Very mixed experience to read! The particular edition I read had an introduction and additional foreword that gave more context for some of the very dated and problematic elements one will find on this book. I think this was a really good additional and were well written. It makes clear, if not already obxious on reading, there is terminology used and some concepts discussed within the book that would not be used today and reflect the time it was written and the European male perspective it is written from. However, with this context, it's clear how this book has become known for its foundational role in Marxist feminism.

The book explores the family, how advancements in technology required it to change, and how that produced the male dominated family and society that now exists. It then goes on to show how these changes in family were fundimental in the creation of the state and the dividing of society into classes. The book references the work of Lewis Henry Morgan, particularly Ancient Society, and uses it as evidence of this universal path of development for civilisation and society.

There are amazing concepts developed within the book, particularly about civilisations, and the creation of property facilitating the subjectification of woman. The bringing together of anthropology and Marxism theory is important and enhances both, leading to a more clear understanding of the State and it's role in managing class antagonism throughout the ages. 

The book, however, has some major blind spots and is honestly, very slow. The first, second and last chapters are by far the most worth reading focusing mostly on board theory. The other chapters are focused on particular examples that contain likely too many inaccuracies now to be worth reading over a more recent publication. This is a clear theme throughout the text, the limited nature of research on non-european society at the time of writing. Often, it assumes rules apply firmly or universally across vast communities, or even across the whole of humanity. As well as this, there also clear assumptions on gender roles being Inherent and misses existence of alternative genders and sexualities that exist in all societies.

Despite these flaws I would still recommend a read, even if it is just the first, second and last chapters. I am hopeful anyone who is choosing to read it will likely have background to see its limitation and take from it what is valuable. Nevertheless, it is always worth doing further reading on what non-white and non-men have said on Marxism, Anthropology, Feminism and their intersections.