Rand, Ayn

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Loved it up until the end
Stunning, life-changing
Essential Reading
If you've read Atlas Shrugged, there's no need to read this.
What A Novel Should Be

The Fountainhead
Ayn Rand , and Leonard Peikoff
Manufacturer: Signet
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Atlas Shrugged (Centennial Ed. HC)

ASIN: 0451191153

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The Fountainhead has become an enduring piece of literature, more popular now than when published in 1943. On the surface, it is a story of one man, Howard Roark, and his struggles as an architect in the face of a successful rival, Peter Keating, and a newspaper columnist, Ellsworth Toohey. But the book addresses a number of universal themes: the strength of the individual, the tug between good and evil, the threat of fascism. The confrontation of those themes, along with the amazing stroke of Rand's writing, combine to give this book its enduring influence.

Book Description

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Customer Reviews:

Loved it up until the end.......2007-06-18

This was my first Rand book. Having read all 700 some pages of it while doped up on vicodin and recovering from the removal of my wisdom teeth, I was able to digest it in one big, painful gulp.

I loved how Rand subtly & not-so subtly wove her philosophy into the structure of the characters and the story. I also loved how, aside from Roark, I couldn't immediately tell who the good guys and bad guys were going to be. Through twists and turns of the story, I kept rooting for Roark because his character was so strong while he remained soft-spoken. I knew that no matter what happened, Roark would be victorious. But during the trial at the end, Rand used poor little Roark as a podium to directly spews pages and pages of her bullsh*t ideas in a very direct, patronizing way which to me seemed quite contrary(not in philosophy but in personality) to Roark's character as it had been portrayed in the book up to that point. Consequently, I became disenchanted with the only character in the book I had spent those hundreds of pages connecting with. What a let down...

Stunning, life-changing.......2007-06-13

This book is even better on the second read-through than the first. What greater mark of genuine literary merit is there?

Essential Reading.......2007-06-01

Ayn Rand's The Fountainhead is excellent when it remains in the realm of fiction - however, you will find The Fountainhead is much more than a work of fiction. Rand does not seek to trick you at any point in the novel; this is clearly a vehicle demonstrating ideas found in her philosophy Objectivism.
Consider the following conversation on page 22 with her self described "can do no wrong", "human as humans should be" messiah figure Howard Roark and the dean of Stanton university, whom has just expelled Roark for having refusing to create imitations of "classic" architechture.
The dean says "You must learn to understand... everything beautiful in architechture has been done already. We can only treasure the past. Who are we to improve upon them? We can only attempt, respectfully, to repeat." The entire conversation was so one-sided that you have no choice but to agree with Roark in denying the dean's statement. By page 22 half of Rands message (that will be emphasized countless times in the coming 700 pages) is delivered. Howard Roark does not compromise his ideals, and he listens to his own judgement, as everyone should.
Although the message is easy to decipher, it is the writing in which it is conveyed which makes The Fountainhead such a great novel. The descriptions are vivid, the charecters interesting, and the plot surprisingly fast paced considering it spans two decades and 700 pages. If nothing else, Rand knows how to tell a story, and tell it well. The book is simply captivating, despite some unneccesary dialogue and a few rough patches in the plot. Whether you agree with the philosophy behind it or not, you will enjoy The Fountainhead.

If you've read Atlas Shrugged, there's no need to read this........2007-05-26

I absolutely loved Atlas Shrugged, so when I merely liked this book, I was disappointed. Much of the dialogue seems like it was just there to continue the plot, not act as a philosophical allegory. Until the last hundred pages or so, it seemed like just an ordinary, decent book.

What A Novel Should Be.......2007-05-20

600 pages of set up, 127 pages of a point. Well worth the 600 pages of set up. The point is sure to stay with you long after you place the book down, and has a great possibility of changing the way you face the world.

A man's ego is the fountainhead of proggress.

Average customer rating:

A true chef d'aeuvre
Tremendous
Unlike anything else
A Must Read
Incredible

Atlas Shrugged
Ayn Rand
Manufacturer: Plume
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0452011876

Book Description

At last, Ayn Rand's masterpiece is available to her millions of loyal readers in trade paperback.

With this acclaimed work and its immortal query, "Who is John Galt?", Ayn Rand found the perfect artistic form to express her vision of existence. Atlas Shrugged made Rand not only one of the most popular novelists of the century, but one of its most influential thinkers.

Atlas Shrugged is the astounding story of a man who said that he would stop the motor of the world--and did. Tremendous in scope, breathtaking in its suspense, Atlas Shrugged stretches the boundaries further than any book you have ever read. It is a mystery, not about the murder of a man's body, but about the murder--and rebirth--of man's spirit.

* Atlas Shrugged is the "second most influential book for Americans today" after the Bible, according to a joint survey conducted by the Library of Congress and the Book of the Month Club

Download Description

Who is John Galt?

This famous rhetorical question rings through Ayn Rand's best-selling novel as the people's anthem of despair in depressed economic times.

Set in the future, the novel follows capitalist magnates as they battle looters, strikers, and the impending ruin of the United States' economy. The romantic and intellectual relationship between Dagny Taggart, the heroine, and John Galt, whose identity as the leader of the strike is eventually revealed, carries the novel to its climax.

This novel, controversial when it first appeared in 1957, purports Rand's objectivist philosophy that the individual is free to pursue his or her own happiness without bowing to God or society. Objectivism in action upholds full laissez-faire capitalism as the only philosophy that can protect humankind's freedom to think, to be inventive, and to live productively.

Customer Reviews:

A true chef d'aeuvre.......2007-06-05

I won't say much because a mere product review will not serve justice to this work. All I will state is that this novel will be well worth your time, no matter who you are or what you do.

Tremendous.......2007-06-05

This book is about the battle for mens' minds. The opponents are those who think with their hearts, and those who think with their heads. By the time you get about 1/3 of the way through, you find that well-meaning people have deluded themselves and created a monster that is out of control. A central planning group, operating under the assumption that wealth should be distributed solely on the basis of need, is leaching dry the industrialists of the country, who invent, do, employ, and create. Before long the group is comprised of men who say noble things but act very very differently. The industrialists, crushed by the doom of regulation and taxes, start vanishing one-by-one, leaving their factories to whomever will run them.

