I’m digging anarchists’ more hands on, pragmatic approach to politics. I finished The Conquest of Bread a couple of weeks ago and I’m currently working my way through Bullshit Jobs. Any suggestions about theory, praxis, mutual aid, etc. would be appreciated

    • anarchotoothbrushist@lemmy.ml
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      1 year ago

      Seconding this.

      AFAQ gives overviews on topics with a lot of quoting from books and essays. It often notes that a book is ‘essential reading’ for a certain topic.

      So it’s not only an informative read in itself, it’s a great source for people looking for reading recommendations.

  • pbpza@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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    1 year ago

    You may join local IWW, help with local food not bombs, go to some anarchist bookfair near you etc. About theory, there is a website called the anarchist library with a lot of books concerning anarchism for free!

    • BarrelAgedBoredom@lemmy.worldOP
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      1 year ago

      Thanks for the tips! I’ve found a mutual aid group in my city and apparently there’s a food not bombs chapter here too. I’ve looked through the anarchist Library a few times but their search function isn’t the greatest and being pretty new to leftist ideology, anarchism in particular, a lot of the authors are completely unfamiliar to me. I’m not sure if what I’ll be digging into is any good and/or too much for me to wrap my head around. I was hoping to find the general consensus among anarchists of where to start, what to look into, etc. so id be able to read more confidently and with most of the basics covered

  • vxnxnt@feddit.de
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    1 year ago

    I haven’t read any anarchist books myself yet, but I have read plenty of shorter texts I found online (mostly from The Anarchist Library).

    Here are a few I found to be worth a read (in no particular order):

    Since you already read The Conquest of Bread I decided to leave out most of Kropotkin’s shorter texts, as I assume that you should already be familiar with his ideas and principles.

    Although not anarchists, I still find many libertarian Marxists to be pretty insightful as well (some may as well be Anarchists in denial). Anton Pannekoek’s and Rosa Luxemburg’s works being some I really enjoy reading.

    I also have What is Anarchism? (by Alexander Berkman) and Anarcho-Syndicalism (by Rudolf Rocker) standing on my bookshelf, but I haven’t gotten around to reading them quite yet. If they sound interesting enough you could give them a try.

  • Hotchip@lemmy.world
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    1 year ago

    Fan of Bookchins work myself. I would suggest googling him, and if you’re into podcasts: give srsly wrong a listen. Its libertarian socialist thought broken down in a podcast with skits and well humored education/interviews. Their discord also has a fantastic bookclub with live readings and discussion.

    • anarchotoothbrushist@lemmy.ml
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      1 year ago

      give srsly wrong a listen

      Can you recommend an episode or two to start with? Something representative of their typical quality, format, and tone? Preferably recent, too?

      (Sorry if this is a bit of a weird request. I just like to know I’m giving a podcast a fair go, without having to listen to, like, 5 episodes to figure out what it’s usually like. 😆)

      • Hotchip@lemmy.world
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        1 year ago

        It would kind of depend on what topics you’re interested in. Episodes 242, 243, and the Social ecology series that starts at episode 219 are fantastic.

        I would suggest listening to a few on topics you’re curious about. Each non-series episode is easy to follow by itself, no need to start form episode one.

  • Klutzy@geddit.social
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    1 year ago

    My only suggestion is that much of Errico Malatesta’s writings are better than Conquest of Bread. Don’t take Conquest of Bread too seriously, in my opinion.

  • Nix@merv.news
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    1 year ago

    Good youtube channels would be nice too. So far i just know of submedia

  • soweli Jemi@kulupu.duckdns.org
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    1 year ago

    I found “At The Café” dialogues by Malatesta to be a very entertaining yet insightful reas, especially when it comes to discussions among leftists about power structures.

  • klep@lemmy.world
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    1 year ago

    What is Property by Pierre-Joseph Proudhon

    The Conquest of Bread by Peter Kropotkin

    Luigi Galleani

    Emma Goldman

    There’s a lot. I could make a more comprehensive list when I get done with work, if you’d like.

    • BarrelAgedBoredom@lemmy.worldOP
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      1 year ago

      Awesome, thank you! I’d be happy to hear any other recommendations you have. I’m reading an anarchist programme by Malatesta next, then it’s on to anarchy by Malatesta. I might dive a bit deeper into David Graeber’s works after that. Bullshit Jobs was fascinating

      • klep@lemmy.ml
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        1 year ago

        Some more I thought of, by no means a comprehensive list though. Just what I’ve read on the subject that appealed to me as I was studying anarchism as a political philosophy.

        Statism and Anarchy by Mikhail Bakunin

        Anarcho-syndicalism: Theory and Practice by Rudolf Rocker

        Mutual Aid by Kropotkin

        Trotsky discusses anarchism in Marxism and Ararchism

        Nestor Makhno has some interesting writings

        Chomsky is good

        Émile Armand has some good writings on Individualist Anarchism (he’s very anti-conflict though, which I tend to disagree with)

        Lastly, something I would strongly recommend if you’re new to anarchist thought and philosophy is Anarchism: Arguments For and Against by Albert Meltzer.

        I am leaving out tons of great writings and writers/philosophers/theorists (and theories)/poets/etc…

        There is a lot out there. Let me know if you have any questions!

        • BarrelAgedBoredom@lemmy.worldOP
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          1 year ago

          Awesome, I appreciate it! Especially the inclusion of something that would seem to have (at least some) criticisms of anarchism. I’ve been having trouble finding good faith critiques of leftist thought be it Marxism, anarchism, Maoism, etc. Searching “criticism of x” usually results in right wing hit pieces

  • Discoslugs@lemmy.world
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    1 year ago

    Pyter Kropotkin’s Mutual aid and conquest of bread.

    Both have somethings that are out dated. But both are very good for foundational understanding of anarchy.

  • sinewyshadow@lemmy.ml
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    9 months ago

    He’s not an anarchist, per se, but Noam Chomsky is always good to read. I heard Neal Stephenson’s book The Diamond Age is about anarchy? As well as Kim Stanley Robinson’s book Red Planet. Sadly, those are the only two I am aware of!

  • CurlyWurlies4All@slrpnk.net
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    7 months ago

    Beyond theory I found practical examples were extremely helpful in understanding how anarchist politics relate to real life, so I’d recommend Revolution in Rojava: Democratic Autonomy and Women’s Liberation in Syrian Kurdistan.

    • Michael H. Jenkins@infosec.pub
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      7 months ago

      Revolution in Rojava: Democratic Autonomy and Women’s Liberation in Syrian Kurdistan

      I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in new ways of community building or the current events unfolding in the region.