Is Rand Relevant?

WSJ ^ | 3/14/2009 | YARON BROOK

[shove_it]

Ayn Rand died more than a quarter of a century ago, yet her name appears regularly in discussions of our current economic turmoil. Pundits including Rush Limbaugh and Rick Santelli urge listeners to read her books, and her magnum opus, "Atlas Shrugged," is selling at a faster rate today than at any time during its 51-year history.

There's a reason. In "Atlas," Rand tells the story of the U.S. economy crumbling under the weight of crushing government interventions and regulations. Meanwhile, blaming greed and the free market, Washington responds with more controls that only deepen the crisis. Sound familiar?

The novel's eerily prophetic nature is no coincidence. "If you understand the dominant philosophy of a society," Rand wrote elsewhere in "Capitalism: The Unknown Ideal," "you can predict its course." Economic crises and runaway government power grabs don't just happen by themselves; they are the product of the philosophical ideas prevalent in a society -- particularly its dominant moral ideas.

[...]

[balls]

I presume your statement is based on the fact that, unlike you and other fools, Rand does not accept on faith that there is a god

[CharacterCounts]

her writing style is just plain awful.

You mean like using 1,000 pages to communicate an idea that could have easily been delivered in 200?

[Weatherman Bill]

If you enjoyed Rand, God bless you. It isn’t close to literature.

[paulycy]

[listenhillary]

Thanks all!

abb - Thanks VERY much for the link. I have been looking for this story for so long.

[Sans-Culotte]

She’s relevant to the point of getting one thinking. However, her philosophy is both derivative and often irrational — and her writing style is just plain awful.

I have never had the time to attempt Rand's Magnum Opus. However, I have long been familiar with the ideas of the book. I think this is an example of a book that may be better in its Cliff's Notes version.

[jonno]

Thus the saying - it’s hard to account for taste. Yes the book could have been 3x shorter, but I’d be hard-pressed to pick out the the parts to be discarded (though I’d probably start with Galt’s 3-hour speech - as much of what he states is covered elsewhere in the book).

I’d advise you on a personal level , that while you may not worship at this temple, you are still on hallowed ground. You may be “right”, but it wouldn’t hurt to keep you hat in your hands. Just my two cents...

[Lets Be Frank]

I’m reading it...but I checked it out from the library. We need to start using the term looters (those who take what belongs to others by threat and force of laws) and moochers (those that take from others through use of tears).

[KarlInOhio]

It was the story of a couple sending their child off for I.Q. testing done by the government. All children had to undergo the testing at a certain age.

That sounds like Examination Day by Henry Slesar. It was made for TV in one of Twilight Zone's later incarnations in 1985.

[Redleg Duke]

I don't think you are really sorry.

You just love the attention, even if it is negative.

[ml/nj]

I’d be interested to hear your rationale for the statement that her “Objectivism” goes to far. I don’t see how this is possible since it’s based on reason and logic.

Can I play?

When Dagny finds the rusted remnant of the motor, she immediately decides to search for its creator. A tree, an ant, and lots of other things are infinitely more complex than a motor, yet "her 'Objectivism'" doesn't seem to think it obvious that these things have a creator too.

I admire Rand and her philosphy, but one has to be realistic about everything.

ML/NJ

[Mad Dawgg]

"Her fiction novel is now a non-fiction book."

EDIT: Her fiction novel is now a non-ficiton book our reality.

[Lets Be Frank]

Also..two of the books that Glenn Beck recommended are in the Amazon top 10 right now...good news.

[Weatherman Bill]

Thanks!

I stated I agreed with the message, but didn’t like the style.

You are a gentleman.

God loves a gentleman.

[skully]

Began reading it over the weekend. Some of the similarities with what's going on today, are eerily prophetic.

[Weatherman Bill]

I have spent a lifetime avoiding attention. Thanks for pointing out my vanity.

Good bye!

[IYAS9YAS]

That sounds like Examination Day by Henry Slesar.

I just looked up the Wikipedia entry on the Twilight Zone version. That's it! Now I have to figure out that magazine. It's driving me nuts.

[ridesthemiles]

She was a strange man-hater who wrote a hard-to-read book with a pro-capitalism message. Just because she agrees with our politics doesn’t make her a writer.”

Either you did NOT read the book, or you didn’t get the message in it.

[Lets Be Frank]

I agree..I’m reading it now and keep thinking that there should be an abridged edition. I’d like my oldest kid to read it but know he wouldn’t be able to get through this. Cut out half of the philosophic dialog..it gets repetitive.

I’d like to see a good writer come out with a modern version..with all the modern aspects that we have to deal with now.

[Radix]

That is simply an outstanding post. I do not necessarily agree with your conclusion, but my gosh, I think that you have probably worked in the same places that I have.

I am going to borrow some of your words (for use in my own little world) because they are pin point accurate in so many ways.