Ayn Rand Answers: The Best of Her Q & A

by Robert Mayhew

After the publication of Atlas Shrugged in 1957, Ayn Rand occasionally lectured in order bring her philosophy of Objectivism to a wider audience and apply it to current cultural and political issues. These taped lectures and the question-and-answer sessions that followed not only added an eloquent new dimension to Ayn Rand's ideas and beliefs, but a fresh and spontaneous insight into Ayn Rand herself. Never before available in print, this publishing event is a collection of those enlightening Q & As.

This is Ayn Rand on: ethics, Ernest Hemingway, modern art, Vietnam, Libertarians, Jane Fonda, religious conservatives, Hollywood Communists, atheism, Don Quixote, abortion, gun control, love and marriage, Ronald Reagan, pollution, the Middle East, racism and feminism, crime and punishment, capitalism, prostitution, homosexuality, reason and rationality, literature, drug use, freedom of the press, Richard Nixon, New Left militants, HUAC, chess, comedy, suicide, masculinity, Mark Twain, improper questions, and more.

Genres: Philosophy, Nonfiction, Politics, Biography, Economics

256 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2005

About the author

Robert Mayhew is a professor of philosophy at Seton Hall University, where he has taught for over twenty years.
Dr. Mayhew’s primary research interests are in ancient philosophy. His most recent publication in the field is Theophrastus of Eresus: On Winds (Brill). Other books are Prodicus the Sophist (Oxford UP); Aristotle: Problems (Harvard UP); and Plato: Laws 10 (Oxford UP). He recently completed a book on Aristotle’s lost Homeric Problems.
Dr. Mayhew also has a serious scholarly interest in Ayn Rand. He is the author of Ayn Rand and “Song of Russia”: Communism and Anti-Communism in 1940s Hollywood, and editor of a collection of essays on each of her four novels. He has also edited some of Ayn Rand’s previously unpublished works: Ayn Rand’s Marginalia, The Art of Nonfiction, Ayn Rand Answers, and most recently, Ayn Rand’s The Unconquered (a play based on We the Living).
Dr. Mayhew serves on the boards of the Ayn Rand Institute and the Anthem Foundation for Objectivist Scholarship.

Reviews

[tatiana · Rating 4 out of 5]

An easy read and insightful. You don't need to agree with Ayn Rand's ideology in order to enjoy the book. The q&a format makes it easy to skip around and ask yourself questions about topics you don't normally consider. It's a short "must read" if you want to get a broad view of Rand's opinions. This is also a good book for the purpose of "listening to others" without actually talking to that person.

[Dave · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a collection of questions and answers drawn from post-lecture Q & A sessions. Reads like a magazine interview (well, a 200 page interview) where a short question is followed by a short answer. Rand's ideas do not come across all that well in this "soundbite" form. (I should note that this a criticism of the Q & A format, not of Rand's philosophy.) There are a few interesting bits, like when she dresses down audience members who ask smart-assed questions or talks smack about public figures (especially Ronald Reagan and Jane Fonda), but this is not essential Rand by any stretch. In the introduction, the author (well, compiler, I suppose) says that this book was never viewed or edited by Rand (possibly because she had been dead for more than 20 years at the time it was released, but that's only a guess...) and therefore he does not know if she would have approved of it. I have my thoughts. This book is a passable way to kill a couple hours if you are already familiar with Rand, however I would strongly advise against using it as an introduction to her philosophy.

[Daniel S · Rating 3 out of 5]

Even when circumstances beyond your control make you completely helpless existentially, you are still free intellectually and morally; and if youhang on to your moral conviction no matter what happens, you are saved, at least spiritually; that is ninety percent of the battle. [209:]

[Sara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great collection of Q and A with Ayn Rand! Gives the reader added insights and glimpses into the Objectivist philosophy. Really liked her advice to writers and her sense of humor.

