The Conquest of Bread

The Conquest of Bread is a seminal work written by Peter Kropotkin, a Russian anarchist philosopher and activist, originally published in 1892. The book presents a radical critique of the existing social order and offers a vision for a future society based on principles of mutual aid, cooperation, and anarchism. Kropotkin argues that the prevailing economic system, characterized by capitalism and the state, perpetuates inequality, poverty, and exploitation. He highlights the inherent flaws of capitalism, such as private property, wage labor, and profit accumulation, which lead to social division and the concentration of wealth in the hands of a few. He outlines his alternative vision of a society based on anarchist communism. He proposes the establishment of decentralized, self-governing communities where individuals cooperate and share resources for the well-being of all, and emphasizes the importance of mutual aid, arguing that people naturally possess an innate tendency to assist one another and that this spirit of cooperation can form the basis of a harmonious and equitable society. Offering a provocative critique of capitalism, The Conquest of Bread has become a classic of political anarchist literature.

This book has 73,240 words, and was originally published in 1892. This translation by Vanguard Press was first published in 1926.