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Summary: Conceptual History, or simply mindless babble?
Review: After reading this book, and studying its effect on the behavior of gerbils, I have come to the conclusion that rather than a detailed account of history during the Russian Revolution, this book is simply Trotsky's view on things after dropping acid. I do believe, because I held the original edition in my hands once, that rather than being written on paper, this work was scribed onto crushed hallucinogenic shrooms. Inhaling this mixture was quite intoxicating, let me tell you, but I do reccomend the purchase of this book, if for nothing else but hours of endless laughter. Thank you, have a nice day :)
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Summary: Something you might want to know before buying this book:
Review: Before you pay money to buy this book, you might want to know that this entire book, and many other works by Trotsky, are available online for FREE at The Leon Trotsky Internet Archive.
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Summary: If you want to change the world, read this book!
Review: If you want to learn how to change the world, read this book, not for the history, but for the practical realities of struggle, of how working people, peasants, oppressed nationalities, in struggle can topple what might seem an invincible and unjust regime. If this is a literary masterpiece, if it gives the real history, if it is a great analysis, it is because the writer wanted to share the experience of working people of the Old Russian Empire with people of the world, because he knew there would be a future that needed this book. This is that future!
This is best read with volumes 25,26,27, & 28 of Lenin's collected works
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Summary: ...
Review: Still trying to finish the second volume. It's been months. Out of all his writings the Autobiography is worth a read.
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Summary: Not so much history, as it is literature.
Review: The great physicist Albert Einstein (who belonged to the Social Democratic party in Austria by the way), when reading about Trotsky's plight during the 1930's, undoubtedly came across his one lasting, and most pertinent contribution to literature, which is the three-volume History of the Russian Revolution. The Russian Revolution began in March of 1917, and ended in the month of October (November in the present calender system), in the very same year. What happened during this several month long interval is debatable, even eighty years after the event, but there is not a single individual who took part in the event that is more qualified to tell it's story, than the "author" of the Bolshevik Revolution, Lev Davidovich Trotsky.One would think that since Trotsky was expelled from the country he essentially "founded", that he would write with major personal biases, against the party in power, but reading the nearly 1300 pg. book, one realizes this just isn't the case. His description of the Provisional Government and the individuals who belonged to it are almost essential to understanding the Russian Revolution (perhaps more pertinent than when it was published). The historians Richard Pipes and Orlando Figes, who have written long and informative studies of the Russian Revolution, overlooked many of the figures of the Provisional Government, such as Miliukov, Prince Lvov, and the Mensheviks Tseretelli, Martov, and Dan, in their works, and focused mainly on the major Bolshevik figures such as Lenin, Kamenev, Zinoviev, and Stalin. In contrast to Figes and Pipes, Trotsky comprehensively studies almost "everybody" who participated in the Revolution. Trotsky describes the ebbs and flows of each party that was in opposition to Bolshevism, such as Miliukov's and Lvov's Kadet Party (Consitutional Democrats), Kerensky's Socialist Revolutionary party, and Dan's, Martov's (although he was swept into the "dust bin" of history long before the revolution; thought of as the founder of Menshevism, Yuli Martov never actually controlled the movement beacuse of his battle with tuberculosis, and his "lazy" demeanor), and Tseretelli's Mensheviks. In addition to providing brief profiles of the prominent figures in 1917 Russia, Trotsky provides a masterful analysis of Russia's development from 1500 to 1900. Because Russia never developed any sort of economic or social systems of their own; they borrowed ideas mainly from their neighbours Germany, China, and Rome; a process which he referred to as "combined development." An example of "combined development", is Russia's capitalist development during the nineteenth century. The nation's of Britain, Germany, and America, went through their capitalist development much earlier than Russia, and referred to this period as the Age of Industrialization. However, because Russia chose the course of capitalism much later, this didn't mean it's course would have been exactly the same as America's, Germany's, or Britain's. Because Russia could borrow many of the ideas, and equipment, that was not available to three colonial powers (US, Germany, Britain), when they were going through the Age of Industrialization, Russia's development went much smoother and easier. Conversely, prominent literary critics such as Edmund Wilson and Irving Howe felt Trotsky's 'History of the Russian Revolution', was a literary masterpiece, and Trotsky, who was extremely critical of everything he wrote (although it is equal to his 'history', in my mind, Trotsky felt his autobiography was one of the worst books he ever wrote), also thought it was his best work. So I would strongly recommend you find yourself a copy of 'History of the Russian Revolution', because you can't quite put up an argument against figures as large as Howe, Wilson, and Trotsky!
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Summary: Facinating!
