Synopsis
Communism: a system of government in which citizens share property and labor. Throughout history, the concept of communism has meant different things to different people. The ancient Greeks viewed it as an ideal vision for the future. Nineteenth-century workers hoped it would better their harsh lives. Idealists in the early twentieth century thought it would start a revolution that would change the world. It rose and fell in the twentieth-century in part because of economic pressure brought by the United States and because it became oppressive, with brutal dictators controlling the state.
Reviews
Grade 6-9–These brief, shallow treatments of three forms of government are clearly meant to distinguish them from the American system. The subtitle implies that it will analyze some primary documents in relation to the events that generated them, but the texts are mostly background information. Much of the discussion is quite oversimplified, e.g., blaming communist countries' impoverished economies on poor relations with democratic nations. While some primary sources, like The Palette of Narmer in Monarchy, are briefly analyzed, many are mentioned too briefly to attract interest (such as Marcus Aurelius's literary works). Each volume has transcriptions from three primary documents in an appendix, and appropriate references to them appear in the text. To their credit, the books point out that many cultural objects can be primary sources: paintings, sculpture, tapestries, and architecture (like Hadrian's Wall). These volumes have excellent illustrations, mostly in color, and are well organized. Some competing books do a better job of attracting readers: Richard Tames's Monarchy and David Downing's Communism (both Heinemann, 2002) and Nigel Ritchie's Communism (Raintree, 2001) offer a higher level of detail. Ritchie, in particular, provides a more objective view of his subject. Additional titles for active history collections.–Jonathan Betz-Zall, City University Library, Everett, WA
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Gr. 5-8. Attractively formatted with full-color illustrations and shaded sidebars, this title from the Primary Sources of Political Systems series is an engaging read. Tracing communism from its roots in ancient Greece to its recent decline, the text moves chronologically through the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, each chapter highlighting a revolution or a war and the people who sparked it.^B The evenhanded delivery of ideas and the primary-source excerpts will inspire further exploration and increase understanding of a fascinating topic. While large print and simple approach make the book accessible to middle-school readers, its solid introduction of complex political ideas and appropriately challenging vocabulary make this an equally excellent choice for more advanced readers. Roger Leslie
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