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See, I knew I'd forgotten something. No, I have not read Atlas Shrugged. My general impression of Ayn Rand's work is that it needs to be appreciated in the context within which it was written. As a victim of the Russian Revolution and subject of the subsequent totalitarian regime, she has some understandably unfavorable observations to make about the ideas which were circulating about her at the time. Who could blame her? I'd be pissed as hell too. But make no mistake, she's not writing from an objective point of view, but rather one which has been intensely colored by her personal experience. I don't mean to be dismissive, I think she makes a lot of valid points, but I do take what she says with a grain of salt.

My general impression of Ayn Rand's work is that it needs to be appreciated in the context within which it was written. As a victim of the Russian Revolution and subject of the subsequent totalitarian regime, she has some understandably unfavorable observations to make about the ideas which were circulating about her at the time.

True that her ideas were shaped by her experience, but it is not all related to that set of circumstances. I first read Atlas Shrugged in high school back in the early 60's, not too long after it was first published. I read it again sometime in the early 80's, and again a couple of years ago. The forces about which she writes are still there with us today. She doesn't particularly frame it to communism, but socialism in general, which is still very much about in these times. I found her book just as applicable, if not more applicable, two years ago than when it first came out.

I know it would be hard to fit in a 1200 page book on top of school studies, but you really should read it some day. I'm sure you'll disagree with many of her philosophies, but you'll certainly be in no doubt where she stands on the issues. BTW, just by mentioning Ayn Rand here on FR, I'll probably stir up a firestorm, so be prepared to duck. She is not highly regarded by many of the more religious folk here, due to her being an atheist and some of her other moral lapses. :-)

And at the risk of boring you, to give you an idea of where I'm coming from, I'm 55 yrs old, an EE that's worked for the US Army my whole adult life. Picked up a couple of MBAs in management and finance with the GI bill in the decade of greed (the 80's)but really haven't done anything with them. My politcal philosophy is pretty close to Ayn Rand's. I call myself an Anarcho-capitalist. Some call that extreme. ;-)

See what happens when I have lots of keyboard time? Hope we can carry this on again some time. Regards,

My general impression of Ayn Rand's work is that it needs to be appreciated in the context within which it was written. As a victim of the Russian Revolution and subject of the subsequent totalitarian regime, she has some understandably unfavorable observations to make about the ideas which were circulating about her at the time.

True that her ideas were shaped by her experience, but it is not all related to that set of circumstances. I first read Atlas Shrugged in high school back in the early 60's, not too long after it was first published. I read it again sometime in the early 80's, and again a couple of years ago. The forces about which she writes are still there with us today. She doesn't particularly frame it to communism, but socialism in general, which is still very much about in these times. I found her book just as applicable, if not more applicable, two years ago than when it first came out.

I know it would be hard to fit in a 1200 page book on top of school studies, but you really should read it some day. I'm sure you'll disagree with many of her philosophies, but you'll certainly be in no doubt where she stands on the issues. BTW, just by mentioning Ayn Rand here on FR, I'll probably stir up a firestorm, so be prepared to duck. She is not highly regarded by many of the more religious folk here, due to her being an atheist and some of her other moral lapses. :-)

And at the risk of boring you, to give you an idea of where I'm coming from, I'm 55 yrs old, an EE that's worked for the US Army my whole adult life. Picked up a couple of MBAs in management and finance with the GI bill in the decade of greed (the 80's)but really haven't done anything with them. My politcal philosophy is pretty close to Ayn Rand's. I call myself an Anarcho-capitalist. Some call that extreme. ;-)

See what happens when I have lots of keyboard time? Hope we can carry this on again some time. Regards,