Rate this book

Guía De El Capital De Marx. Libro Primero (2009)

by David Harvey(Favorite Author)

4.17 of 5 Votes: 1

languge

English

genre

History & Biography

publisher

Akal Ediciones

review 1: David Harvey says early in the book that his understanding of Marx's "Capital" has developed over the course of many years of teaching the book. He has taught it to economists, philosophers, English students, and even a group of Derrideans, who insisted on checking translations and examining Marx's language so much that the group barely got past the first chapter. "What came to fascinate me," Harvey says, "was that each group saw different things in 'Capital'... I found myself learning more and more about the text from working through it with people from different disciplines." His wealth of experience with the text shows.As a good introduction to "Capital" should, Harvey's "Companion" deftly goes through some of Marx's more difficult arguments. Harvey has trod this path m... moreany times, and he is aware not only of where the path goes, but also of where readers are likely to stumble, and he is quick to lend a helping hand with short digressions into Marx's methodology, including one longer one on what it means that Marx is trying to think "dialectically." Harvey explains the reasons behind Marx's sometimes peculiar terminology, why Marx making certain arguments at certain points in the book rather than others; he also considers "Capital" within the context of Marx's entire corpus, and when necessary Harvey links what Marx says in "Capital" -- or, what is more important, what Marx is NOT saying in "Capital" -- to this context.But that the "Companion" contains a basic outline of Marx's opus is not its most impressive feature. What is most impressive, and what will make the book of value not only to those just beginning to study Marx but also, perhaps, to more seasoned scholars, is Harvey's attention to the nitty-gritty of Marx's text. There are some passages every book on "Capital" should point out -- for instance, the beginning of the "Fetishism of Commodities" section -- and this Harvey does. Harvey goes beyond this and brings up passages that are easily missed: Harvey's attention to Marx's footnotes is extremely helpful. At times Harvey will only draw the reader's attention to a footnotes; at times he will show how Marx makes a key argument or answers a particular counter-argument in a footnote, and a considerable discussion of the footnote will ensue. About 30 pages of the "Companion" contain some level of discussion of Marx's footnotes. In addition, Harvey pays attention to the place of gender in Marx's text, emphasizing both where Marx is strong and where Marx is weak on the issue. Harvey's keen eye for the presence of gendered metaphors is much appreciated. Harvey also devotes considerable space elaborating some of Marx's ideas regarding the relationship between human society and nature -- a furtive area of Marx's thought that has only recently begun to be explored. And significantly, Harvey even notes the congruence between the work of Michel Foucault and the Marxist project, suggesting that Foucault be read as detailing the development of disciplinary apparatuses and ways of thought (regarding mental illness, sexuality, etc.) without which advanced capitalism would be impossible. In other words, he makes Foucualt out to be a Marxist. Too many have made the mistake of reading these two thinkers as being fundamentally opposed.Marx's "Capital" is one of the, if not the, most relevant books for today. Harvey knows this, and he is at pains to show how "Capital" is very much a book for the present. We locked "Capital" up in the basement because we didn't want to hear what it had to say to us. It was too traumatic. But the trauma of present catastrophes risks being greater than the traumatic truth "Capital" can help us to see. This is why it's time to grow up, go into the basement, and unlock "Capital." It's time to dust it off. That is, it's time, as Harvey says, to read "Capital," and to read it on Marx's terms. Harvey can help us do this.
review 2: Rather than watching hours of the videos of David Harvey's class on Capital online, we can now pick up this book. Harvey is a great guide though Marx, especially through the very rough first sections. Reading this book without reading Capital itself is better than not reading either, but I endorse Harvey's request that you really do read Marx in his own words. Yes, that damned coat gets on the nerves, but Marx's writings are literature - just irreducible to any interpretation.I love that Harvey has been devoting so much of his life to get people to read Marx, but hope that those who begin with Harvey also take Marx to new places and read Harvey's interpretations with a mind bent towards a ruthless criticism of everything existing. less

Download links for: Guía de El capital de Marx. Libro primero

Advertising