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Liked It “Ayn Rand was not afraid of turning conventional wisdom on its head. For millennia, one of the few ethical principles that prevailed across cultures was the value of altruism, i.e. , giving up your life for the benefit of others. Rubbish, writes Rand. |
Didn’t Like It “A boring read for my pea sized brain” see full review » see other reviews » |
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“Ayn Rand was not afraid of turning conventional wisdom on its head. For millennia, one of the few ethical principles that prevailed across cultures was the value of altruism, i.e. , giving up your life for the benefit of others. Rubbish, writes Rand.
Eric w wrote this review 2 weeks ago. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
Rand was as anti-community and pro-individual as anyone I have ever read. Adamantly opposed to coercive state and religious power, she built a philosophy, Objectivism, on rational thinking and reason. She became too dogmatic and rigid for my taste in later years; nevertheless, she has some very interesting things to say.
"Every human being is an end in himself, not the means to the ends or the welfare of others and therefore, man must live for his own sake, neither sacrificing himself to others nor sacrificing others to himself." I find this statement profound in its implications; if it were to be adopted everywhere, wars would cease. It's only because we have bought into the principle of sacrificing oneself for the greater good that armies can survive, yet the reason is so others can accumulate or obtain what you should be able to.
In her philosophy, the happiness of the individual is paramount. Religious types will find her philosophy more than unsettling, because as an atheist, she values the present and current life above everything else. Whether you like her or not, several of the essays are well worth the time to read, particularly "Collectivized Rights" and "Man's Rights." One's gut response is to say that she has rejected charity and helping others. Not at all. It's just that helping others should not be at one's own expense, e.g., spending a fortune to cure one's wife of a disease because the wife is important to oneself would fit nicely into her worldview. Love is entirely selfish.
An important book no matter where you stand.”
“Some parts are a little difficult to read because of the language she uses; however, the information she gives the readers is excellent. The book is not about selfishness in the terms we think of, but rather selfishness in terms of the rights of the individual. Rand references "Atlas Shrugged" often and compares different governments in terms of their allowance or infringement of individual rights. Really makes you think about our everyday actions as well as the things we expect from our government. ”
Katie H wrote this review Thursday, November 12 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“It takes multiple readings to go forward!”
Neelesh Vithlani wrote this review Friday, October 16 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No“A boring read for my pea sized brain”
Johnny C wrote this review Wednesday, October 14 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“A Great Book for those who are stuck into ayn rand and her philosphy”
shaanmenon wrote this review Friday, April 10 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“Sometimes, when you help somebody, you are actually insulting the capability of that person to help himself.”
Sonny Baronia wrote this review Thursday, November 13 2008. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“Most of those who speak of sacrifice for others, renouncing pleasure, and of selfishness as a vice, are in fact not only incapable of offering any value to others, therefore requiring that others sacrifice themselves for their sake, but they know it very well too, and hence the whole philosophy of sacrifice - mouthed to others who are expected to sacrifice themselves.
Dr. J. G. wrote this review Friday, September 26 2008. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
While in truth humanity can only survive with a free exchange of values between individuals, with every individual benefitting - so there can be no conflict between that which is good for the individual and that which is good for the society.
Sacrificing individual is mob performing murder, while an individual benefitting at expense of others is theft.
This is in a nutshell the idea. It is expounded in Atlas Shrugged in the John Galt speech too. ”
“if you've read the novels, you know the drill. for the die hard fans.”
Anne H wrote this review Saturday, June 7 2008. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