[Ken · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ayn Rand Answers: The Best of Her Q & A Robert Mayhew
Going in knowing zero about who Ayn Rand was. This series of interviews I found some interesting thought provoking, well founded common sense sone intense and some bordeline comedic and laugh out out loud and then some just insane and wonderful at the same time, after listening to this I wanted to know more so a bit of online research taught me a lot a Russian American immigrant and a true battler coming to America at the end of the roaring twenties 1920s she battles hard, she gained fame and financial security and developed her philisophy of Objectivism, what is that? Hmmm.
Absolute self interest gaining everything possible by sheer self belief and will power regardless of consequences.
free enterprise, private enterprise, free trade, individualism, non-intervention
Be cruel in your pursuits altruism is a disease and needs to be eradicated. The self is all that matters. Guess she was a true product of anti communism which disrupted her early life but it also made her what she became.
Her. Quote
To achieve, you need thought. You have to know what you are doing and that's real power

In the end I enjoyed it and have learnt a lot about how we as a society in western countries now mostly live and follow the philosophy of objectivism whether we know it or don't know about it or what it is and that's just so funny. Anyway I'm feeling enlightened and loved learning about Ayn Rand.

[David Robins · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is what it is: Ayn Rand's opinions on various matters from politics to literature, eloquently spoken and organized by categories.

[Chad Manske · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ayn Rand’s “Ayn Rand Answers: The Best of Her Q & A” is a fascinating collection that offers readers a rare glimpse into the mind of one of the 20th century's most polarizing thinkers. Compiled and edited by Robert Mayhew, the book assembles responses Rand gave during public Q&A sessions following her lectures. These spontaneous answers reveal not only her philosophical rigor but also her sharp wit and unapologetic personality. The book spans a wide range of topics, from ethics and politics to art, literature, and personal values. Rand addresses questions about capitalism, feminism, religion, and even pop culture figures like Ernest Hemingway and Jane Fonda. Her responses are often provocative, challenging conventional norms with her Objectivist philosophy—a system grounded in reason, individualism, and rational self-interest. For example, her views on gun control and abortion underscore her staunch defense of individual rights, while her critiques of modern art and altruism reflect her disdain for what she saw as cultural decay. What makes this book particularly engaging is its conversational tone. Unlike her dense philosophical essays or sprawling novels like “Atlas Shrugged,” this collection feels more accessible. Readers gain insight into how Rand applied her philosophy to real-world issues, often with striking clarity. However, the editing process has sparked some debate. Mayhew acknowledges that the material was curated to align with Rand’s explicit philosophy, raising questions about whether the collection fully captures her unfiltered views. For fans of Rand or those curious about Objectivism, “Ayn Rand Answers” is an invaluable resource. It humanizes Rand while showcasing the depth of her intellectual convictions. That said, critics may find her absolutism grating or dismissive of opposing viewpoints. Regardless of one’s stance on her ideas, this book provides a compelling window into the mind of a thinker who continues to inspire and provoke in equal measure.

[George Polykratis · Rating 1 out of 5]

Quote from the book:

"To give up some freedom because of allegations about pollution is to give up your freedom of judgment, your freedom of production, your freedom to control your life. Those rights are morally inalienable. Even if the ecologists had some knowledge - which is singularly eloquently absent-it is still up to them to convince you; then you can obey voluntarily. Their superior knowledge would not give them the right to demand that we all give up our freedom."

Wow just wow. Someone must have been paid to say something like that.
This is a clear example where the speaker hides behind words carrying sentimental value and weight like "freedom" to justify all shorts of nonsense.

[Matt Starr · Rating 5 out of 5]

I learned quite a bit about Ayn Rand herself that I did not expect.
Her philosophy is quite consistent with her personality.

[Mike Overstreet · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m a Rand fan, so it was interesting to read her answers to many of these questions. But, a good chunk of this book wasn’t interesting to me.

[Charles · Rating 5 out of 5]

Much wisdom. But it helps to have some familiarity with her underlying philosophy.

