[Publius]

When I did my research on the New York Intellectuals, I was surprised to see Irving Kristol and Gertrude Himmelfarb pop up.

They had a fascinating trip from one side of the spectrum to the other.

[patj]

One of the things that struck me was her reference to, the People's State of England, People's State of Germany, etc. Did Rand foresee all of Europe as Communist? Only the US as the last holdout?

The party scene was frustrating to read. How could so many people stand around and listen to such stupidity and take it all in as if the person talking was the smartest person in the room? I was struck by the young girl, in the white dress, no less, that kept asking questions and did not understand. She seemed young enough to think that these were smart people but smart enough to know that it was all pap and struggled to meld both positions in her mind.

Other random thoughts: Lillian actually hates her husband. Only a failed author would want a limit on printings. Communists passed off crap as "art".

[TASMANIANRED]

I have to admit this chapter was one of my least favorites..

I avoid people like the “party guests” like the plague.

I have to work with a few of them and have a few in my family.

I cannot hold my tongue do I do my level best to avoid hearing their conversation or engaging them.

If I hear someone spilling a load of BS I call it. I also don't have a problem saying “That's a lie’, or “you obviously don't have a clue what you are talking about”.

I'd probably be shunned if I cared enough to notice. I'm not exactly anti social but my social skills don't allow me to slide in b/s without commenting on it.

I suffered with Reardon as he went through this. I'd have been throwing people out of my house.