union, the most comprehensive reorganization of human society ever attempted by a nation. July 11, 1923 may 17, 2018 was an american academic who specialized in russian history, particularly with respect to the soviet union, who espoused a strong anti communist point of view throughout his career. Richard pipes has laid out in this short book, the most insightful and concise history and analysis of communism ever written. The most noteworthy shortcoming of the book appears in the last half of the. Richard pipes, baird professor of history, emeritus, at harvard university, is the author of numerous books and essays, including the russian revolution, russia under the bolshevik regime, and property and freedom.
Communism with astonishing authority and clarity, richard pipes has fused a lifetime s scholarship into a single focused history of communism, from its hopeful birth as. Born in cieszyn, poland, pipes and his family fled shortly after the nazi occupation in 1939. Pipes wrote many books on russian history, including russia. Whether youve loved the book or not, if you give your honest and detailed thoughts then people will find new books that are right for them. Richard pipes was an american historian who specialised in russia, the russian revolution and the soviet union. A concise history of the russian revolution by richard pipes. A history, and three whys of the russian revolution, and more on.
That being the case, you might reasonably expect it to be written with a degree of scholarly care and attention to detail. Richard pipes was a jewishamerican historian who specialised in tsarist russia, the russian revolution and the soviet union. A history modern library chronicles by richard pipes 20010904. Top 10 best richard pipes books toprated richard pipes. Richard pipes traces the history of communism from the antecedents of karl marx, through its spread to. Communism with astonishing authority and clarity, richard pipes has fused a lifetime s scholarship into a single focused history of communism, from its hopeful birth as a theory to its miserable death as a practice. Marx promulgated two basic ideas that were essential to the development of.
A system of ideas took control of intellectuals and revolutionaries across the world, but in unindustrialized nations communism was able to achieve power and wrecked horrible suffering on those unlucky enough to be born within its grasp. If it were given to every college student, it would go a long way to inoculating them from the tired communist cheerleading emanating from most college professors today. The books by richard pipes on russian history show his strong anticommunist outlook. See all books authored by richard pipes, including communism. In a masterfully succinct survey, pipes provides a good glimpse of many of the precursors of communism platos republic, mores utopia, etc. Reviewed by bruce yandle on perhaps the tenth night that i lay in bed quietly reading communism. His anticommunist books represented his most banal work. In 1976, he headed team b, a team of analysts organized by the central intelligence agency who analyzed the strategic capacities and goals. A history modern library chronicles by richard pipes 20010904 richard pipes on. Pipes was born in southern poland, the son of a middleclass businessman. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading communism. With astonishing authority and clarity, richard pipes has fused a lifetim. For more than 50 years, the conservative book club has guided book lovers to the best conservative books and authors of our times.
With astonishing authority and clarity, richard pipes has fused a lifetimes scholarship into a single focused history of communism, from its hopeful birth as a theory to its miserable death as a practice. Google play books app on your pc, android, ios devices. May 21, 2018 richard pipes, who has died aged 94, was a historian of the soviet union whose anti communism was so strident that many of his fellow historians warned their students not to read him. Apr 28, 1994 with astonishing authority and clarity, richard pipes has fused a lifetimes scholarship into a single focused history of communism, from its hopeful birth as a theory to its miserable death as a practice.
Groundbreaking in its inclusiveness, enthralling in its narrative of a movement whose purpose, in the words of leon trotsky, was to overthrow the world, the russian revolution draws conclusions that aroused great controversy. Richard pipes, the historian as essentialist jacobin. Dec 14, 2015 with astonishing authority and clarity, richard pipes has fused a lifetimes scholarship into a single focused history of communism, from its hopeful birth as a theory to its miserable death as a practice. Communism was an amazing development in world history. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read a concise history of the russian revolution. With astonishing authority and clarity, richard pipes has fused a lifetimes scholarship into a single focused history of communism, from its hopeful birth.
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