Let me begin by saying that I’m no fan of Leon Trotsky, and
I think a whole lot of his ideas would never have worked. I’m also no fan of
Communism and I believe that it can’t work. However, this book is wonderful,
because it shows how Trotsky and Stalin, both ruthless in their drive for
power, had opposite ideas on the goal of the Soviet state. Published in England
in the 1950’s by a Soviet exile, and now reissued by Verso Books, this
biography of the Communist leader gives great insight into the origins of all
the horrible things that happened in the Soviet Union.
Trotsky was not anti-capitalist in a way that would destroy
the economy. On the contrary, he knew that business was necessary for the
nation’s industry to survive. Lenin, who like most Communist leaders had never
held down a job, bulldozed everything in his way. Stalin, who considered
Trotsky a nuisance, set up a phony economy that was built on slavery and lies.
This biography was originally in three volumes, which makes
it a long book to read. However, even though it was written by a dissident, it
isn’t overly biased. We get a good, clear view of Trotsky’s philosophies and
his personal life. It shows you how the Soviet Union could’ve become a success,
but was ruined when Stalin made himself into an emperor and ruined it.
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