As businesses fail, society starts coming apart, and the central planning group compensates.

What's remarkable about this book is that, while it was penned in 1957, it reads like it was written last week.

This book is very thought provoking. It is not an easy read so don't expect to blow through it.

My only ding is that Ms Rand needed a better editor. Sometimes, she seems to repeat the same ideas over and over. Specifically, there is a radio address towards the end that must be 50 pages long. And it feels very much like the same 5 ideas repeated 10 times. Perhaps I am too unsophisticated to see that the situations are different.

Unlike anything else.......2007-06-05

A huge fan of anything by Ayn Rand, and Atlas Shrugged in particular. She is one of the very few authors that leaves no one indifferent. Some bow before her intellect and courage, others hate her for them. Interestingly though, those who hate her, generally have not read her, and usually flat out refuse to read her (not all, of course). Her ideas are like a beam of light, once you shine them on your own mind there's no escaping of the skeletons that have been buried there.

Having said that, I'd caution anyone from falling into the semi-religious "Randite" cult. The woman was brilliant, but she certainly had some, shall we say, odd ideas. For example, if you like music in the minor key or enjoy pretty much any kind of folk music, according to her theory (The Romantic Manifesto), you're an imbecile. She considered homosexuality immoral. (For an atheist who claimed to be guided solely by reason, that's quite a statement.)

Atlas Shrugged though, makes my top ten books ever written list.

A Must Read.......2007-06-03

You need not agree with everything in this book or Ayn Rand's philosophy on Objectivism to enjoy this book (though it does help). I don't entirely agree with what she has written and found many flaws, but who wouldn't have flaws with the scope that this book covers. It took her many years to write it, and you begin to understand while you read this epic-in-proportion book.

What I did like most was the stark contrast of the Looters (those who feed off of the intellectual initiatives of others... basically freeloaders and those in government) and the heroes of this story (the few who are willing to think and bring home their own bacon). The characters are interesting no matter which point of view they are being shown in.

The worst thing of this book is its length. Some of the dialog can be a little long-winded. One speech given over the radio was 60 pages long!!! I felt like half of this book could have been edited out and nobody would have missed a thing. So if you are going to read this book then be prepared for a lot of unnecessary conversations.

I have been hearing for years that this is a book that must be picked up and I finally found the time to do it. Don't get me wrong, I could put it down (and did for a few long breaks in time) but I have no regrets in reading this through finally. It not only made me think but I've discussed some of the storyline with my wife and we've had some very interesting discussions based on the ideas presented in this book. I would add this to the "Must Read No Matter Who You Are" list.

Incredible.......2007-06-02

This is a true epic. Please ignore the one star reviews folks.

Atlas Shrugged is a must-read for anyone concerned with the direction our country is headed.

5+ stars.

Average customer rating:

In True Ayn Rand Fashion
A New Moral Philosophy
A natural code of ethics
Classic Material
Rational Selfishness

The Virtue of Selfishness
Ayn Rand
Manufacturer: Signet
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Customer Reviews:

In True Ayn Rand Fashion.......2007-06-23

As with all her writing, she's very aggressive in trying to get her point across. Though this was a good read, I would not say that it was profound, as some of the other reviewers have so asserted.

It would serve as a good stepping stone into the field of more contemporary ethics, but in order to really assess her claims and axioms, one must be well learned and read in the enormous literature of classical and contemporary ethical theory--something I am not.

I didn't give this a 5 star review because quite frankly I disagreed with her on various points, points where it seems that her reasonings had committed some form of fallacy or other.

A New Moral Philosophy.......2007-03-20

Ayn Rand's " The Virtue of Selfishness" is truly a new moral philosophy. Her essays in this book are profound. In this volume, Rand rejects the idea of self sacrifice and metaphysics and embraces rational self interest. Rational self interest is the philosophy that your life belongs to YOU, it does not belong to anyone else. YOU are responsible for your life, feelings and actions. Rand lays out the argument that self sacrifice, and altruism, have denigrated man's sense of self and caused mankind innumerable centuries of suffering. Man was only liberated by the Western Enlightenment and the use of his reason through science and capitalist economics. Where the Dark Ages end, progress and freedom begin.

Rand is an unabashed fan of America and our Founding Fathers. She is absolutely correct in affirming the fact that they founded the American Republic on the Enlightenment ideas of liberty, freethought,individual rights, amd scientific progress. Rand obliterates the view of the Religious Right that American was founded as a "Christian Nation" and the view of the Left that America was founded as a "conservative" nation. She points out that the Declaration of Independence was a radical document affirming the rights of all men as individuals. As a consequence of the American Revolution, capitalism unleashed nearly a century of classical liberalism, freedom from government, and individualism never before seen in any nation or age. Rand shows that the American Republic was the first nation to ever proclaim man as a rational being with inherent and unalienable rights.

The basic thrust that Rand is attempting to get across to the reader is that altruism and the concept of living for others is not only immoral, but fatal to the maintenance of an enlightened republic. Altruism is the root of all the other "isms" that afflict the world. Communism, Fascism, conservatism, liberalism, socialism, all promote the idea of the tribe where the individual is submerged and drowned out by voices degrading him with notions of original sin, "common good","public welfare", mankind's "depravity", and obligation to others. If you want a philosophy of life, liberty and one to truly pursue your happiness with, Ms. Rand's "Virtue of Selfishness" will help guide the way.

A natural code of ethics.......2007-02-23

THE VIRTUE OF SELFISHNESS is required reading for anyone to intelligently discuss Rand as a thinker. Objectivism, like mathematics, has a well-defined hierarchy and VOS is a precondition for understanding its politics and aesthetics. I think, however, that the reader will also find it has practical value. One of Rand's achievements in this work is the creation of a code of ethics based on reason. She does this by placing ethics in the appropriate context by answering questions like what a code of ethics is and why it's necessary. She identifies cardinal values and virtues and applies her code to analyze a number of important ethical issues (e.g., racism). Rand also devotes much effort to comparing her code with altruism (its antipode) and discusses the harm the latter unleashes. She rejects the choice between being an altruist and a brute as a false dichotomy and introduces the concept of the trader, the individual who interacts with others on a value-for-value basis. Rand lays out a compelling case that morality without religion is both possible and desirable.

