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The Ayn Rand Column
This book is a collection of Ayn Rands column in the Los Angeles Times .
134 pages, Paperback
First published July 14, 2015
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About the author
Ayn Rand
587 books10.4k followersPolemical novels, such as
The Fountainhead
(1943), of primarily known Russian-American writer Ayn Rand, originally Alisa Rosenbaum, espouse the doctrines of objectivism and political libertarianism.
Fiction of this better author and philosopher developed a system that she named. Educated, she moved to the United States in 1926. After two early initially duds and two Broadway plays, Rand achieved fame. In 1957, she published Atlas Shrugged , her best-selling work.
Rand advocated reason and rejected faith and religion. She supported rational and ethical egoism as opposed to altruism. She condemned the immoral initiation of force and supported laissez-faire capitalism, which she defined as the system, based on recognizing individual rights, including private property. Often associated with the modern movement in the United States, Rand opposed and viewed anarchism. In art, she promoted romantic realism. She sharply criticized most philosophers and their traditions with few exceptions.
Books of Rand sold more than 37 million copies. From literary critics, her fiction received mixed reviews with more negative reviews for her later work. Afterward, she turned to nonfiction to promote her philosophy, published her own periodicals, and released several collections of essays until her death in 1982.
After her death, her ideas interested academics, but philosophers generally ignored or rejected her and argued that her approach and work lack methodological rigor. She influenced some right conservatives. The movement circulates her ideas to the public and in academic settings.
Fiction of this better author and philosopher developed a system that she named. Educated, she moved to the United States in 1926. After two early initially duds and two Broadway plays, Rand achieved fame. In 1957, she published Atlas Shrugged , her best-selling work.
Rand advocated reason and rejected faith and religion. She supported rational and ethical egoism as opposed to altruism. She condemned the immoral initiation of force and supported laissez-faire capitalism, which she defined as the system, based on recognizing individual rights, including private property. Often associated with the modern movement in the United States, Rand opposed and viewed anarchism. In art, she promoted romantic realism. She sharply criticized most philosophers and their traditions with few exceptions.
Books of Rand sold more than 37 million copies. From literary critics, her fiction received mixed reviews with more negative reviews for her later work. Afterward, she turned to nonfiction to promote her philosophy, published her own periodicals, and released several collections of essays until her death in 1982.
After her death, her ideas interested academics, but philosophers generally ignored or rejected her and argued that her approach and work lack methodological rigor. She influenced some right conservatives. The movement circulates her ideas to the public and in academic settings.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
October 15, 2022
She is strongly adamant in her views of objectivism, capitalism, and freedom of man. In these writings she explores blunt opinions and interpretations of the economy and politics and their effects on the lives of society. I really enjoyed reading her take on objectivism and freedom of speech. I also found her correlation of altruism and collectivism quite interesting and relevant.
It’s a decent read, with rigid views on the socioeconomic issues and the detrimental effect of collectivism/socialism on all aspects living.
It’s a decent read, with rigid views on the socioeconomic issues and the detrimental effect of collectivism/socialism on all aspects living.
June 24, 2021
Ayn Rand was a clear and forthright thinker and gets to the heart of the issues and events she analyzes in this collection of her columns for the Los Angeles Times in 1962. Even though the events are ancient history now, her perceptive analyses are timeless.
The book also contains several additional writings from other sources including an article of hers from the January 1944 Readers Digest and her article on why she likes stamp collecting. A fascinating read.
The book also contains several additional writings from other sources including an article of hers from the January 1944 Readers Digest and her article on why she likes stamp collecting. A fascinating read.
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November 21, 2019Read 1st & last chapters. Seemed to follow a story arc similar to her "Endings and Beginners ngs," so deferred reading more.
November 20, 2009
This short book contains all of the columns that Ayn Rand, (author of “Atlas Shrugged” and “The Fountainhead”) wrote for "The Los Angeles Times". These columns are short, but still insightful and feature crucial identifications about all branches of philosophy, but mostly on politics.
See her short summation of her philosophy of Objectivism; her assessment of the Cuban Missile Crisis and Kennedy’s handling of it; the obvious good of capitalism and West Germany vs. the destitution, murder, and other evils of East Germany—and the refusal of the intellectuals to acknowledge it; why she held Christmas as a legitimate holiday that she herself celebrated; and even a Q&A in which she answered student questions on her novella, “Anthem”.
As a bonus, a few of Rand's other essays are included, such as her explanation of her love of stamp collecting, and a list of some of her favorite authors.
In all, this is a worthy read for anyone interested in ideas.
See her short summation of her philosophy of Objectivism; her assessment of the Cuban Missile Crisis and Kennedy’s handling of it; the obvious good of capitalism and West Germany vs. the destitution, murder, and other evils of East Germany—and the refusal of the intellectuals to acknowledge it; why she held Christmas as a legitimate holiday that she herself celebrated; and even a Q&A in which she answered student questions on her novella, “Anthem”.
As a bonus, a few of Rand's other essays are included, such as her explanation of her love of stamp collecting, and a list of some of her favorite authors.
In all, this is a worthy read for anyone interested in ideas.
May 9, 2016
I have to admit, I didn't get a lot out of this slim book, but I had fun reading it. It's kind of fun, in a nerdy way, to see Rand put a philosophical spin on pop culture--raving about the heroes and villains of The Untouchables, a poignant eulogy to Marilyn Monroe's life and legend--and document some scathing, of-the-moment criticism of John F. Kennedy's actions (including a critique of the Cuban missile crisis and its aftermath). After reprinting Rand's weekly column, which ran for several months in the Los Angeles Times in 1962, the second half of the book collects random essays and philosophical musings, the most charming of which is titled "Why I Like Stamp Collecting." It's exactly what it sounds like, an in-depth paean to a nerdy hobby.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews