Currently I’m reading Nina Burton’s ‘Livets tunna väggar’ which translate to something like Walls of Life. It’s a book by a Swedish writer who inherits her mother’s summer house. When she wants to renovate it, she finds all sort of life around and in the house. She uses said life to teach you something about the intellect of various insects and animals, which goes deeper than humans normally think.
It’s a very interesting book that makes me think about non-human life even more. Creatures that are thousands of times smaller than we are have such complex societal structures. Humans have overcommodified animal life for centuries now, seeing them as property and commodities instead of complex and intelligent life forms.
What are you reading?
I just started reading Stasi State or Socialist Paradise?: The German Democratic Republic and What Became of It, by Bruni de la Motte and John Green. It’s a great analysis of the DDR.
Furthermore I’m reading Killing hope by William Blum. A great book about Amerikan interventions/coups.
And ofcourse the Communist Manifesto (again).
After those I want to read An Economic History of the USSR 1917-1991 and Mutual Aid: Building Solidarity During This Crisis (and the Next).
Any reason in particular why you’re going to look at An Economic History of the USSR 1917-1991? I’m keen on improving my knowledge of the USSR and would like to look at a retrospective account that isn’t completely anti-communist. Have you heard that An Economic History provides something like that? I’ll take a look myself if yours is a recommendation.
Is Mutual Aid: Building Solidarity During This Crisis (and the Next) the one by Dean Spade? I picked up and flicked through it last week. It’s not bad. The parts I read were quite US focused but that’s not necessarily a problem. I quite like the format of this series (it’s got a similar design to two books by Malm) because they’re not intimidating and easy to pick up and start.
First of a sorry for the late reply.
The reason why I’m reading An Economic History of the USSR is because a Marxist-Leninist friend recommended it to me. It has some nice information, but I would recommend Blackshirts & Reds by Michael Parenti if you want some more general information. He gives a far broader field of information about the Soviet Union and the rest of the communist bloc.
Mutual Aid: Building Solidarity During This Crisis (and the next) is indeed the one by Dean Spade. And yeah, it is a little too much focused on the US, but I would still recommend it.
Furthermore, I would really recommend reading Stasi State or Socialist Paradise. I just finished it and must say that it is one of the better books that I have read this year. It’s a light read but still contains so many great examples and information. It’s a great book for when you’re waiting for the train for example.