Antonio Gramsci went to prison for his ideas. Since then, those ideas have escaped, multiplied, earned tenure, joined social movements, infiltrated media studies, confused the internet, and been misquoted by everyone—from Marxists to culture-war pundits on opposite sides of the political spectrum. This book explains Gramsci’s life and key concepts in clear, engaging language—without dumbing them down. Expect humor, real-world examples, and a gentle roast of academia. Whether you’re new to radical thought or have survived university seminars on cultural theory, this book will finally make Gramsci click. Inside, you’ll find: ✅ A fast-paced biography of Gramsci as the brilliant, stubborn, and inconvenient thinker fascism feared. ✅ Core ideas explained simply: cultural hegemony, common sense vs. good sense, organic intellectuals, the war of position, and more. ✅ Why his theories still matter today for education, media, activism, and the “culture wars.” ✅ How leftists, right-wing strategists, social movements, and academics all claimed him—for better or worse. ✅ A look at Gramsci in the internet era: influencers as “organic intellectuals,” memes as ideology, and whether TikTok activism is the future… or just noise. Perfect for: Readers curious about Marxism, culture, and power—without the headache Students, organizers, educators, and anyone who wants to understand political narratives People who’ve heard the word “hegemony” and thought, “Someone please explain this in normal human language!” Smart, funny, and refreshingly accessible, Gramsci in Plain English brings the Prison Notebooks into the real world—where ideas fight, culture matters, and the next revolution might start as a group chat. If you want to understand how power shapes everyday life—and how ordinary people can change it—this is your starting point.
