Marx’s ‘Grundrisse’: A Reader’s Guide

The Grundrisse is widely regarded as one of Marx’s most important texts, with many commentators claiming it is the centrepiece of his entire oeuvre. It is also, however, a notoriously difficult text to understand and interpret. In this - the first guide and introduction to reading the Grundrisse - Simon Choat helps us to make sense of a text that is both a first draft of Capital and a major work in its own right. As well as offering a detailed commentary on the entire text, this guide explains the Grundrisse’s central themes and arguments and highlights its impact and influence.

The Grundrisse’s discussions of money, labour, nature, freedom, the role of machinery, and the development and dynamics of capitalism have influenced generations of thinkers, from Anglo-American historians such as Eric Hobsbawm and Robert Brenner to Continental philosophers like Antonio Negri and Gilles Deleuze, as well as offering vital insights into Marx’s methodology and the trajectory of his thought.

Contemporary examples are used throughout this guide both to illuminate Marx’s terminology and concepts and to illustrate the continuing relevance of the Grundrisse. Readers will be offered guidance on:

-Philosophical and Historical Context -Key Themes -Reading the Text -Reception and Influence