German economist, historian, Marxist theorist Karl Kautsky, wanting to make K. Marx's Capital popular and more accessible to the general reader, wrote the book The Economic Teachings of Karl Marx in the 80s of the 19th century. In it, he explains his original ideas and terms, illustrates his reasoning with illustrative examples, and also gives a system of basic concepts, dividing his work into three parts: from the commodity-monetary matrix to the riddle of surplus value and then to understanding profit and salary. Indeed, the book was a great success: for many, Kautsky's interpretation was an ideal replacement for Capital and a sufficient excursion into the world of Marxist political economy. His work has not lost its relevance in our time.