Socialism . . . Seriously: A Brief Guide to Human Liberation

The author starts by giving some background of the socialism movement and then spends a few chapters talking about capitalism. Then for the better part of the book the author talks about socialism; its implications, it's inevitable revolution, how it would be like, etc. The positives are the fact the author was objective, and his writing style was suave - and facetious. The negatives are that I didn't learn much, many topics or proposals weren't expounded upon, and it wasn't convincing. Note that I do not subscribe to capitalism but I am aware of it's ostensible problems. The text didn't do justice for me; it just didn't convince me to become a socialist. The highlight of the text for me was the author's discussion about revolutions, which was very interesting and convincing.One such argument for socialism, on page 141: "The sacrifice of individuals in the name of societal progress is said to be one of the horrors of socialism, a world run by the faceless bureaucrats supposedly acting for the common good. But there are plenty of invisible and unelected decision makers under capitalism, from health insurance officials who don't know us but can determine whether our surgery is 'necessary' to billionaire-funded foundations that declare schools they have never visited to be failures".Even though the criticism of capitalism seems to be true, it doesn't necessarily backup the claims about socialism. This is just one example, but it seems to me that the author tends the juxtapose the two more than giving technical arguments for socialism.It's also unnerving how the author tends to interchangeably use the ideological/economical semantics for liberalism/conservatism. For example, the author mentions that liberalism and conservatism both start from the proposition that capitalism is the best possible system, and that socialism is a rejection of such a proposition. Perhaps here he means the economic liberalism/conservatism, because the ideological liberal I would believe, would have a higher regard for socialism.3.3/5

Danny Katch writes some articles for Jacobin magazine. Jacobin is a journal of democratic-socialist thought. Noam Chomsky has called Jacobin magazine “a bright light in dark times.” Jacobin’s motto “Reason in Revolt” is a reference to a line from “The Internationale” anthem. Prominent Socialists (non-Communists) include Abe Isoo, Jean Jaurès, Léon Blum, François Mitterand, Frederick Denison Maurice, John Ruskin, Charles Kingsley, Thomas Hughes, Frederick James Furnivall, Adin Ballou, Pär Fabian Lagerkvist, Gunnar Myrdal, Presbyterian minister Norman M. Thomas, Eugene Victor Debs, Jack London, and Francis J. Bellamy. Failed capitalists include Donald Trump, Charles Ponzi, William F. Miller, Sun Myung Moon, Ayn Rand, Herbert Hoover, Calvin Coolidge, Armand Hammer, Roy Marcus Cohn, Ivan Boesky, Kenneth Lay, Elizabeth Holmes, Robert Harold Schuller, and Bernie L. Madoff. Afterword: As a gazette, “People’s World” is 70 times better than “The Washington Times”.

Someone said here “a bit juvenille.” That is a reflection of the reader, not the book. The book is MEANT to be an easy read, to simplify this for a GREATER GOOD, as opposed to talking above folks so one can feel they are smart. Bravo!! It’s a wonderful book and perfect for who it is intended. The idea is to come to together to figure out a better way. Not to keep some out and some in. Don’t hesitate to buy this for someone on the fence, or who thinks this subject matter is over their head. That is who this book is written for and that is brilliant on the authors part. And extremely moral on his part as well. I can’t say enough good about it.

The ghost is alive and well and made a public appearance during the Sanders campaign, a warning that the days of capitalism may be numbered. A remarkable thing has happened, leaving the 1% in consternation: the idea of socialism has resurfaced in the new generation of young Americans who have watched enough television to know propaganda when they see it, and an economic system that is dysfunctional. The reign of the 'end of history' mythology has off'd its own head and we are at the beginning of the end of a delusion, that of the self-correcting free market.In a period of escalating climate change that fiction has suddenly died of rising sea levels and melting glacier syndrome...It may rest in peace, or not

I never felt as if I had a good handle on socialism, so I decided to pick up this book to learn more. Danny Katch provides a witty, humorous look at capitalism and socialism, but don't expect this to be a light look - he goes in guns 'a blazing. My only criticism is that I was hoping for more details as to how a socialist society in the 21st century would actually work. He barely skims the surface there. But if you're new to socialism like I was, it's a good start.

Great elevator pitch for socialism. A good book to buy your liberal Aunt for Christmas.

We are here, we have power, and we are fun!I thoroughly enjoyed this book as it confirmed that I am indeed a socialist and hopefully a revolutionary.Air-Hugs, Air-kisses and decisions made by the people enacting true positive change

Danny Katch's Socialism... Seriously is an incredible book in introducing Marxist socialism to a mainstream audience in a completely anti-dogmatic way. With a combination of theory, humor, and history, Katch manages to draw in readers to an all-encompassing critique of capitalism that also proposes a seemingly viable solution. Katch's Trotskyist bent may throw off more hardened Marxist-Leninists, but even Katch acknowledges his leanings and actually presents his criticism of Stalin and his support for the Trotskyist movement with an urging for readers to do their own research on communist movement and acknowledges its progressive roles in many struggles (racism, anti-imperialism, etc.).

Danny presents a very disappointing vision of “human liberation”. Our sun is good for at least another billion years, at five generations a century that means another 50 million generations. If the planet population levels out at 10 billion there could be another 100 quadrillion humans. I think we should aim higher than condemning them all to be equal.

This little book is an excellent introduction to the genuine Marxist idea of “socialism from below”. Katch shows that there is an alternative to the exploitation, oppression, racism, sexism, alienation, economic crises, wars and environmental destruction inherent in the capitalist system; and he shows that this alternative involves working people collectively and democratically taking power and running society themselves.For many people Marxism is a dirty word because of its association with the bureaucratic tyranny of the Stalinist regimes of Russia, Eastern Europe, China etc. But these regimes had/have nothing to do with genuine Marxism, as anyone who reads this book will see.An appealing feature of the book is the way that Katch uses humour as a weapon. As he says, “Capitalism is destructive and inhuman, but it’s also silly, and mocking its absurdities reminds us that a system this dumb can’t possibly be indestructible.”Phil Webster.

If you want a good first read on what Socialism really is, I doubt you can do better than read this.It is extremely well written, and covers a lot of Capitalist and Socialist concepts with clarity and insight.Real food for thought delivered in an often humorous fashion.Highly recommended.Oh, and if you are outside the US,month worry the author is in the US. This book is globally applicable, and the few references to the USA are completely relevant to the discussion, and this is in no way a US centric piece of writing.

I really enjoyed the book and it brings me a whole new perspective on what the world would look like in socialism and how we’d dismantle capitalism

If you want Trotskyite partisan drivel, written in an irritatingly casual American tone, with very frequent and unsuccessful attempts at humour, and lacking an exposition of Marxism or any serious analysis, then this might be the book for you.According to this author, every example of actually existing socialism is just a state-capitalist dictatorship – this is the usual Trot line, of course. We are also told that there is 'no difference' between the meanings of the words 'communism' and "socialism'. Make of that what you will.The condescending style leads to me assume that the book was intended for the lowest of the low, the Americans who think Bernie Sanders is far-left and the like. So, if you're not one of those, you likely already know everything in this book from a quick read of the Wikipedia article on socialism.