Classic Material.......2007-02-01

I will never understand why Ayn Rand has always been snubbed by other philosophers. Most philosophers, if asked, will flat out deny that Rand was even a real philosopher. To me this is absurd. She has been called a hypocrite and even a cult leader, but such base ad hominem attacks of course have no bearing on the veracity of her claims. The Virtue of Selfishness is, in my opinion, the best of her publications. The title essay contains one of the most eye-openning and profound arguments I have ever read, which is this: Many people want to believe in immortality. In fact, most Americans DO believe that they are immortal, that death is really just a metamorphasis, that you carry on in another form, etc. If this were actually true, then morality would be of little importance. If we really did live forever then little to nothing could count for or against us. If nothing could count against us then we would have no values. If we had no values we would have no goals. And if we had no values or goals, morality would be irrelevant. Think about it. It's the very fact that life is FINITE that gives it meaning. This is an important lesson--that the immortality that so many hope and pray for would actually be a curse, just as it is to mythical vampires. Also profound are the discussions on selfishness. Selfishness is not a bad thing. Everyone does everything he or she does for selfish reasons. Even if someone appears to be behaving altruistically it is only because doing so makes him feel good about himself. On a sidenote, Nathaniel Branden also has an excellent essay in which he explains typical "party" behavior. We might look at people who love to party and think "Gee, they are such carefree individuals. They must love life and love having fun." Actually, Branden makes clear, they are miserable. They only act that way because of their emptiness as people. They are trying to distract themselves from their deep unhappiness. They try to drown out their lack of self-contentment with alcohol or other drugs, and with loud music and rooms full of loud obnoxious people. It's all a grand self-medicating distraction from the underlying problems at hand, and afterward, when the party is over and they are left alone with their own thoughts again, they are miserable. All of it, the alcohol, drugs, partying, rooms full of dancing and whatnot, is not the creation of happiness, but is merely the orchestrated cessation of unhappiness.

Rational Selfishness.......2006-12-29

The Virtue of Selfishness is a collection of essays offering a shockingly new morality based on man's nature. In the essay entitled "The Objectivist Ethics," novelist/philosopher Ayn Rand explains the basics of her revolutionary ethical system. The essays are vibrantly refreshing. They offer for the first time in history an ethical system proper to man's nature qua man. The ethics of rational selfishness is a not a morality of sacrifice, but a morality of productivity. It is not a morality of need, but a morality of achievement. It is not a morality of suffering but a morality of joy. Miss Rand's ethics is a morality for living---not as a cog in a vast collective, not as a slave to the needs of others---but as a sovereign and autonomous being capable of dealing with reality and achieving his own happiness.

For those interested in a presentation of Miss Rand's ethics within the framework of her entire philosophy, Objectivism, I also highly recommend Leonard Peikoff's Objectivism: The Philosophy of Ayn Rand.

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A book that challenges the reader to define themselves
There Ought to be a Law everyone should read this book
Salve for my sanity
Well worth the price of hardcover.
The Dollar is Not Evil

Atlas Shrugged (Centennial Ed. HC)
Ayn Rand
Manufacturer: Dutton Adult
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0525948929

Book Description

The year 2005 marks Ayn Rand's Centennial Year.

The astounding story of a man that said that he would stop the motor of the world—and did. Tremendous in scope, breathtaking in its suspense, Atlas Shrugged is unlike any other book you have ever read. “A writer of great power. She has a subtle and ingenious mind and the capacity of writing brilliantly, beautifully, bitterly.” —The New York Times

Customer Reviews:

A book that challenges the reader to define themselves.......2007-04-28

My first encounter with Ayn Rand's ATLAS SHRUGGED was in college as a reading assignment in my Humanities class many years ago. When my professor placed the book on his desk and said it was our reading assignment, I could hardly contain myself. The horror of reading a lengthy philosophical theory spanning over 1,000 pages was a nightmare evident in my reaction. He looked me straight in the eye and said he guaranteed I would love it. Well, he was right.

It's a book I keep coming back to. Putting aside the obvious Objectivism present throughout the novel (especially during Galt's lengthy radio address), this book forces you to think about Rand's ideas brought to life in her characters, and challenges you to define your own. The book questions our values, morals, and ethics bringing to light the qualities an individual requires to live. It also highlights the contrast between the looters who mooch off of others and a person who lives his/her life by their own abilities while expecting other to do the same.

Each character in the book evokes a different response from the readers. Some you love, others you completely despise. Most characters are typically on one extreme end of the scale of morals, ethics, and values. With Rand, there seems to be no in-betweens. Having read other works by Rand, it is obvious that she does this to represent elements of society, capitalism, and much more. The book's heroine, Dagny Taggart, is a strong person primarily surrounded by individuals without talent, skills or basic common sense. Although some claim Rand's work is very radical - I'm sure the reader knows someone in this type of situation (come on, admit it). The John Galt character is the physical and intellectual representation of man's ideal; a brilliant man who passionately loves life, work and refuses to live for the sake of others.

ATLAS SHRUGGED is a story of true intellectual substance that captures what would happen in the world if the genuine productive leaders decided to halt their contribution to the looters forcing the moochers of society to fend for themselves. Although a lengthy book, it is a great story filled with mystery, suspense, passion for work and life, love, and much more. If you can only read one book, then ATLAS SHRUGGED is an excellent choice simply because it makes you think.

There Ought to be a Law everyone should read this book.......2007-04-19

The two most important people in the last century were Russian, Ayn Rand and Alexander Solgenitzen. I first read Atlas Shrugged in 1969 and now am completing the fourth reading. Each time, more of this book comes true. It is prophecy in our time. She foretold the rise of government, the welfare mentality which has taken hold in the USA and the coming stike of the producers. This book is a romance, an adventure story, a political treatise and a philosphical work. It can be read on each level enjoyably. The book has shaped my thinking and life since 1969 and I could not recommend it more highly. Everyone who values their liberty needs to read this book, more than once.

