The Grundrisse, or Outlines of the Critique of Political Economy, is a fundamental text for the study of capitalism as a socioeconomic system. Marx's aspiration in writing them was, in his own words, to reveal "the exact development of the concept of capital [...], the fundamental concept of modern economics, in the same way that capital itself [...] is the basis of bourgeois society."

Composed of drafts and extensive annotations, datable to the period 1857-1858, the Grundrisse can be intimidating. In this Guide, David Harvey dedicates his consummate pedagogical skill to rereading them in accessible terms. The result is an astonishing contribution to the theoretical understanding of how capital works.

"After a lifetime devoted to its study and interpretation, David Harvey has finally returned to where Marx's critique of political economy truly began, in the famous Grundrisse." Harvey compares this Guide to accompanying the reader on a long hike, pointing out the terrain's features, the crossroads along the way, and the dangers that lurk along the route. So lace up your boots, fill your canteen, and join Harvey on his dazzling adventure of bringing to life Marx's "most interesting and difficult" book.

Brett Christophers