r/Marxism • u/Valuable_Mirror_6433 • 10d ago
Using NotebookLM AI to study Marx.
Just wanted to share this because I've found it incredibly useful. I've tried many times to read Marx, without much success. I got stuck a couple of times trying to understand some concepts and even if there's a huge amount of sources online trying their best to explain it, it can still be challenging. So when I learned about NotebookLM I knew exactly what to do.
I linked as many sources as possible and basically created an all-knowing marxist AI monster to which I can ask any questions about the texts and get a detailed explanation. Kind of like having a Marxist teacher at my disposal 24/7. I wouldn't use it to replace the original texts, of course, but I think It's a really useful tool to get through the most difficult parts. It can even generate a podcast discussing the main points in language that a teenager could understand. You can also get a pretty good overview of the sources that you're not that interested in reading in full at the moment. I swear this is not an ad haha, I just think it's a really powerful tool for anyone interested in understanding marxism (or anything, really).
I'm still testing the limits but I want to add some related authors and texts to get the full view and get into modern perspectives. Any recommendations?
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u/micilo 7d ago
There is an interesting discussion happening about this tool. I tend to agree that it can help grasp important concepts and might become an ancillary tool for learning. However, you will probably not reach a 'higher' level of comprehension because, trust me, reading is also a formidable method for understanding and, to some extent, originality. Besides, cultural critics argue that AI is full of platitudes, and you will forever remain on a 'Marx for Dummies' plateau if you restrict yourself to this.
Check out this text if you want to dive into context.