Reconstructing Lenin: An Intellectual Biography

For Rulers: Priming Political Leaders for Saving Humanity from Itself This book well reflects the quality of Hungarian scholarship. Based on a wealth of material made available recently, the text well presents the development of the intellect of Lenin, as shaped by interaction between theoretic reading and contemplation on one hand and revolutionary political activity and then party and state leadership on the other.Three quotes well reflect this achievement: “Even seen from a distance of decades, the first conscious historical experiment aimed at realizing a ‘stateless\ society (communism), the Russian Revolution, which eliminated the capitalist system of labor, labor distribution, and social classes, is the lasting achievement of Lenin and his revolutionary associates (Kindle location 59-60); “While it is obvious that Lenin’s Marxism was essentially of a political nature, and shaped his political struggles, it also had a grasp on virtually all the definitive problems of his age—problems that are undeniably still being reconsidered, under completely new conditions” (Kindle location 75-77); and “His early interest in the sciences, aptitude for theoretical thought, and his instinctive conjoining of theory and revolutionary practice made him the perfect revolutionary. Deliberation and rational thought distinguished him even at nineteen, for he never gave in to any manner of sentimental, exhibitionist moralization, or sermonizing Christian humility (Kindle location 603-604).Let me add a striking statement expressing Lenin’s view: “It is an absurd, and even immoral thing if a person does not have a knowledge of medicine, but wants to cure people. It is even more absurd and immoral if someone wants to heal social diseases without understanding their causes” (Kindle location 10316-10317).Backed by knowledge of many languages, extensive stays in different European countries, and a working library of more than 10,000 books. Lenin is one of the few world historic leaders who based his political views and actions on deep and broad contemplation.Leaving aside his specific opinions and political acts, it is the presentation of Lenin as an outstanding innovative leader who based his actions on a fusion between deep contemplation and close study of changing conditions which makes this book of broad importance beyond students of the history of Communism.Thanks to emerging science and technology, humanity is moving into a quantum leap in its powers to shape the future of Homo sapies as a species for better and worse. To prevent catastrophes and evolve towards pluralistic thriving a novel type of political leaders is required. The features of Lenin described in this (and other) books have much to contribute to a model of the needed novel genre of political leadershipProfessor Yehezkel DrorThe Hebrew University of Jerusalem

An analysis of Lenin's thought and its application to 21 st century anti-capitalist movements and activists. It is a bit difficult in sections, where the author presupposes a knowledge of Eastern European scholarship and especially Hungarian writers. It does answer the question that Lenin, especially the Hegelian influenced, dialectical Lenin, is very important in reassessing the Marxian legacy for the European Left. The influence of Gramsci and Lukacs are also felt throughout the book. I found the book to be very insightful and certainly a balanced approach, that we in the West must reevaluate the links between Lenin and Stalin, and the responsibility of Lenin for the State Socialism that later developed in the Soviet Union. We have consigned Lenin to the dustbin of history in the wake of the Cold War. Maybe it is time to reassess his usefulness as a critic of of capitalism and as a theorist of the transformation of capitalism into the next social and economic system, whether that be Socialism, or something else.

very interesting!

Great book!!!

Der Rekonstrukteur des Leninschen Denkens ist - schwer übersehbar - selbst Marxist. Doch darin liegt nicht das Problem, sondern die befremdlich akademische Perspektive auf ein durch und durch politisches Werk, was das Leninsche nunmal war und ist. So wundert es wenig, dass es in der Masse bei Ideengeschichte bleibt und die eigene objektiv-marxistische Maßstäbe keine Anwendung. Da wunderts auch nicht, dass der Autor behauptet, das Lenins Werk im Grunde pazifistisch sei. Für den dennoch richtigen methodischen Wink gibts drei Punkte.

A well-researched book on Lenin's intellectual development.