Socialism: Past and Future

I first read this book back in 1992, and it started a transformation in me that continues today. Harrington put a human face on socialism, tearing it away from the widespread Stalinist stereotype and reclaiming it for those of us who believe socialism is fundamentally democratic. Mike put the complexities of Marxism and socialism into terms the average American could understand. For me, this sparked a critical rethinking of everything I'd been taught previously about economics and class - an evolutionary educational process that continues in me today. No other book has ever had such a significant impact on me. Readers of this book should also check into the Democratic Socialists of America, the organization Mike founded.

At the end of the century, the late Michael Harrington's works remain the definitive works on socialism for the American Left. Socialism: Past & Future is his last book, and offers a clear picture of not only what democratic socialists believe, but also how socialists propose to deal with the problems of today's society.