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Why Socialism?

Series: ERIS gems
Brief Description
What happens when one of the clearest minds of the modern age turns on capitalism? In this brief, bracing essay, Albert Einstein argues that competition distorts democracy, corrodes education, and leaves human life precarious and small. Against it, he proposes something unfashionable: a society organized for... Read More
Format: Paperback / softback
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Albert Einstein argues that competition distorts democracy, corrodes education, and leaves human life precarious and small. Against it, he proposes something unfashionable: a society organized for cooperation rather than profit.

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What happens when one of the clearest minds of the modern age turns on capitalism? In this brief, bracing essay, Albert Einstein argues that competition distorts democracy, corrodes education, and leaves human life precarious and small. Against it, he proposes something unfashionable: a society organized for cooperation rather than profit.

In Why Socialism?, Einstein explores the flaws of a capitalist system and offers a compelling argument for an alternative that emphasises communal well-being over individual gain. His incisive critique challenges the status quo and invites readers to rethink the fundamental principles of society.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781971559186

Publisher: ERIS

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 25 August 2026

Country: United States

Imprint: ERIS

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Width: 110.0mm

Height: 195.0mm

Weight: 0g

Pages: 24

About the Author

Albert Einstein was a theoretical physicist whose work reshaped modern science, most famously through the theory of relativity. Beyond physics, he was an outspoken public intellectual, writing on politics, education, and social responsibility. He remains one of the most influential thinkers of the twentieth century.

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