The Revolutionist's Handbook and Pocket Companio

The Revolutionist's Handbook and Pocket Companion is a satirical work by George Bernard Shaw that explores the idea of revolution through a series of essays, poems, and plays. The book critiques various aspects of society, including politics, religion, and economics, and offers suggestions for how to bring about change. It is considered one of Shaw's most important works and has had a significant impact on political thought and activism.

By George Bernard Shaw · First published 1894 · Genre: Political Philosophy, Satire, Non-fiction · 10 chapters · 13,746 words

First lines

If there were no God, said the eighteenth century Deist, it would be necessary to invent Him. Now this XVIII century god was deus ex machina, the god who helped those who could not help themselves, the god of the lazy and incapable. The nineteenth century decided that there is indeed no such god; and now Man must take in hand all the work that he used to shirk with an idle prayer. He must, in effect, change himself into the political Providence which he formerly conceived as god; and such change is not only possible, but the only sort of change that is real.

What this Textopian page supports

The Revolutionist's Handbook and Pocket Companion is listed on Textopian as an essay by George Bernard Shaw, dated 1894 CE.

This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.

• Work type: Essay
• Author: George Bernard Shaw
• Date: 1894 CE
• Language: English
• Genres: Political Philosophy, Satire, Non-fiction, Essay, Manifesto
• Length: 13,746 words
• Structure: 10 chapters, 106 paragraphs
• Reading fit: Difficult (College Level)

Good citation fit

• Work identity for The Revolutionist's Handbook and Pocket Companion by George Bernard Shaw
• Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
• Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
• Readability and classroom-planning context
• Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph

Discussion starters

• What should a reader notice first when entering The Revolutionist's Handbook and Pocket Companion?
• How does this essay by George Bernard Shaw fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
• Where does Political Philosophy first become important in the reading?

Similar titles

• Anarchy by Errico Malatesta
• Emancipation And Revolution by Samuel Taylor Coleridge
• Anarchists Have Forgotten Their Principles by Errico Malatesta
• The Impossibilities Of Anarchism by George Bernard Shaw
• Democracy by George Bernard Shaw
• The Red Reactionary by G. K. Chesterton

Genres

• Political Philosophy — The book explores political ideologies and critiques societal structures.
• Satire — It uses humor and irony to criticize political and social norms.
• Non-fiction — The content is based on real-world political theories and ideas.
• Essay — The book is structured as a series of essays discussing various topics.

Tags

politics · revolution · socialism · philosophy · theater · satire · activism · manifesto · critique · humanism · ideology · literature

Contents

• On Good Breeding
• Property and Marriage
• The Perfectionist Experiment at Oneida Creek
• Man's Objection to his own Improvement
• The Political Need for the Superman
• Prudery Explained
• Progress an Illusion
• The Conceit of Civilization
• The Verdict of History
• The Method

More by George Bernard Shaw

• Cymbeline Refinished: a Variation on Shakespeare's Ending (1936)
• The Fascinating Foundling (1901)
• The Six of Calais (1934)
• The Glimpse of Reality (1903)
• The Miraculous Revenge (1934)
• Village Wooing (1933)
• Saint Joan (1924)
• Androcles and the Lion (1912)
• All works by George Bernard Shaw