Marx in 90 Minutes

Karl Marx's devastating critique of capitalism, and his proposal of communism as the answer to the failings of the capitalist system, bore their greatest fruits in the twentieth century with the formation of the communist state in the Soviet Union. This great venture has now all but completely failed. Yet the force of the communist belief offered the prospect of "justice on this earth" to countless numbers. And Marx's critique has influenced generations of thinkers who call themselves Marxists.

In Marx in 90 Minutes, Paul Strathern offers a concise, expert account of Marx's life and ideas and explains their influence on man's struggle to understand his existence in the world. The book also includes selections from Marx's work, a brief list of suggested readings for those who wish to delve deeper, and chronologies that place Marx within his own age and in the broader scheme of philosophy.

In Marx in 90 Minutes, Paul Strathern offers a concise, expert account of Marx's life and ideas, and explains their influence on man's struggle to understand his existence in the world. The book also includes selections from Marx's writings; a brief list of suggested reading for those who wish to push further; and chronologies that place Marx within his own age and in the broader scheme of philosophy.

KLIATT

These two additions to a growing series on philosophers (30 and counting) have the same strengths and weaknesses of others in the series. All the books follow a uniform structure: life and works, writings excerpts, and chronology sections. The books come in around 90 pages and have rudimentary indexes. They are all concise, clear, informed and well written. I'd prefer seeing books for students that separate life and works into two chapters and ones that summarize less and provoke more. If I were going to have any one of the 30 available for students, it would be the Marx book. (90 Minutes series) KLIATT Codes: SA—Recommended for senior high school students, advanced students, and adults. 2001, Ivan R. Dee, 90p. bibliog. index., $6.95 each. Ages 16 to adult. Reviewer: Daniel J. Levinson; History & English Teacher, Thayer Acad., Braintree , September 2001 (Vol. 35 No. 5)

Paul Strathern earned a degree in philosophy at Trinity College, Dublin, and has lectured in philosophy and mathematics. A Somerset Maugham prize winner, he has written books on history, philosophy, and travel as well as five novels. His articles have appeared in numerous publications, including the Observer (London) and the Irish Times. He lives and writes in London.

Earphones Awards recipient Robert Whitfield was born in England and worked for the BBC for ten years as a radio news announcer and also worked as a narrator for the Royal National Institute for the Blind in London. In addition to narrating for Blackstone Audiobooks, he involves himself in numerous stage-acting projects in the United States and Europe.