A book club that covers dry economic treatises and things seemingly written with the most archaic and hyperspecific jargon available, even at the time, where a chunk of the members are really into the book, and the rest of the book club doesn't read the book, they just come to drink the wine and complain about their lives.

I will never understand the people who find reading theory fun and energizing rather than just something you have to do that provides you with useful tools to analyze the world.

[–] Damarcusart@hexbear.net 4 points 4 days ago (1 children)

I will never understand the people who find reading theory fun and energizing rather than just something you have to do that provides you with useful tools to analyze the world.

While I wouldn't say it has ever been "fun" it has been satisfying and gratifying to read something that mirrors my own thoughts on capitalism, just much more well thought out, it's satisfying because it turns general vibes about capitalism into more concrete ideas.

[–] alexei_1917@hexbear.net 3 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago) (1 children)

I mean, yes. I agree. This is very much true. When I understand what they're trying to say, it feels amazing to know that someone 100 years ago or more thought exactly what I think about what's wrong with society, put it into far more academic and polished language, and suggested concrete solutions and steps to fixing it, not just "we need a revolution", but "we need a revolutionary political party and here's how we can build one", which... the precise ideas are always outdated and usually very regional, but the general methodologies are solid! And knowing other commies around the world are reading the same thing? That feels even better. Knowing I don't have the social skills or community connections to build a party or the organisations and loose groups that become one, but other commies do, and they have access to these blueprints too? That gives me hope.

But all that said, a lot of theory is full of academic jargon and terminology that was archaic even at the time, and reading it can be frustrating in equal measure to that clicking feeling when you Get It. It's often a good way to get a headache, and listening to it on audio format is something I'm more likely to do when I need to fall asleep than intending to actually attentively process it. (Though Stalin's stuff does have a tendency to keep me awake. Another reason for revisionists to hate him, lol!)

[–] Damarcusart@hexbear.net 2 points 3 days ago (1 children)

It's often a good way to get a headache

Yeah, I often have to put aside specific "theory reading" time when I'm in a good mood and not feeling sick or anything, it's very exhausting stuff to get through a lot of the time, I try to view it like working out or something, it hurts now, but it makes you stronger and more well equipped to deal with problems.

[–] alexei_1917@hexbear.net 3 points 3 days ago

Yeah. You definitely gotta be in the right place emotionally or all you're going to accomplish is a headache now and tomorrow morning.

Tbh, I really love listening to it rather than reading the text, it makes it a little easier to follow in some ways, and I think it's probably a neurodivergence thing, but doing something else with my hands and a small sliver of my focus really helps me actually process it and get through a whole section of a given text in a sitting. If I have a physical book or text on a screen, it'll take me a while or I'll keep putting it down to take a break, with audio I do actually remember exact phrasing a lot less and get a lower percentage of understanding on a first read (come on, not one of us gets the full understanding possible the first time we read a given piece of theory) but I'll get most of what's being said and I'll just power through a few hundred pages worth without even realising how much it is.