this post was submitted on 19 Apr 2026
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What topic related Marxism (literature, certain figures, theory) do you think you have an unpopular opinion of? (lemmygrad.ml)
submitted 3 weeks ago by LeninZedong@lemmygrad.ml to c/comradeship@lemmygrad.ml
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I myself do not really view "What is to be Done?" as a great beginner work for Marxists, since it mentions a lot of obscure philosophers or groups that a modern audience (with their cursory knowledge of Russian history being from the lips of liberals, or worse, conservatives) would hardly know the context of, and I am reading a version that has notes on these people!

That is not to say that it is not an influential or essential work of Lenin (I think it might be up there with "Imperialism, the Highest Stage of Capitalism" and "The State and Revolution" in terms of either factor), but one has to be willing to trudge through Russian names that you will likely never hear again.

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[โ€“] Commiejones@lemmygrad.ml 0 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

It was one of the first bits of theory I read. I think the name leads a lot of baby Marxists to think it is a good place to start. Wouldn't you love to know exactly "What is to be done"?

[โ€“] Saymaz@lemmygrad.ml 0 points 3 weeks ago

No baby Marxist with the knowledge of the historical context will get through the writing.