Book Review: Making Our Own History: A User's Guide to Marx's Historical Materialism by Jonathan White.

"Making Our Own History: A User's Guide to Marx's Historical Materialism" by Jonathan White is a book that aims to correct the omission of history in mainstream economics. White introduces the concept of historical and dialectical materialism, which explains societal development through contradictions in the material world rather than contradicting ideas. He argues that history is shaped by the contradictions between technological forces and property relations of production, rather than great leaders and their ideas. The book also explores the practical application of historical materialism in society, history, and politics, using examples such as the 1851 French coup d'état and the Soviet Union. While the book provides a valuable introduction to historical materialism, it does not address its critics. Overall, "Making Our Own History" is recommended for students and scholars interested in understanding Marxist thought. [Extracted from the article]