The Conquest of Bread | 
pickIt took me a long time to finish, I‘d pick it up, get through a small chunk & then read another book. A classic in anarchism & still generally a worthwhile and relevant critique of capitalism and statist communism. Kropotkin has an optimistic view of humanity and sometimes I found his assertions to be well meaning but unlikely, although much of the general argument is agreeable. Also enjoyed finding other material through the footnotes.
pickleft theory can often be insufferable, but this book feels simple, and even kinda obvious at this point. I don‘t remember if it felt the same when I first read it a few years ago - I remember liking the contents of the book and being left with “fiction vibes”. Now, older and more involved in organizing, it feels great reading abt all this structure we want to build. I also feels surreal bc it was written ages ago and we‘re still...well, here #2021
“All is for all! If the man and the woman bear their fair share of work, they have a right to their fair share of all that is produced by all, and that share is enough to secure them well-being. No more of such vague formulas as "The right to work," or "To each the whole result of his labour." What we proclaim is The Right to Well-Being: Well-Being for All!” #kropotkin
Just finished the essay on luxury. I've always viewed working for a public library as a socialist/anarchist/left-of-left thing in today's society but good to know Kropotkin would agree that doing so as a trade off for easy access to books is also one 😂
pickAn absolute must read for anyone interested in Leftist political theory (I know how dry that sounds)
https://thebreadbook.org offers the book for free (public domain) and a much better synopsis that I could write.
If the idea of food, shelter, and meaningful work for everyone is appealing to you, then maybe give it a look.
It seems to us there is only one answer to this question: We must recognize, and loudly proclaim, that every one, whatever his grade in the old society, whether strong or weak, capable of incapable, has, before everything, THE RIGHT TO LIVE, and that society is bound to share amongst all, without exception, the means of existence at its disposal. We must acknowledge this, and proclaim it aloud, and act up to it.
pickThe Conquest of Bread is a necessity for anyone exploring Anarchist Communism or Leftist politics in general. Kropotkin's prose is continually inspiring and powerful throughout. One of the main aspects of the work I find most interesting is his immense detailing of collected data about European economy; its ability to easily create abundances to meet human needs. How amazing it would be to compare data from today's global economy: 126 years later!
"Literature, science, and art must be cultivated by free men. Only on this condition will they succeed in emancipating themselves from the yoke of the State, of Capital, and of bourgeois mediocrity which stifles them."- Pyotr Kropotkin (The Conquest of Bread)
1. Chores, reading, nothing special.
2. 6‘ 1”
3. Moved back to Houston just over a year ago.
4. Conquest of Bread, Candide, Getting Up for the People, Work, and several others.
5. My face with a cameo from Lucius.
#friyayintro @jesshowbooks