Salve for my sanity.......2007-03-31

First introduced to this book over 20 years ago, at the ripe old age of 25, I've gone back and reread it every 2 or 3 years.
Is the politically correct, liberally biased, social commentary of the political leadership and elite media making you crazy? Don't feel alone, just read this book and you'll find yourself calm, sane, and with a restored faith in our collective inevitable return to sanity. I'm not going to review the book, it's all been said, and although the final part of the book maybe somewhat farfetched, who ever thought 100 years ago that we'd all have a computer in our homes to do our shopping, book our travel, etc., all at the touch of our fingers? I read a lot of political novels, and commentarys, but this is the ONE book that I can't live without in my personal library, and the FIRST book that I recommend to everyone. I've loaned mine out so many times that I've had to replace it twice in 22 years, but I would do so 10 more times just to help do my part to insure that a few more people stop and think about the consequences of the Socialistic path we are on.
If Ayn were still alive and running for office, she'd have my vote!

Well worth the price of hardcover........2007-03-26

My first encounter with Atlas Shrugged was when a friend passed me a very worn paperback that had been given to him by a friend. I imagine it had gone through the hands of several readers before my own. I was dubious when I first received the book, because I had always attributed the work to the stuffiness of a college literary class. I was pleased to find that I was wrong.

Rand tells an enthralling, complex story as she incorporates her philosophy into the lives and tribulations of the characters she creates. Even though the 60 page dissertation can be cumbersome to read, it still remains a difficult novel to set aside. I read the book in just over a week's time, even though I don't get much time to enjoy novels due to my job. I simply could not put the novel down. Rand is excellent at making her reader think of the question: "What is next?" Dagney and the characters invoking positive change are very likeable; the pompous characters who believe in the status quo are as easy to root against as a silent movie villain.

When I was finished with my paperback, hand-me-down copy of this phenomenal novel, I regrettably had to discard it due to the fact that several pages fell out after the many readings it had worked through before mine. The sheer size of the novel leaves paperback bindings straining- therefore, I was overjoyed to receive this particular hardbound edition as a gift this year. If you are thinking of buying this novel, it is well worth the price to receive years of enjoyment out of a hard bound edition.

The Dollar is Not Evil.......2007-03-13

This book should be in every patriot. The book is one of the most rapturing reading experiences I've had in a long time. I read it in under a week, as I couldn't put it down.

The premise of the book is the answer to the question of "What would happen if the producers of the world, the intellectuals, the people holding the country on their shoulders, simply went on strike?" What if Atlas, holding the world on his shoulders while the world cursed him simply got sick of being abused and shrugged the planet off?

Although the book will certainly make you more of a libertarian, I certainly do not endorse all of Rand's philosophy. She does deride religion unnecessarily, I believe, linking Christianity and Communism as if they are inseparable, when in reality they are closer to being exclusive. This book, however, will enlighten any patriot who wishes to be aware of the buzzwords the looters of today will use.

The characters are startlingly dynamic, and much is spoken in riddles. The plot is bizarre, but shockingly realistic, especially at the beginning. The story is all too real until we visit Atlantis, and then it becomes more like fiction.

Some of the greatest parts are Hank Rearden's trial and Fransisco d'Aconia's argument against the statement that money is the root of all evil.

This book is a must read for any intellectual, regardless of political views. Read with your mind, and be open to changing your views about big business, the dollar, and property rights. Don't accept everything, don't believe that there is no middle ground, but DONT burn the book. It needs to be read before the real Atlases of the world start Shrugging.

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a cheap rip-off of Yevgeny Zamyatin?
A Powerful Short Novel
Take it for what it is...
The dangers of collectivism
Could This Be Our Future?

Anthem
Ayn Rand , and Leonard Peikoff
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ASIN: 0452281253

Book Description

Available for the first time in trade paperback--this provocative book is "an anthem sung in praise of man's ego"--from the legendary author Ayn Rand

Anthem has long been hailed as one of Ayn Rand's classic novels, and a clear predecessor to her later masterpieces, The Fountainhead and Atlas Shrugged. In Anthem, Rand examines a frightening future in which individuals have no name, no independence, and no values. Equality 7-2521 lives in the dark ages of the future where all decisions are made by committee, all people live in collectives, and all traces of individualism have been wiped out. Despite such a restrictive environment, the spark of individual thought and freedom still burns in him--a passion which he has been taught to call sinful. In a purely egalitarian world, Equality 7-2521 dares to stand apart from the herd--to think and choose for himself, to discover electricity, and to love the woman of his choice. Now he has been marked for death for committing the ultimate sin. In a world where the great "we" reign supreme, he has rediscovered the lost and holy word--"I."

Download Description

A stunning and brilliantly realized future world in which individuality has been crushed is the theme of Ayn Rand's bestselling masterpiece, "Anthem". Rand presents her tale of a man who dares to make individual choices, to seek knowledge in a dark age, to love the woman of his choice. In a society in which people have no name, no independence, and no values, he is hunted for the unpardonable crime: having the courage to stand above the crowd. Introduction by Leonard Peikoff.

Customer Reviews:

a cheap rip-off of Yevgeny Zamyatin?.......2007-05-31

Let me start by saying something good about this book: it is short.

Now, why is this book so bad? Whether you like Rand's politics or not, this book has very little literary value to. It is basically a cheap and quick rip off of Yevgeny Zamyatin's 1921 novel, We, which I highly recommend. If you strip Zamyatin's book of everything literary and poignant, and add some half-baked Narcissus imagery, you'll get Anthem.

Yawn.

If you want to read a dystopian novel that has something to say about modern regimes, the Soviet Union, technophilia, surveillance--in short, everything people who love Rand think she invented--consult Zamyatin and leave Rand alone. Or, read Rand and then read Zamyatin, and I think you'll understand exactly why Rand is a sadly inferior writer.

We (Modern Library Classics)

A Powerful Short Novel.......2007-05-18

Ayn Rand delivers this brief didactic story in a powerful way. It is short, but sharp. It clearly and quickly brings across its point. It reveals the philosophy of objectivism.

I don't totally agree with the philosophy evident in this novel. However, I do find many good things about it, so I do feel there is a great of value in this novel. It has value in that it attacks collectivism.

