Das Kapital: Kritik der politischen Ökonomie

Marx's major work of political economy analyzes the capitalist mode of production. In the first volume, he starts with the commodity and explains the difference between use value and exchange value, then develops the theory of surplus value, which he sees as the source of profit, drawn from workers' unpaid labor. He describes the working day, machinery, and the accumulation of capital, and considers how capitalism produces its own crises and class conflict. He also includes the history of primitive accumulation.

The text is difficult and long, with historical examples. It suits students of economics, politics, and philosophy who want to read the original, and anyone who wants to understand the argument behind a century of debate.

Deep and outward-looking; a demanding read.

Best for readers like The Deep Diver. Which reader are you?