Capital: A Critique of Political Economy - Volume 3: The Process of Capitalist Production as a Whole

Unfinished at the time of Marx's death in 1883 and first published with a preface by Frederick Engels in 1894, the third volume of Das Kapital strove to combine the theories and concepts of the two previous volumes in order to prove conclusively that capitalism is inherently unworkable as a permanent system for society. Here, Marx asserts controversially that - regardless of the efforts of individual capitalists, public authorities or even generous philanthropists - any market economy is inevitably doomed to endure a series of worsening, explosive crises leading finally to complete collapse. But healso offers an inspirational and compelling prediction- that the end of capitalism will culminate, ultimately, in the birth of a far greater form of society.Translated by David Fernbach with an introduction by Ernest Mandel… (more)

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LibraryThing member thcson

Having read the entire Kapital, in three volumes and almost 2500 pages, let me make just one suggestion to those who haven't read it yet: you should seriously consider reading an abridged edition. I wanted to read the entire work because I didn't want to miss something important, but after working

my way through thousands of pages of repetitive and antiquated economic theorizing, I admit my misjudgment. Of course, this work probably had a bigger impact on modern history than any other. For that reason alone people should still read it today. But Marx simply wasn't a very focused writer. Following his thoughts about rent and interest as they meander back and forth across the same ground he already covered in volumes 1 and 2 is frustrating to say the least. There's simply a lot of superfluous material in Kapital, especially in volumes 2 and 3. A well-edited abridgement, which shouldn't amount to more than 600-700 pages, will probably give you the important parts of this classic without omitting anything of value.

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LibraryThing member gborchardt

Classical analysis of economics demonstrating the importance of material conditions in the progressive development of society.

LibraryThing member RajivC

This book, like the first two, is not an easy book to read. I do not know if this book is meant to be required reading in colleges of history and economics, but it should be.

It is hard to imagine anyone else (apart from people like Adam Smith) who have such an immense influence on the decades that

succeeded them. It is also hard to find anyone else who would be so misunderstood. I am, at this point of writing, yet to read The Communist Manifesto, and I will. However, this book is not at all a polemical exercise, as it is an exercise in analysis.

Brilliant, and difficult. Yet, for a serious student of history, economics, and politics, Marx is a must study. And, I emphasise - a must study and not just a must read.

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