Take it for what it is..........2007-04-19

I read The Fountainhead and enjoyed it very much. So I picked up Anthem and read it in less than a day.

To compare this to The Fountainhead (or any of her other novels) is irresponsible. This is really just an expanded short story and stories should not be compared to epic novels.

Ayn Rand was an extremist. You may or may not agree with all of her ideas, but all of us should read her work (this coming from someone who considers himself more liberal than conservative). Anthem and The Fountainhead are examples of intelligent literature. I can't wait to start We the Living and, someday soon, Atlas Shrugged.

The dangers of collectivism.......2007-04-18

I read an old author's book this time. Glad I did. This is a story about one man who could not conform to the collective world in which he was raised. His curiosity brought him to discover electricty in an underground tunnel which used to be a subway. When he tried to bring the idea to the collective leaders he was punished. This collective world lives without modern technology and no one is allowed to think outside the box. He decides to run from this society into a forbidden zone and takes an Eve with him. Thought-provocative for young adults.

Could This Be Our Future?.......2007-04-15

What always amazes me about Anthem, Ayn Rand's shortest novel, is how creative and original she is in just over 100 pages. Even though this book is being narrated by a person from the future named Equality 7-2521, it is written in third person. The reader can't help but wonder why. And why does this person have such a strange name? On the very first page, the reader finds out that this book represents Equality's diary, yet he also mentions that it is a sin to write down his thoughts. Again, why? Rand weaves a creative and thought-provoking story that answers these questions in a way that only Rand could conceive. If you're a fan of Atlas Shrugged or The Fountainhead, this novella is worth the read. It may not have the same scope of her other novels, but it is certainly written in the same spirit.

Average customer rating:

Very well written book about capitalism and democracy
Propaganda?
greenspan
Economic Enlightenment
A Must Read for All Americans

Capitalism: The Unknown Ideal
Ayn Rand , Nathaniel Branden , Alan Greenspan , and Robert Hessen
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ASIN: 0451147952

Customer Reviews:

Very well written book about capitalism and democracy.......2007-04-06

Although this book was written many years ago, it rings true for today's issues. The book is made up of multiple (25 or so) mini essays, each about 5-10 pages long.

The book has a clear and logical philosophy that is consistent. Its' basic premise is that pure capitalism is the first and only moral system for man. This is because capitalism equals freedom which frees a man from coercive oppression, and that man can only create wealth and new ideas when free to use his mind. The book states that the US briefly came close to pure capitalism in the 1700 and 1800s, but is now heading to fascism, as the state leaves property in private ownership, but the state controls output and use of the private property.

This book is the best I've read in several years, because it helped me unify my outlook on several fronts (political, economic, legal, social, etc) into one grand, consistent theory. I think this book will appeal to liberals and conservatives alike. Both are damned in this book by Rand, but I think the left, right, and center will recognize parts of Rand's philosophy that are dear to them too.

Read it for yourself to see, the book is cheap.

Propaganda?.......2007-04-06

The only "outlandish piece of propaganda" about this book is the Library Journal's unabashed hit-piece pseudo-review of it on this website. The essence of capitalism is a political-economic system based on individual rights where all property is owned privately. If you wish to engage in thought about the authentic meaning of capitalism, read Ayn Rand's articles in this book, then if you decide to reject capitalism for statism, do so with the full knowledge of what capitalism is and be prepared to take the consequences for selling your soul.

greenspan.......2007-04-05

this book with its essays by greenspan show a good example of a guy who used to fight against courruption & the federal reserve and then sold out to those who battled against.

Our money was taken from us in the middle of the night by corrupt bankers. The federal Reserve is bogus.

Economic Enlightenment.......2007-04-04

If you really want to understand economics, this is the book for you. It is concise, and yet, comprehensive. It is also extremely interesting and logical. If he really read the book, "Sickle Sam" missed the entire point.

A Must Read for All Americans.......2007-04-02

Wow! This book is powerful, and Ayn Rand is not at all afraid to let us know what is wrong with America, and what would be better if capitalism were truly laissez-faire in America, rather than our giving it over to a mixed economy.

The early articles are especially enlightening about the situation in the United States and how it evolved. She goes back to discussing the creation of the Federal Reserve and what was detrimental about it. She discusses the gold standard, and she takes on Franklin Roosevelt and how the Great Depression and his policies led us to becoming a mixed economy.

The book also takes a lot of time pointing out why capitalism is superior to communism. While we now live after the Cold War--Rand lived during it and was herself a fugitive from the Soviet Union--the points about communism are still highly relevant, not just because communist countries remain but because communism has seeped into American culture in the form of collectivist thinking--the idea that the individual matters less than what is for the greater good. Ayn Rand gives many examples of this, such as taxpayers without children having to fund public education, and the United States providing assistance to other countries--Vietnam in her day--I'm sure she would be opposed to Iraq in ours. She suggests that our trying to raise up those other countries will only pull us down, and she blasts the idea that we must be charitable and look out for our brothers in other lands.

More than any other writer of the twentieth century, Rand was not afraid to speak her mind. She takes on one of Pope Paul VI's encyclicals, she speaks out against the philosophy of Existentialism, and she explains how our culture's unwillingness to stand up for the American ideal and to have a clear philosophy about life has led to the confusion of the younger generations.

Everyone will not agree with Ayn Rand on every point, but no one will go away from this book without being more knowledgable and a better thinker. Again! Why are her philosophies not given equal place in fields of study? Why are philosophy classes always ready to talk about Kant, Sartre and existentialism and not objectivism? If we ignore her voice of reason, we will be headed for a welfare, collectivist society ourselves--as she points out, we're already half-way there. Read this book!

- Tyler R. Tichelaar, author of Iron Pioneers and The Queen City, available on Amazon

Average customer rating:

Great early Ayn novel. A frank look at a change to Socialism.
good story; too much philosophizing
Though "We" is Rand's first, it's clearly not her best.
Freedom...(to choose whether or not to read this book)
Doesn't Compare

We the Living
Ayn Rand
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ASIN: 0451187849

Customer Reviews:

Great early Ayn novel. A frank look at a change to Socialism........2007-06-18

This book was unlike her later books. It's more of a look at actual history and the effects of an actual change in government. There were many here in the US who have wanted to duplicate Russia and change our government to Marxism. They came here soon after the fall of Russia, in the very early 1900s. They called themselves "Marxists" which didn't go over well. They then stole the term "Progressives" from the conservatives and are once again using that term. Today, they have finally come into power in our current congress (Pelosi) and the puppet masters pulling their strings such as George Soros & International Answer.

