http://mrzine.monthlyreview.org/images/pb5465.jpgWhat role can a book play? The construction of Bolivarian socialism is the struggle of classes. And it is a struggle of people to build an alternative to capitalism. Where does a book fit in? In other words, what role can ideas play? . . . Understanding capitalism is essential to struggling to go beyond it. If you don't understand the nature of capitalism, it is inevitable that you'll end up trying to patch it up; it is inevitable that you will try to replace bad capitalism with a good capitalism. . . . Because if you don't understand capitalism and what is inherent within it, if you only see things on the surface and don't see their inner connections, what is really quite simple will appear complicated -- too complicated to change. If you don't understand the nature of capitalism, you will think that it's possible to have capitalism without imperialism; you will think it is possible to have capitalism without the destruction of the environment; you will think it is possible to have capitalism without crisis. And so, you will think that it is possible to make some reforms which solve everything.

More... (http://mrzine.monthlyreview.org/2015/lebowitz110715.html)