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  • Blackshirts and Reds

  • Rational Fascism and the Overthrow of Communism
  • Written by: Michael Parenti
  • Narrated by: Timothy Andrés Pabon
  • Length: 5 hrs and 29 mins
  • 5.0 out of 5 stars (30 ratings)

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Blackshirts and Reds cover art

Blackshirts and Reds

Written by: Michael Parenti
Narrated by: Timothy Andrés Pabon
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Publisher's Summary

A bold and entertaining exploration of the epic struggles of yesterday and today.

Blackshirts and Reds explores some of the big issues of our time: fascism, capitalism, communism, revolution, democracy, and ecology. These terms are often bandied about but seldom explored in the original and exciting way that has become Michael Parenti's trademark.

Parenti shows how "rational fascism" renders service to capitalism, how corporate power undermines democracy, and how revolutions are a mass empowerment against the forces of exploitative privilege. He also maps out the external and internal forces that destroyed communism, and the disastrous impact of the "free-market" victory on Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union. He affirms the relevance of taboo ideologies like Marxism, demonstrating the importance of class analysis in understanding political realities and dealing with the ongoing collision between ecology and global corporatism.

Written with lucid and compelling style, this book goes beyond truncated modes of thought, inviting us to entertain iconoclastic views and to ask why things are as they are.

©1997 Michael Parenti (P)2022 Tantor

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Absolutely brilliant

This book is amazing. I wish this was the very first book I read after becoming a socialist, although now, after being a little bit more better educated on Marxist theory, I still thoroughly enjoyed it.

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Required Reading

This answered so many of my questions about the connection between capital and foreign policy. Highly recommend.

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Thoroughly digestible and convincing

Excellent analysis, easy to understand and an enjoyable listen. It was quick to get through in only 2 listening sessions.

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Please read this masterpiece by Parenti

Parenti is a vastly under appreciated thinker and far too few people have even heard of him.

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you will not regret listening to this

Parenti was a genius. great observation. never left me zoning out or distracted. awesome performance as well.

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A good read

The points raised in this book are still actual. I enjoyed it a lot.

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A must read

This book is easy to follow and does a good job explaining socialism, rights and wrongs of the past, and differentiating from the "red fash" narrative of communism.

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