Why people recommend it
Manifest der Kommunistischen Partei by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels is a foundational 1848 political pamphlet that outlines the core tenets of Marxism and the historical struggle between social classes. On Behind the Bastards, a host discussed the text in relation to Kent Hovind's misunderstandings, pointing out that Hovind actually referenced chapter two correctly when talking about communist ideas and income taxes. In a separate episode of the same podcast, a host used a promotional segment to highlight a different book titled After the Revolution. Meanwhile, during an appearance on the Lex Fridman Podcast, Richard Wolff examined Vladimir Lenin's massive historical volume The Economic History of Russia, noting that it traces centuries of historical development and the emergence of a strong central state. While the various discussions on Behind the Bastards touched on political commentary, satire, and self-promotion, the overarching references to Marxist literature illustrate how political texts continue to surface in contemporary media debates. Whether correcting fringe misinterpretations of the Communist Manifesto or exploring the broader historical context of communist theory, podcast hosts frequently leverage these classic works to frame modern political discourse and critique public figures who misuse historical doctrines for their own rhetorical aims.
Who recommended it
Mentioned on the show without a named speaker — 3
“What they are actually referring to is chapter two of The Communist Manifesto, which Kent did get right.”
“Well, I am also me; I have a book; it's called 'After the Revolution,' you can buy it wherever books are bought.”
“One of Lenin's great works is titled 'The Economic History of Russia,' where he examines centuries of history. It's a massive book, about three or four inches thick, and I am one of the few people who have read it.”