[Ash Ryan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great compilation of the best of Ayn Rand's question and answer periods following her lectures.[return][return]Robert Mayhew's excellent editing organizes the questions and answers into chapters drawn around broad themes (e.g., politics, ethics, metaphysics and epistemology, and art), then into smaller sub-sections. This keeps the reading flowing, instead of jumping around from topic to topic almost at random as would occur in a live Q&A session.[return][return]While some of Ayn Rand's answers will be obvious to long-time students of Objectivism, many of them shed new light on her philosophy, and almost all of them give the reader a better picture of Ayn Rand as a person, whether it is her quick wit, her warm benevolence in giving the benefit of the doubt to most questioners and patiently explaining her philosophical principles to them, or her righteous indignation at genuinely dishonest, hostile, or insulting questions. Even her answers to questions on narrow, concrete issues at the time of the session (such as the Vietnam war) are applicable to events today (such as the Iraq war) because her answers address the deeper abstract principles involved (such as proper foreign policy).[return][return]On my first reading, I noticed only two drawbacks. First, a few of her answers leave you wanting more, and you wish that she were still alive and in the room with you so that you could ask her follow-up questions. That's not to say that she doesn't give a full enough answer to the question as asked, given the context of a live public Q&A session, but rather that her intriguing answers leave you feeling sad that you are merely reading a book and not actually in the room during one of those Q&A sessions. Second, if you've ever heard a recording of one of her Q&A's (or were lucky enough to have attended one), you are aware of how much you are missing from the live setting--for example, from the audience reactions, as they audibly gasp in shock or indignation at some remark Ayn Rand makes, but by the end of her answer after she explains the comment, they are cheering. That's an added bonus of the live setting that the book format unfortunately can't reproduce, but if you're a student like me and can't yet afford to spend a few hundred dollars on recordings of all her lectures, this book is the next best thing.

[Ryan Stemen, MBA · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Ayn Rand Answers: The Best of Her Q & A" is an intellectually stimulating compilation that vividly brings to life Ayn Rand's incisive mind and steadfast principles. Edited meticulously by Robert Mayhew, this book is a curated collection of Rand’s impromptu responses to an array of topics ranging from philosophy and politics to art and daily life.

What stands out in this volume is Rand’s unflinching dedication to Objectivism, her philosophy that champions reason, individualism, and rational self-interest. Her answers, often direct and unapologetically provocative, offer readers clear and thought-provoking insights. They reflect her deep commitment to her beliefs and provide a window into her broader worldview.

For both long-time admirers and those new to Rand’s work, this collection is a rich resource. It captures the essence of her thinking and the expansive influence she wielded over diverse intellectual terrains. Each response not only elucidates her perspective but also challenges and inspires readers to reflect deeply on their own views.

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

The only problem with this book is that there are still so many questions that I'd like to ask Ayn Rand, especially about the world some 25 years after her death, the well-organzied and concise log of her responses just isn't enough to satiate me.

[Sylvester · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ayn Rand Answers: The Best of her Q & A is a wonder selection of her answers to questions that anyone is just dying for answers. From politics, philosophy to arts, Rand answered every single question with succinct, witty and clear explanation. Oh Rand, you make me laugh~

[Robin Gane-McCalla · Rating 5 out of 5]

An easy read which is well organized and indexed. We're given exposure to some of Rand's less formally declared beliefs, notably about various artists and writers (some of whom are relatively obscure). A useful peak into the talks she gave, some in semi-private settings.

[Michael Kilpatrick · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is awfully biased toward her views but it still explains a lot. I'd love to chat with her about this century and see if any of her staunch objectivism would change.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wish she was here now......but her intellectual heirs are still fighting for rational values!

[Perry Kuipers · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you are a fan of Ayn Rand and have read most of her books, then this book is a must-read. This helps to answer some questions that you still had after reading her nonfiction.

[S.Stein]

Brilliant due to its sheer horror.