We recommend people start their study of Socialism and Marxism wherever they are and with what they find most interesting. Jumping right into Capital is a great way to burn yourself out! Start with a time period, a particular idea, or an issue you have a connection to and expand your education as you progress.

Be careful, though. “Communist” influencers, online personalities, and socialist entertainers might be a great way to learn some basics, but they often mix their own opinions with Marxist theory. Always conduct your own research on a given topic.

If you want our recommended step-by-step guide to getting started in Marxism, we strongly suggest reading and thoroughly studying the following texts. We have included them below along with our comments on why they are important.

1. “Inventing Reality” by Michael Parenti or “Manufacturing Consent” by Edward Herman and Noam Chomsky. (One of the most difficult and important parts of learning and understanding Marxism is unlearning what we think we know about the world. These books are essential to help you see through the media bias of the capitalist press and help you learn to analyze current events through a critical, well-informed lens.)
2. “The Three Sources and Three Component Parts of Marxism” by V. I. Lenin. (This text gives a very basic and simple overview of what Marxism is and the three key principles that are essential for effective Marxist movements.)
3. “The Manifesto of the Communist Party” by Marx and Engles. (This was written with the intention of giving readers a thorough and useful understanding of the principles of Communist movements, the historical and economic foundations of those principles, and what Communists want to accomplish.)
4. “The Origin of the Family, Private Property and the State” by Frederick Engels. (Lenin said this book is “one of the fundamental works of modern socialism” and shows how historical materialism is used to analyze the evolution of human culture throughout our history.)
5. “The Foundations of Leninism” by J. V. Stalin. (Stalin established the theoretical framework of what we call Marxism-Leninism — the militant struggle of Communists in the age of capitalist imperialism.)

There are also additional texts that most Marxist organiations require and help you develop Marxist thought and understand Socialist principles. The following pages will help you get started.