Posted on 04/16/2011 5:27:11 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
Let me get one thing out of the way: I have never read Ayn Rand. In fact, until recently I was one of those uneducated boors who thought the author's first name was pronounced Ann. A few of her readers have corrected me over the years, but for some reason, I assumed they were joking — which is also what I assumed when they told me they'd just read a great book about government intervention in the railroad industry. (That book is now a movie, Atlas Shrugged: Part I, opening Friday, April 15, in the U.S.)
But then my editor asked me to look into the dating website the Atlasphere, on which Randians can search for their soul mate among fellow objectivists. I didn't have time to read all 1,200 pages of Atlas Shrugged or even the 680-page The Fountainhead beforehand, so I did what any self-respecting journalist would do: I called up a friend. "Quick, can you explain Ayn Rand's personal philosophy to me in one sentence?" I asked Fahad Siadat, a professional musician who'd just finished reading Atlas Shrugged. I know this because he'd cornered me at a dinner party and told me all about it. Which is what people tend to do when they've just discovered Ayn Rand.
"O.K., it's like this," Siadat said. "According to Rand, it's your moral obligation to manifest in the world the best that you have in yourself. In other words, do whatever it is that makes you great." That greatness has nothing to do with public opinion of you. "Think of Kanye West," he said. "He's a total douche bag, but he writes good music. According to Rand, that's what counts."
And isn't everyone who follows Rand supposed to be selfish? "They are selfish," Siadat said.
(Excerpt) Read more at time.com ...
How do you pronounce her first name? I looked it up on Wikipedia and still don’t know.
“Uneducated boors”
Typical elitist liberal tripe.
I’ll match my educational achievement against theirs anyday of the week and I’ve been calling her ANN RAND (rhymes with sand) for years.
And I’ve known other college-educated people(some with graduate degrees) who do the same.
It’s called talking like an American.
Poi, va far’n cul’, Stronzo!
Ayn - “Eyen”. Like the things you look out of, but with an “N” on the end.
Ayn is pronounced “eyen”. At least everything I’ve seen and heard lately.
LOL, “this is THE place for those with Asperger’s to hook up!”
Selfish, extremely narcissistic, and cruel, if they are anything like their hero. It's no wonder that they can't hold a political party together, either.
<<<< “According to Rand, it’s your moral obligation to manifest in the world the best that you have in yourself” >>>
Susan — that’s your name? Sorry, it’s hard to hear because of the music. So, Susan, you’re a Randian, too? Cool! Me too.
What do I do best? Thank you for asking! What I do best in the world is sex and drugs. I have a moral obligation to manifest myself. Would you like to go out on a date?
Who knows how it was pronounced? I think it’s unique even for Russians.
I remember clearly when I started reading it in the mid-60’s EVERYONE told me then is was “Ann”, not “Eyen”..............
And I have a degree in English Lit, but not Russian or American Lit.
Clearly the dominant argument today is “Ann”. I say, “Who knows for sure?”
I listened to the Audiobook version some years ago. They were using “eyen”. FWIW.
“Clearly the dominant argument today is “Ann”.”
I’m not sure what your basis is for that statement. In her interview with Phil Donahue, Rand says it’s pronounced “eyen” (or “ine”). http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FzGFytGBDN8
Who are you going to believe: the author herself, or your degree in English Lit?
MY BAD! I meant to type “Eyen” today, not “Ann”! I got distracted.
I knew nothing of the Donahue interview, and clearly that’s proof of how it is pronounced.
My degree was a joke/jibe, and actually irrelevant. I was trying to get that across. Sorry I did a poor job of that too. What I was trying to say is that I have no idea which is correct.
What I do know is that conservatives were reading it in the sixties, and all said then it was “Ann.” Clearly, they were wrong.
Interesting discussion in the “Comments” section following the article.
“I meant to type “Eyen” today, not “Ann”! I got distracted.”
No problem. I’ve had several similar “brain farts” with my FR posts, so I’m entirely sympathetic.
“My degree was a joke/jibe, and actually irrelevant.”
Your self-deprecation wasn’t missed by me. But I hastened to correct your post for fear that others would accept “Ann” as the correct pronunciation based purely on your “authority” as an English Lit major. :-)
“Hi, my name’s Brad, what can you do for me?”
Sometimes, even though I don’t have to, I do nice things for other people because it makes me feel good. I’m selfish that way. Also, sometimes they do nice things for me in return. That makes them selfish too.
Or, I’ve talked enough about myself tonight. What do YOU think about me?
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