Libertarian Socialism; Social Anarchism; Left-Libertarianism; Anarchist Communism; Etc. Gimme books.

In My Humble Opinion
1

I’m looking for good, preferably contemporary books that can help me make sense of political thought that is anti-authoritarian and leftist.

I’ve just read through articles on Wikipedia on topics such as Libertarian Socialism, Social Anarchism, Left Libertarianism, Communalism, Libertarian Municipalism, and Anarchist Communism.

My brain is about dead now.

Are there any good books to read on topics like these (or good websites I haven’t found) which give clear expositions of these kinds of ideas for those who are generally ignorant of political issues that don’t involve the words “Republican” or “Democrat”?

2

By contemporary, do you mean “written recently” or “about contemporary anarchism”?

On the former, Mark Leier’s Bakunin, is the most recent biography of the 19th century anarchist.

Daniel Guerin’s Anarchist was written I think in 1970 but is still a good introduction to classical anarchist thought.

Iian MacKay, An Anarchist FAQ, is good, as is Lucien van der Welt and Michael Schmidt, Black Flame.

Best title goes to Tom Goyens, Beer and Revolution, which is about 19th century anarchists in New York. You’ll learn lots about where they drank, but little about their politics.

3

I’m not sure if they’re exactly up the alley that you’re trying to explore, but I would highly recommend Ain’t Nobody’s Business If You Do, by Peter McWilliams, and Small is Beautiful: Economics as if People Mattered, by E. F. Schumacher.

4

Two Cheers for Anarchism by James C. Scott is interesting, an argument, sort of, for anarchism now.

5

My favorite is The Machinery of Freedom by David Friedman, an influential Anarcho-Capitalist.

6

Op asked for left, communist anarchism.