Another book that most haven't read is her first book. It rates a VERY high recommendation and is again much unlike her other books. "Anthem". I believe this was Ayn's 2nd book and the only one of this type she wrote.
I couldn't help but think that it inspired "1984" and "Planet of the Apes". It was a short, quick read that was entertaining and thought provoking. Like all her books, it doesn't compare two shades of gray, but black & white. I've long used this technique in analyzing questions relating to physics, geometry, math & life.

good story; too much philosophizing.......2007-06-12

This is my first Ayn Rand book; I can tell from the other reviews that I may like the others better. The edition I read provided some good notes on Ms. Rand, which helped me understand the book. I am glad that I read this book first, since it is apparently fairly autobiographical, and since it was her first book. I found the story interesting and assume that the portrayal of Russia at that period to be accurate. The only complaint I have is that I think that the story is interrupted too often with Ms. Rand's philosophizing.

Though "We" is Rand's first, it's clearly not her best........2007-05-14

I'm glad to know I'm not the only person who felt that this novel fell way short of Rand's usual brilliance; brilliance that is apparently only achieved in her later works. As this is her first novel, it's understandable to see so many rough edges and undeveloped theories. Even so, I couldn't reconcile several elements of the plot since they were in such contrast to the concepts she upholds in later novels.

Ayn Rand writes of characters set in Soviet Russia during the Communist revolution. Kira, the protagonist, stays neutral in her political beliefs so long as they don't interfere with her ambitions in life. While at first her goals were to move abroad and become an engineer, the only facet of her life of which the reader sees is her goal of being with the man she loves, Leo.

Leo is a character with no notable ambitions-- the reader is introduced to him as a counter-revolutionist who is instantly drawn to Kira, but his efforts of fighting for his beilefs aren't mentioned after the first 50 pages. By the end of the story, he is nothing more than an arrogant alcoholic. Like others in the novel, he manipulates the good intentions of others to further his own worthless pursuits.

Andrei, on the other hand, is Kira's other love interest. Andrei is inquisitive and loyal: as the Communist party to which he holds dearly falls into corruption and greed, he lives his life for Kira's love.

After understanding some background on the characters, I was puzzled to see the way in which Rand developed the plot. One theory to which Rand upholds so strongly is the belief that man should not live for another. In "We the Living," however, the characters do exactly that-- Andrei lives for Kira's love. Kira lives for the love of her playboy, Leo. As the book drew to a very depressing close, I wondered how on Earth Ayn Rand could revolve a story on the premise of that which she hates (the notion of living for another). Then I reflected on the outcome of the characters and realized that in a way, everyone got exactly what they deserved if one were to uphold Randian thinking.

The novel progresses like a train wreck, ultimately not knowing how any characters are going to escape from the dire situations in which they place themselves. The hardest thing to note is that none of them do escape from their hellish reality. The single exception is one character who deserves absolution the least (Leo). As for the rest of them, they spend years on hopes that never solidify; dreams of school, French perfume, going abroad, and artistic achievements become buried in the cold winter of Russia.

What alarmed me about both the characters and the way they're written is their level of compromise to achieve such dreams-- Kira becomes a sell-out to the Communist party for a job and a mistress to a man she doesn't love to save the man she does love. Instead of fighting as a counter-revolutionist, Leo becomes an illegal trader with the assistance of a top Communist government official. Those who do uphold unwaivering morality face the harshest outcomes (characters like Andrei and Kira's cousin Irena). The reason for my surprise is that Rand's most noble literary characters in her other stories, like Howard, Dangey, Francisco, John Galt, are rewarded for motives that are punished in "We the Living."

For readers who want to aquaint themselves with Ayn Rand's theories, I urge them not to read this book. The dislikeability of Kira and the other characters will distract the reader from themes that aren't conveyed in a convincing (or persuasive) manner. Themes of egoism, selfishness, and capitalism are cornerstones of Ayn Rand, but they just aren't set forth in a coherent manner within "We the Living." If I hadn't read "The Fountainhead" or "Atlas Shrugged" I would've read this book and have had the same disdain towads Rand that I know so many people have towards her works.

Freedom...(to choose whether or not to read this book).......2007-04-28

I read WE THE LIVING some time ago after reading several works by Ayn Rand. I tried to re-read it again, and just couldn't do it. Rand's characters are typically very strong and draw you into the story. Many times, Rand uses extreme settings which are typically unrealistic requiring the reader to image a world outside of anything they have seen. This book, however, is more autobiographical depicting Rand's personal experience fictionalized thru Kira's tale of a young woman's desire to escape her communist world.

This book, I found to be a difficult read. Not only because of the tragedies, sad state of suffering under communism, or broken hearts, but simply because it just doesn't compare to Rand's other novels (ATLAS SHRUGGED is my favorite). Rand's other novels are easy reads (even though they are lengthier) with developing characters that pull you into the story. She incorporates different views of philosophy, society and more in each of the characters she establishes. Her characters typically either stay the same or change as a result of a realization of who they are. But that is not the case in this book.

Andrei, is introduced as the seemingly heartless communist but then evolves into a character the reader sympathizes with through several events in the story. Kira and Leo begin as realistic characters and, contrary to Rand's other character developments, they become cold-hearted resulting in a loss of sympathy from the reader. Kira's behavior creates a mixture of emotions from the reader. Sometimes you want to help her, and sometimes you just want to close the book especially when she destroys the true hero of the novel - yet, the reader is expected to understand that all is simply in search of freedom. Although the ending is a bit disappointing, it is appropriate considering the story Rand is attempting to tell. Any other ending would have conflicted with other areas of the novel and what Kira represents.

Personally, this book is nowhere near as strong as ATLAS SHRUGGED or THE FOUNTAINHEAD but some may find it to be a good read.

