Assignment: to compile within two weeks a book for reading by peasants and workers.

The book shall consist of separate, independent leaflets, each constituting a complete whole, of two to four printed pages.

Exposition to be in the most popular form, for the most unlettered peasant. Number of leaflets from 50 to 200; for the first issue of the book – 50.

Topics: the building of Soviet power, its foreign and domestic policy. For example: what is Soviet power. How to govern the country. The law on land. The Sovnarkhozes. Nationalisation of factories. Labour discipline. Imperialism. The imperialist war. Secret treaties. How we proposed peace. What we are fighting for now. What communism is. Separation of church from state. And so forth.

It is possible and necessary to take old good leaflets and rework old articles.

The reading book shall provide material for public readings and for home reading, as well as for reprinting of individual leaflets, and for translation (with slight additions) into other languages.

Written in December 1918.

First published June 1, 1936 in Pravda No. 149.

Printed from the typewritten copy.