Why Marx Was Right

In this combative, controversial book, Terry Eagleton takes issue with the prejudice that Marxism is dead and done with. Taking ten of the most common objections to Marxism that it leads to political tyranny, that it reduces everything to the economic, that it is a form of historical determinism, and so on, he demonstrates in each case what a woeful travesty of Marx’s own thought these assumptions are. In a world in which capitalism has been shaken to its roots by major crises, Why Marx Was Right is as urgent and timely as it is brave and candid. Written with Eagleton’s familiar wit, humour and clarity, it will attract an audience far beyond the confines of academia.

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‘Each of the chapters of this erudite and breezy . . . tract begins with a series of assertions about Marx and Marxism, which Eagleton then proceeds to debunk . . . through excursions into philosophy, political practice and literary analogy. . . . Polemically charged and enjoyable.’—Guardian

‘A lively defense. . . . Eagleton offers a richer, more complex and nuanced picture of the father of modern socialism. . . . Throughout, the author is witty, entertaining, and incisive.’—Publishers Weekly

‘Eagleton is a compelling writer and raconteur. . . . He’s a witty, insightful thinker with a penchant for glib asides and wry dashes of humor. It’s probably the only book that makes references to Tiger Woods and Mel Gibson along with Charles Fourier and Michel Foucault.’—Michael Patrick Brady, PopMatters

‘Reading a book by Terry Eagleton is like watching fireworks. . . . The list of Marxism's shortcomings is common coinage, and Eagleton offers convincing counterarguments.’—Dennis O'Brien, Christian Century

‘Eagleton covers the spectrum of critiques of Marxian ideas like only an actual critic of Marx could. As such, most of the rebuttals to these critiques are well contrived and incredibly sharp.’—Greg Linster, Bookslut