Doesn't Compare.......2007-04-21

This book does not compare with 1) Atlas Shrugged, or 2) The Fountainhead. In my opinion, those are two of the finest books ever written. If you haven't read them, put We the Living aside and read them now.

I could not finish We the Living. I got sick of the stupid relationship. I guess I got about 1/4th the way through. Maybe my tastes are changing.

Average customer rating:

ATLAS SHRUGGED
The Best Book I Have Ever Read (and better each time)
This book made an impact on me!
Thought provoking
Objectivism 101

Atlas Shrugged
Ayn Rand
Manufacturer: Random House
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0394415760
Release Date: 1957-10-12

Customer Reviews:

ATLAS SHRUGGED.......2007-04-06

Do yourself and your future a great service... take your next ten free hours and read this book. If you don't like it, you will still find value, this book is a masterpiece.

The Best Book I Have Ever Read (and better each time).......2005-07-01

Atlas Shrugged was given to me as a high school graduation present from a teacher with whom I frequently argued about philosophical issues such as charity and other topics which my Christian upbringing focus on. She never demeaned my arguments but provided reasoned, interesting rebuttals. When I graduated she gave me the book and said that she thought I was "ready" for it. I was a bit insulted as this sounded patronizing. I thank her often for such a wonderful gift. I have worn out my paperback copy and will buy a hardcover copy for future reads.

The first time through the book can be a roller coaster ride. You will undoubtedly like parts and hate parts. Ayn Rand is quite verbose, particularly in some of the speeches or monologues of the book. It is tempting to skim over those parts but there are gems within the paragraphs. For example, there is a 75 page monologue from Francisco, one of the main characters. It is full of positive messages, such as the concept of "making money". I have gone back and read this section of the book several times.

I have read negative reviews of Atlas Shrugged and I can see why some people do not like the book. It does not follow any specific political party line, but anyone with a liberal leaning (by today's definition of liberal) would hate this book. However it disagrees with a lot of the mainline "conservative" dogmas as well. I like to think of it more as a philosophy of life. My political beliefs follow from that philosophy.

Give Atlas Shrugged a try. If you are honest with yourself you may very well like it, whether you agree with all of the concepts or not. It is a story and it is a textbook. It is a very enjoyable read and if you are not accustomed to such lengthy books, you will probably feel a sense of accomplishment from finishing a 1000+ page book.

This book made an impact on me!.......2005-02-08

In case this is your first encounter with this book, It is a fresh story but a continuation to Ayn Rand's philosophy that started out with books like "We the living" where she new something was wrong but could not put her finger on it. She progressed to books as "The Fountainhead" where she could describe the problem quite well. Now in "Atlas Shrugged she has come up with a plausible answer to the problem. In essence your head can work without your hands yet your hands can not work without your head.
The story is not unique but it still holds you attention. The world is becoming more socialized and it is harder for individuals to make an impact without having a multitude of parasites on their back. Some chose to fight, others chose to ignore, some do not have a clue as to what is happening. The world seems to be gearing down is just coincidence or is there some one taking a hand in it. "Who is John Galt?"
I can tell you of my experience with the book. I must have been a late bloomer or just unlucky, because I did not come across "Atlas shrugged" until I was 20 years old. I was in the military and needed some reading material. My younger sister sent me the book. It looks just a little thick to me but I started reading, and reading and reading. I do not know if it was the story or the clarity of thought. Now I saw everything in a new or different light. It felt weird to see the newspapers and politics paralleling the book.
I was in New York (West Point) at the time and three things stood out to this day. The was a public service announcement on the TV "The law says that an apartment owner can not charge more than 30% of what you make" and at the same time the apartment buildings were closing down. The postal carriers went on strike and the military had to deliver the mail. That winter the snowplow drivers went on strike. When the strike was over the snowplows were missing. They found them the next summer in an empty lot.
There is nothing quite as convincing as watching the world and book parallel. I have mellowed out some sense then. However, I really think that this book should be read by high school where it would have maximum impact of one's train of thought.

Thought provoking.......2000-10-31

This book will make you stop and think about your values and what if anything you can do for others through doing it for yourself. This book tells us that we live by societies rules whether we like it or not because we do not want to rock the boat! And when we choose to live like that, we become immune to the world around us. This book reminds me so much of how the government of the U.S.A. is working today. This is a must read for anyone who wants to live life the way we were meant to live it. Undoubtedly one of the best books I have ever read or listened to. I listened to this book on tape while driving back and forth to work, (I drive an hour each way)and I can tell you that I was at work or home before I knew it. There are 12 hours on 8 tapes. Ayn Rand had a unique quality in her storytelling and I would recommend this book to anyone wanting a good read to pass the time.

Objectivism 101.......1999-07-07

How do you take such heady subjects as Objectivism, rational thought and the virtues of selfishness, to an audience accustomed to the white washed, banal pablum of 1950's America? By simplification and reiteration. Atlas Shrugged is long, has some very simple, one dimensional characters, and repeats its themes often. But, it had to. It is a subtle introduction of a decidedly humanistic, secular philosophy to a puritanical, non-secular society . As many have said before, you will love it or hate it. If you subscribe to strict religious dogma and dismiss your mind as impotent and unable to "know" anything, then you will hate it. If Plato's parable of the cave is the world you live in, you will hate it. If you despise Bill Gates for his Billions; if you believe the government owes you better health care (or anything for that matter, other than a rebate on your taxes), then you will hate it. If you are excited by success (anyone's), believe in your mind and its abilities to think rationally, and laugh at new age channelers, witch doctors, snake handlers, or any other mystic who believes "A" is "non-A", then the chances are you will love it. Read it and find out who you are.

Atlas Shrugged: 35th Anniversary Edition

Average customer rating:

Who is John Galt?
Brilliant
This book made an impact on me!
What An Education !!
I just don't agree that this is a masterpiece

Atlas Shrugged: 35th Anniversary Edition
Ayn Rand
Manufacturer: Signet
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0451171926

Book Description

Published in 1957, Atlas Shrugged was Ayn Rand's greatest achievement and last work of fiction. In this novel she dramatizes her unique philosophy through an intellectual mystery story that integrates ethics, metaphysics, epistemology, politics, economics, and sex.

