Not to toot my own horn, but I saw the recent election results as a good opportunity for further outreach, which is why the list is in the format it is, such as frontloading with Parenti's work, who directly is speaking to a US-based audience and can help tackle Red Scare mythos that permeate the western Left.

Contrary to what anticommunists will have you believe, Communists don't believe all instances of AES (Actually Existing Socialism) are perfect or free of struggle, but instead that we can learn from their successes and their failures, as many of their problems will be faced by any Socialist country, and many of their successes can be replicated or improved.

As yet another recommendation, for if you aren't feeling theory but instead want general history, I'm a big fan of Blowback, a very well-produced and thoroughly researched podcast that goes over the US Empire's involvement with various wars and conflicts over the Cold War and until today. It manages to be funny at times, heartbreaking at others, but frequently it's bittersweet or even hopeful, such as in the Cuban season. Lots of interviews with experts from the countries they talk about and various academics as well.

It's great that you want to learn more, by the way!