The Ayn Rand Reader

Rating:
Summary: Excellent Introduction to Ayn Rand
Review: For those of you who are honestly interested in learning about Ayn Rand, I fully recommend this book as an introduction to her philosophy.

It's very disheartening to see that Ayn Rand detractors have overwhelmed most of the review boards for her books.

If you read this book, please keep in mind several things that its detractors have not:

1. Ayn Rand's philosophy is an integrated system of looking at life and reality. It distorts her view when you grab one of her ideas and take it out of context. Before you pass judgment on Ayn Rand, please know what you are talking about and learn the fundamentals of her philosophy.

2. You have to be honest to learn from Ayn Rand. Reading her books won't dislodge the falsehoods from your mind, nor cram the truth into your brain. She has created a roadmap for learning the ideal philosophy, but YOU have to look at reality and learn it yourself. Because of this, there are people who have distorted her ideas drastically. Please look at what she has written to learn about her, NOT what others interpret her to be.

That's why this book is so important in clearing up the chaos surrounding Ayn Rand. So many people have misinterpreted her. Here you can get the information firsthand. In her own words.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent Introduction to Ayn Rand
Review: This is a good introductory collection of Randian material -- not perfect, but good. I'm giving it five stars just to prove that I can be nice to the folks at the Ayn Rand Institute when they do a decent job of putting a new volume together. The fact that they didn't pad it with mediocre essays by Peikoff and Schwartz is a major accomplishment and I think it deserves to be recognized. Keep it up, guys.

Rating:
Summary: Could Have Been Worse
Review: This is a well-edited colection of Ayn Rand's writings. It is quite good in light of the fact that it contains selections from her fiction and non-fiction writings. For those of us who have a hard time getting through her over-blown, ponderous works of literature, having the key philosophical portions excerpted in one book is a good idea. Also, the book contains only stuff by Rand and therfore is not contaminated by her second-hand followers, like some other collections of her works.

One thing about the book is interesting. Editor Gary Hull tells us that "I have, of course, made no changes in AR's own words." That's not accurate. In the selection "Attila and the Witch Doctor" which was originally published in FOR THE NEW INTELLECTUAL, Rand states in a footnote: "I am indebted to Nathaniel Branden for many valuable observations on this subject and for his eloquent designation of the two archetypes . . ." (FNI, 14.) Although the paragraph to which this footnote is keyed is quoted in full in the READER, this footnote is left out.

Rating:
Summary: Could Have Been Worse
Review: This is a well-edited colection of Ayn Rand's writings. It is quite good in light of the fact that it contains selections from her fiction and non-fiction writings. For those of us who have a hard time getting through her over-blown, ponderous works of literature, having the key philosophical portions excerpted in one book is a good idea. Also, the book contains only stuff by Rand and therfore is not contaminated by her second-hand followers, like some other collections of her works.

One thing about the book is interesting. Editor Gary Hull tells us that "I have, of course, made no changes in AR's own words." That's not accurate. In the selection "Attila and the Witch Doctor" which was originally published in FOR THE NEW INTELLECTUAL, Rand states in a footnote: "I am indebted to Nathaniel Branden for many valuable observations on this subject and for his eloquent designation of the two archetypes . . ." (FNI, 14.) Although the paragraph to which this footnote is keyed is quoted in full in the READER, this footnote is left out.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent introduction to Ayn Rand's books
Review: This is an excellent compilation of Miss Rand's writings -- an introduction for beginners and a treasured condensation (of her writings) for her ardent fans.

Although I have (read) all Miss Rand's fiction and non-fiction, the Ayn Rand Reader permits me quick reference to many of my favorite passages and essays.

Miss Rand's writings are my continuing source of spiritual (mind) and moral strength in a world (currently) dominated by collectivism and altruism.

Her writings will, in time, be the foundation of a New (and much needed) Renaissance.