Set in a near-future U.S.A. whose economy is collapsing as a result of the mysterious disappearance of leading innovators and industrialists, this novel presents an astounding panorama of human life-from the productive genius who becomes a worthless playboy...to the great steel industrialist who does not know that he is working for his own destruction...to the philosopher who becomes a pirate...to the woman who runs a transcontinental railroad...to the lowest track worker in her train tunnels.

Peopled by larger-than-life heroes and villains, charged with towering questions of good and evil, Atlas Shrugged is a philosophical revolution told in the form of an action thriller.

Customer Reviews:

Who is John Galt?.......2005-07-22

This book was truely amazing. I read this book after Rand's other novels, "We The Living" and "Anthem". Atlas Shrugged is a marvelous book and her ideas, thoughts, and philosophy are noticed throughout the book, in the way she writes and through the text.

This book is very influential, at times hard to read, but overall very rewarding. The different characters and the PLOT of the book all assist each other. The plot of the book is ingenious, the story and the conclusion work very well with each other.

This book has been one of the most influential books in my life, and I think on the world. I would highly recommend anybody to read this book, and keep up with it. Keep an open mind.

Brilliant.......2005-02-22

I selected this book off the shelves of Barns and Nobles with no prior knowledge of its contents, nor its reputation for being a "classic". Thus my verdict on this book was not altered by my expectations or by what others have regarded it as. I am not going to write out the plot, because it has been done several times already in previous reviews. I found this book to be brilliant. I was not sure what to make of it after the first, rather slow hundred pages or so. However, after the basic setup of the circumstances articulated in the first section of the book, it began to pick up. The characters are charismatic, and draw you in with their brilliant insight and observations of society, and how it functions. Its philosophies are subversive of nearly all beliefs that are popularily accepted today, yet each argument against the commonly held convictions are backed up with logical arguments. Anyway, I can not do the book enough justice by trying to give a synopsis of why I feel it is great, so I advise everyone to read it and experience it for themselves.

This book made an impact on me!.......2005-01-21

In case this is your first encounter with this book, It is a fresh story but a continuation to Ayn Rand's philosophy that started out with books like "We the living" where she new something was wrong but could not put her finger on it. She progressed to books as "The Fountainhead" where she could describe the problem quite well. Now in "Atlas Shrugged she has come up with a plausible answer to the problem. In essence your head can work without your hands yet your hands can not work without your head.
I can tell you of my experience with the book. Normally my reviews are flippant and I include nothing personal. I must have been a late bloomer or just unlucky, because I did not come across "Atlas shrugged" until I was 20 years old. I was in the military and needed some reading material. My younger sister sent me the book. It looks just a little thick to me but I started reading, and reading and reading. I do not know if it was the story or the clarity of thought. Now I saw everything in a new or different light. It felt weird to see the newspapers and politics paralleling the book.
I was in New York (West Point) at the time and three things stood out to this day. The was a public service announcement on the TV "The law says that an apartment owner can not charge more than 30% of what you make" and at the same time the apartment buildings were closing down. The postal carriers went on strike and the military had to deliver the mail. That winter the snowplow drivers went on strike. When the strike was over the snowplows were missing. They found them the next summer in an empty lot.
There is nothing quite as convincing as watching the world and book parallel. I have mellowed out some sense then. However, I really think that this book should be read by high school where it would have maximum impact of one's train of thought.

What An Education !!.......2005-01-08

Second to the Bible, this is the most profound, impacting, and educational book I have ever read. This book is a Philosophy 101, Politics 101, Economics 101, Sociology 101, and Psychology 101. Some readers will not grasp or appreciate many of the concepts in the book, but those who are tired of incompetence, tired of being manipulated through guilt, tired of seeing people make decisions out of emotion rather than logic, and tired of paying for someone else's living will find this book fantastically liberating.

This book is for the self-made-man (or woman) who must combat the bureaucracy of the world, the takers of freedom, and the incompetence and subsistence of its inhabitants in order to succeed.

It is incredible that many of the arguments and scenarios portrayed in this 50-year old fiction could be read as everyday news today. It really makes you think twice about America's graduated income tax!

This book has a permanent place in my home library, as I will be reading this one again!

I just don't agree that this is a masterpiece.......2004-12-21

I had heard of but never read Ayn Rand's fiction so decided to read Atlas Shrugged to enlighten myself on her philosophy.

What I found was a tiresome, plodding story with one dimensional characters and impossible dialog. Rand never says in three words what she can say in three hundred, and her illustration of Objectivism could have been done in a few hundred pages instead of the thousand or so that she used.

While I personally agree with her philosophy, I just can't recommend this book to anyone. It's difficult to read, it's boring, it's condescending, and by the time you're several pages into a character's monologue in which the character says the same thing in a different way in each paragraph, you just want to escape this awful book.

I'm well aware I'm going against the mainstream here, but I just dont' see what's so great about this awful book.

Average customer rating:

Great book, only it is the second part
I'd probably never get through this book any other way.

Atlas Shrugged
Ayn Rand
Manufacturer: Blackstone Audio Inc.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: 0786161787

Product Description

Atlas Shrugged is the "second most influential book for Americans today" after the Bible, according to a joint survey conducted by the Library of Congress and the Book of the Month Club.

Customer Reviews:

Great book, only it is the second part.......2007-03-28

The book is great and the lecturer is very clear. However, I thought it was the complete novel, but this is the second part only and I have been having trouble to find part No. 1.

I'd probably never get through this book any other way........2007-02-18

Atlas Shrugged is one of those books that I know I should read but it's sheer size is intimidating, especially when I've got two young children and a full time job.

So, what a pleasant surprise to find this monumental novel unabridged on CD! It comes in two boxes and takes about 40 disks to contain this masterpiece, but the narration is well done and I am slowly working my way through this book using the CD player in my computer at work.

So, now you can finally get through Atlas Shrugged (and impress your friends when you tell them you've "read" it) while you're sitting in traffic, doing your day job if you've use a computer, or anywhere you've got downtime with a CD player handy. I shrugged too when I saw how much I got for my money!

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