After a long discussion with my dad about the invasion of Ukraine, what led up to it, leftism, anti-imperialism, life in the USSR, Stalin, stalinism, and so much more, he has told me he’d like to read the books I’ve read.

He’s brought this request up twice more already and he’s been very keen on my perspective when we recently had a talk about leftist perspectives on the concept of nations and states.

Now here’s the issue, I don’t really read books. I read articles, essays and other shorter texts as well as video lectures (I love you yellow parenti). He is very much a Book Reader. The type of dad to have more than one book about historical naval battles.

He’s a good guy, but he can get very defensive and set in his ways, and he’s sort of stuck in the basic NATO EU-leftlib mindset.

I plan on giving him Dominico Losurdos “Stalin: History and Critique of a Black Legend” as a christmas present alongside a list recommending him other books.

• Blackshirts and Reds
• This Soviet World (Though I’ve only read excerpts of this one sadly)
  And which other books should I recommend him? I’ve been looking for a nice approachable Lenin one, I’m thinking State and the Revolution?
  I was also considering Marx’ “The 18th Brumaire”, but I’ve also only read excerpts from that one, so I don’t know.
  Also are there any essays you’d recommend for him, despite him not being a short form enjoyer? I’m considering Engels’ On Authority.

I’d like some recommendations for good books. I’m especially interested in stuff that can turn him towards a more third-worldist perspective. I’ve never read any Fanon @ReadFanon@hexbear.net (sorry) so I don’t feel comfortable just throwing a book at him from there, but would it make sense? Likewise I’d like to get more modern stuff.