Labor and Freedom


Read by P. J. Taylor

(4.3 stars; 54 reviews)

"While there is a lower class I am in it; While there is a criminal class I am of it; While there is a soul in prison I am not free." (Eugene V. Debs)

This collection of essays charts the thought and character of Eugene V. Debs. Debs was an influential early American labor leader, a founding member of the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW), and a Presidential candidate for the Socialist Party of America.

In these essays, Debs employs his characteristically fiery rhetoric in a spirited defense of worker's rights, organized labor, women's suffrage, class solidarity, and the principles of economic socialism. (4 hr 58 min)

Chapters

The Old Umbrella Mender 12:32 Read by P. J. Taylor
The Secret of Efficient Expression 13:13 Read by P. J. Taylor
Jesus, The Supreme Leader 11:38 Read by P. J. Taylor
Susan B. Anthony: A Reminiscence 6:13 Read by P. J. Taylor
Louis Tikas - Ludlow's Hero and Martyr 8:32 Read by P. J. Taylor
The Little Lords of Love 3:37 Read by P. J. Taylor
The Coppock Bros. 22:00 Read by P. J. Taylor
The Social Spirit 6:06 Read by P. J. Taylor
Roosevelt and His Regime 28:32 Read by P. J. Taylor
Industrial and Social Democracy 5:40 Read by P. J. Taylor
A Message to the Children 23:22 Read by P. J. Taylor
Danger Ahead 10:23 Read by P. J. Taylor
Pioneer Women in America 13:43 Read by P. J. Taylor
Unity and Victory 50:09 Read by P. J. Taylor
Political Appeal to American Workers 38:01 Read by P. J. Taylor
The Fight for Freedom 28:01 Read by P. J. Taylor
Capitalism and Socialism 16:32 Read by P. J. Taylor

Reviews


(5 stars)

Deb's was an amazing man and continue to be an inspiration to working men and women the world over. This book is yet another cornerstone of his influence and leadership that current national and world leaders pale in comparison to because they serve the capitalist masters and not the rank and file masses who toil, suffer, and produce for the profit of others every day


(4.5 stars)

A very good series of speeches and essays by the socialist party's nominee for president. Although some references and examples are dayed it is still a great book to read if you want an idea of the labor movement of the early 20th century or if you want to understand the author or socialism better


(4.5 stars)

Intense and captivating. The reader does justice to the text.

Beautiful true to this day, great reading


(5 stars)

Dissapointing


(5 stars)

Debs rails against his corporate masters. He seems to be unaware of the amount of money our corporate overlords give to studying diversity, equity, and inclusion. How can the founders of BLM afford beach front houses unless they receive generous donations from our rich liberal corporate oligarchs. Finally he fails to righteously criticise white males for imposing a phalogocentric world view on oppressed LatinX persons. Basically Eugene Debs is Hitler.

Excellent Book


(5 stars)

The reader did the work justice. Excellent book

Decent book of confused but often inspiring speeches


(3.5 stars)

This book leaves a lot to be desired for revolutionary socialists today, but it is important to think about it in its historical context. It presents a Socialist Party which is a step forward from syndicalism and being explicitly political and explicitly revolutionary. However it does not go into much detail over what it means to be revolutionary: sometimes focusing heavily on elections and how different a workers party is from a capitalist party sometimes it talks about how the process of building the party is revolutionary itself. It is vague enough to be presented as revolutionary for revolutionaries and reformist for reformists. it has nice fiery rhetoric though and gives an interesting insight into the political and labour conflicts at an understudied period of us history leading up to the war, of the some of the language is dated and weirdly macho at times.