Review: This book provides a very unique perspective into the Russian Revolution. Written by Leon Trotsky himself, it is an excellent way to get first hand information on the events of the revolution. Furthermore, it is very interesting to read how a leader of the revolution viewed the event after several years. Trotsky is an excellent writer, and his book is very detailed. My one warning is that if you don't know much about the Russian Revolution to begin with you may get somewhat confused because of the great amount of detail in this book. Trotsky's History of the Russian Revolution is written in the third person - just as a historian would write it - not in a first person narrative. After reading the book for a while, I sometimes even forget that it was written by Trotsky. Then, when some bizarre interpretation appears, I think - "What is this? Who wrote this book?" only to realize that, obviously, the book is written by Trotsky and would naturally be biased! Even if you don't read the entire book, just reading some of the passages can give you a very facinating perspective into the revolution. After all, Trotsky was one of the most important leaders during the revolution. It is not often that a revolutionary leader has time to record the events he lived through. Luckily for us, Trotsky did write an account of the Russian Revolution, an event that has clearly had immense influence on world history! So, I would totally recommend this book - read it, and see what Trotsky himself has to say!
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Summary: Powerful account of a great revolution!
Review: This is a huge and wonderful book-- three volumes in one book, some 1200 pages in all. The story Trotsky lays out is most inspiring and encouraging: how revolutionary-minded workers and peasants in Russia, led by the Bolshevik party, overthrew the centuries-old Czarist monarchy, defeated the attempts to impose a capitalist dictatorship and went on to establish a worker and peasant revolutionary government, opening the road to the possibility of building a socialist society. It's a book you can read repeatedly, getting more out of it each time. Trotsky explains with rich detail the growing social crisis that wracked Russia, the devastating impact of World War I, the economic collapse, and the incapacity of the old regime to offer any way out. He takes up political developments amongst workers and peasants and the oppressed nationalities of the Russian Empire, including the many millions forced into the Russian army. You understand their growing conviction that the old society had to be and could be overturned and a new order established. And Trotsky gives real insight into the leadership that made possible an actual revolution under these conditions-- the development of the Bolshevik party led by V.I. Lenin and it's successful fight to win the allegiance of the struggling millions. Trotsky was, along with Lenin, a central leader of the 1917 revolution and of the government it established. After Lenin's death in 1924, he led the international fight to defend the Bolshevik's revolutionary course against the conservative and reactionary bureaucracy headed by Joseph Stalin that came to power later in the Soviet Union. This work was a key part of Trotsky's efforts to make the real facts and lessons 1917 available to future generations of workers, farmers and radicalizing young people. Read it along with some of his many other important works, including The Transitional Program for Socialist Revolution, In Defense of Marxism, The Revolution Betrayed, and The Struggle Against Fascism in Germany.
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Summary: How to overthrow the profit system
Review: This is one of the most exciting books I've ever read. It tells the amazing story of the Russian revolution of 1917, from the overthrow of the Czar to the Bolshevik Revolution of October. What makes it an incredible read is that the author, Leon Trotsky, was at the middle of it all, as one of the central planners of the insurrection that took power. Trotsky was a great revolutionary and great writer. But one thing I especially like about the book is that Trotsky uses excerpts from many other accounts, including those who hated him with a passion, to tell the story accurately. It is an inspiring story, especially for new generations of young people, workers and farmers who need to learn about an example showing that the dog-eat-dog system of capitalism we live in can be overthrown. For the definitive account of how this great revolution was later derailed, see Trotsky's Revolution Betrayed.
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Summary: How to overthrow the profit system
Review: This is one of the most exciting books I've ever read. It tells the amazing story of the Russian revolution of 1917, from the overthrow of the Czar to the Bolshevik Revolution of October. What makes it an incredible read is that the author, Leon Trotsky, was at the middle of it all, as one of the central planners of the insurrection that took power. Trotsky was a great revolutionary and great writer. But one thing I especially like about the book is that Trotsky uses excerpts from many other accounts, including those who hated him with a passion, to tell the story accurately. It is an inspiring story, especially for new generations of young people, workers and farmers who need to learn about an example showing that the dog-eat-dog system of capitalism we live in can be overthrown. For the definitive account of how this great revolution was later derailed, see Trotsky's Revolution Betrayed.
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Summary: The Real Russian Revolution
Review: What a fantastic book! This is the Russian Revolution that you were never taught in school, full of fascinating detail. It shows you how workers can run society, and is a welcome antidote to all the right wing and Stalinist rubbish that has been written about the Russian Revolution in the last 80 years. Leon Trotsky was one of the great thinkers of the 20th century and his genius shines through in this magnificent book. Don't be put off by images of dry, dusty, incomprehensible academia - 'History of the Russian Revolution' is a vibrant living book which is just as valid and relevant today as when it was first published.
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