The theory part of Marx. Most people don't go past Das Kapital or The Communist Manifesto, but this book takes writings from Marx's theoretical work, and presents its in lieu of its importance. The readings form this have popped up numerous times in my study in political theory and history. ( )

A good compendium of Karl Marx's writings in various periods. ( )

This volume contains a selection of Karl Marx's most important writings, organized thematically under eight headings: methodology, alienation, economics, exploitation, historical materialism, classes, politics, and ideology. Jon Elster provides a brief introduction to each selection to explain its context and its place in Marx's argument. The volume is designed as a companion to Elster's An Introduction to Karl Marx and the thematic structure of each book is the same. But the Reader can also stand on its own and offers the student a substantial and revealingly organized selection of the crucial texts needed to understand and assess Marx's views.