Important caveat, this may be reflective only of my own experiences and limited knowledge, but I would say Parenti is a very minor figure in academic political science and history, and a fairly relevant figure in current communist circles (actual activists/organizers/party members). He isn't largely discussed among academic Marxists either. My local communist party leader is familiar with Parenti though.
An important reason the books are so expensive is because they aren't published by either university presses or larger publishing houses. Gramsci is readily available, but less talked about in communist circles.
Today, Michael Parenti is the most dangerous Marxist intellectual in the US. I know this because despite countless books, videos, and speaking engagements, despite an uncompromising commitment to a Marxist interpretation of history and current events, despite a profound, but reasoned hatred of capitalism, and despite an admirably approachable style and manner with big ideas, he is otherwise unemployed by universities and denied access to all but the most left or marginal media.
Important caveat, this may be reflective only of my own experiences and limited knowledge, but I would say Parenti is a very minor figure in academic political science and history, and a fairly relevant figure in current communist circles (actual activists/organizers/party members). He isn't largely discussed among academic Marxists either. My local communist party leader is familiar with Parenti though.
An important reason the books are so expensive is because they aren't published by either university presses or larger publishing houses. Gramsci is readily available, but less talked about in communist circles.
Edit:
https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/f/promote-parenti-not-slavoj-zizek