The Case for Socialism (Updated Edition) Paperback – April 1, 2010

I read the last edition of this book. It was good. It was 2004, we we're in the midst of the Bush years and there was no real hope for change at all. Capitalism has and always will be corrupt and that's sort of what it felt reading the last edition years ago.Alan Maass has rewritten pretty much the entire thing. Especially now that the Obama administration is letting everyone down who had hope in him, this book puts liberalism in power in context of the vast desire for change amidst an economic crisis in this country and internationally.Maass's book breaks down the ineffectiveness of the system largely by using the last decade to justify capitalism's inherent failure. Further on, Alan provides a great explanation for what SOCIALISM really is about and not the hogwash that was the USSR, China, and Cuba. Socialism from below, a workers' revolution, Maass argues would be the only genuine vehicle to human liberation. The mass majority, working people, taking hold of the fruits of their labor in the interest of society as a whole.What's perhaps most important is the sense of urgency that Maass writes into the book and convinces you of. In fact I didn't need much convincing just living in the world we live in today. The urgency to get organized now rather than sit back and wait for change is the underlying theme to this book. The system is messed up. It will go through its periods of relative "good times" but it is prone to fail, time and time again.I don't have any real criticism of the book, aside from a typo here and there.This book is a real tool for anyone trying to figure out their disagreements with the system and who have a desire to find an alternative. When you're done with the book, get organized and pass the book along.We have a world to win.

This is a great beginning to socialism. It is written for anyone who is looking for info on socialism, but wants light reading. Let's face it, in the realm of American politics, most people are remain uneducated and they like it this way. It helps maintain belief that everything our government does is righteous. This book is written for those people. If you are already a scholar of Marx or economics, this book will all be things you know about, probably more intimately than Maas goes into.This book is great for someone looking to cut their teeth into socialism, and it is good for those who need an impassioned read. Disregard all those who say Maas is just crying, etc. This is a well informed book written by a well respected journalist.If you want to get a deeper more scholarly approach, read D'Amato's book The Meaning of Marxism.This is also an ideal gift book! It is short and readable in one or two sittings.

The Case for Socialism, by Alan Maass is a well-written and easy to read book. It sets out all the basic ideas on why socialism is necessary and needed. Being a socialist I tend to agree with every argument that Maass makes concerning the logical nature and existential necessity of creating a socialist society. It's main limitation seems to be one that is a built-in or inherent limitation in the Socialist movement today, and thus one that cannot be avoided: that the only way to create this must-needed socialist society is for all us individual socialists to unite and organize and thus provide a unified and coherent and forceful resistance to the capitalist hegemonic force that controls our world. I wish there was an easier and quicker way for Socialism to succeed, but I fear that there isn't. But this is not a problem with the book, but with the world in which we live.

Everyone must understand why we have our current economic and climate disasters, and clearly understand what forces are in play, but more importantly, grasp a vision of a better world that is possible. The old saying of, You can't get there if you don't know where you are going....is true. We must first understand and embrace the vision of what kind of society we want, must understand the steps to get there, but most importantly, the forces that wish to prevent a better world from taking place. Those forces are at the core selfish, malevolent, determined, and cruel. Do we continue to endure, or do we envision, and fight for, a better world for our children, grandchildren, and their children?

You know, I am about as opposed to socialism as anyone could be, but I read this book for the second time anyway. I feel compelled to learn about what makes a socialist tick and study socialism again and again. Largely this is because I usually hear "You don't even know what socialism is" from my socialist-minded friends. While I do not agree with their assessment of my knowledge, I am not so arrogant to not question. So, I read a lot about it (and other political ideologies) and thought I would give this book another try.Sadly, learning anything about socialism from this book is impossible. What you can learn is the misguided, angry opinions of Mr. Maass. He dismisses anyone who speaks ill of his beloved socialism (which I am convinced *he* does not understand) with silly, juvenile comments. Hey, I think Glen Beck is a dick too, but how valid is a point that an ideology must be good if Beck dislikes it? That kind of logic is what I expect from a blog, not a book supposedly written by someone intelligent.Blaming racism on capitalism is ridiculous as well. Mr. Maass seems to believe his socialist paradise would not have any racism in it. After all, it was all caused by the slave trade and we all know the slave trade was started by those evil capitalists (quite true in most respects) so therefore racism was created by the same (stupid in all respects).There are much better texts on socialism than this. I would recommend Heaven On Earth:  Heaven On Earth: The Rise and Fall of Socialism  long before this dreck.

What i liked about this book was its brevity. Most of the book is where capitalism is now, why it cant be saved and how we can change things for ourselves. This book is for those on the wrong side of capitalism, the ones struggling to pay bills, who have no leisure that is not free, who cant afford a holiday, a car or the things they need to have any kind of life. Its also for people who are looking for answers to constant wars, always with countries and people more likely to own goats than anywhere near the sophistication of the weapons they find themselves under attack with.I ask you one thing. Read it. Think about it. What modern socialism is, is very, very different from what you think you know. And, whats the worse that can happen?