The Conquest of Bread

by Peter Kropotkin, AudibleAnarchist

Narrated by AudibleAnarchist (group); Runtime 6h; Public domain

English language

Published Sept. 21, 2017 by LibriVox.

(4 reviews)

In this work, Kropotkin points out what he considers to be the defects of the economic systems of feudalism and capitalism, and how he believes they thrive on and maintain poverty and scarcity, as symbol for richness and in spite of being in a time of abundance thanks to technology, while promoting privilege. He goes on to propose a more decentralised economic system based on mutual aid and voluntary cooperation, asserting that the tendencies for this kind of organisation already exist, both in evolution and in human society. He also talks about details of revolution and expropriation in order not to end in a reactionary way. (summary by AudibleAnarchist)

68 editions

navtis@bookwyrm.social reviewed The Conquest of Bread by Peter Kropotkin

Anniversary reread

No rating

Reread for the (sad) 100th anniversary of Kropotkin's death.

Talya (she/her) reviewed The Conquest of Bread by Peter Kropotkin

There's a reason this book is synonymous with anarchist communism

5 stars

Sure, some parts are out of date. But so much of it remains true even today. There's a saying about lectures that say that the best questions a lecturer can get are the ones answered by the very next slide. Well, that is exactly what happened to me, again and again, with the chapters of this book. Most amazingly, a question a friend raised in a discussion we had about chapter 8 was answered by the very first sentence of chapter 9. Can't be better than that.

harbinger@books.solarpunk.moe reviewed The Conquest of Bread by Peter Kropotkin

Review of 'The Conquest of Bread' on 'Goodreads'

5 stars

A classic, of course. Clear-eyed and practical, yet visionary; a a re-envisioning of a post-revolutionary society serving the needs of people from the bottom (of Maslow’s) up: first food, then shelter, then clothing, then everything else. Without the twin coercive expropriators of the capitalist and the state, there will be more than enough to create a pleasant society for all with minimal work and maximal leisure and pleasure. As a bonus, the lure of the above expropriators will be castrated because you can’t coerce and subjugate a populace whose needs are met.

Cook@bookwyrm.social reviewed The Conquest Of Bread by Peter Kropotkin

Cook's review of "The Conquest of Bread"

4 stars

Basically the introduction to anarcho-communism. A relatively short and digestible read that presents many interesting ideas but be prepared to struggle your way through pages of calculations that aim to show you that an anarchist society is possible in the late 19th century.