Political Nonfiction
For nearly fifty years, America’s working and middle classes have
been under relentless attack. Wages have stagnated, inequality has soared, and
the vast majority now lives paycheck to paycheck—while trillions of
dollars flow upward into the pockets of the wealthiest few. Class War, Then
and Now is both a searing indictment of this economic and political order and
an impassioned call to arms for a new left rooted in class struggle,
solidarity, and socialist values.
Drawing on a decade of essays and articles originally published in outlets
such as Dissent, New Politics, CounterPunch, Socialist Forum, Truthout, and
Common Dreams, historian Chris Wright examines the deep roots of
capitalism’s crises and the failures of the contemporary left to
confront them. In sharp, accessible prose, Wright tackles:
The centrality of class struggle in building a movement that can unite working
people
Why identity politics, while important, must not overshadow the fight
against capitalism
The overlooked necessity of nuclear power in addressing climate change
Lessons from labor history, from Jimmy Hoffa to modern union battles
The catastrophic consequences of American imperialism and endless war
How organized labor remains humanity’s most universal force for
justice
With the urgency of a manifesto and the depth of historical scholarship,
Wright argues that only a rational, international, and truly Marxist left can
stop the United States—and the world—from sliding into neofascism
and ecological collapse.
If you care about economic justice, social reform, and the future of
democracy, Class War, Then and Now will challenge your thinking, sharpen your
arguments, and inspire action.
Review
Pulling back the curtain and getting a real view and thinking more in depth about things you maybe wouldn't have before reading this.
Chris Wright did a great job of making this compelling, informative, and eye-opening.
He's a master storyteller even though it's not fiction, he really manages to captivate his reader.
About the Author
Chris Wright is a U.S. historian, author, and lecturer at Hunter College, City
University of New York, specializing in labor history and radical political
theory. His work explores the history of capitalism and social movements, with
a focus on building an international left capable of confronting economic
inequality, rising authoritarianism, and ecological collapse.
Wright is the author of multiple works of political nonfiction, including
Worker Cooperatives and Revolution: History and Possibilities in the United
States and Popular Radicalism and the Unemployed in Chicago during the Great
Depression. His newest release, Class War, Then and Now: Essays toward a New
Left, compiles a decade of essays originally published in respected left-wing
and independent outlets such as Dissent, New Politics, CounterPunch, Socialist
Forum, Compact, and Common Dreams.
Over the years, his analysis and commentary have appeared in publications
ranging from the Washington Post to Truthout, earning him recognition for his
Marxist-informed, historically grounded critiques of capitalism and his
advocacy of a democratic socialist movement.
In addition to his academic work, Wright has written philosophical essays,
fiction, and poetry, reflecting a lifelong interest in art, music, and the
human condition. His current research and writing center on the labor
movement, anti-capitalist strategies, and the urgent need for systemic change
to address economic, political, and environmental crises.
Contact Links
Website
"X"
LinkedIn
https://independent.academia.edu/ChrisWright82
Purchase Link
Amazon
July 16, 2026
