Posted on 07/18/2009 7:32:31 AM PDT by Publius
I'll tell you a little secret about how to read it. When you encounter a character, write down his or her full Russian name and the relationship to one or another character. That makes it all clear as you go on.
I think I could read it now. As I said, I’ve read the first chapter several times and on each occasion, I had no recollection of it. Now I do know what happens in the first chapter. I’ll try it again. Thanks.
I’ve enjoyed this entire project. I’m looking forward to the discussion of the Federalist Papers.
Please add me to your ping list.
Thanks!
The U.S. Constitution limits the kinds of laws which may be enacted by the central government, but within those bounds the power to enforce them is granted, and it is not a power to merely ask for voluntary compliance.
Likewise state constitutions, and down the line.
Derived by consent of the governed, but force nonetheless.
Then it is their loss, indeed.
Thank you both for a fine series — I have been looking forward to every Saturday since you began this most interesting and stimulating exercise!
I’ve mostly lurked, but feel vastly more enriched, despite the paucity of my comments. AS is one of my favorite books — I have read it numerous times since it was first published. Wore out my paperback copy to the point that my first ex-wife bought me a bound version. (Yes, I read it in High School in 1957! As did a number of my FRiends.)
Thanks to your hard work, I have a better insight into Ms. Rand and her philosophy. Not only that, her prescience re: the events of our day is stunning: scared me then and it scares me now. No wonder many Americans have a renewed interest in her writings and philosophy.
On another subject, you might consider dissecting Saul Alinsky’s works and thereby help all of us discover what our enemies are up to. His playbook seems to be mighty popular in Washington, DC right now.
HST, the Federalist Papers and the historical context thereof would also make for a most excellent exercise.
I like that idea, a lot. Second choice would be a contemporary work such as The 5,000 Year Leap.
Whatever comes next, I must again express my appreciation for the FR Book Club series. It has made much better what would have been a tedious read.
Thank you for the very cogent and understandable explanation. I appreciate the new knowledge and also its tie in to the book.
I’m really leaning toward the study of Progressives - because our govt is full of them and we need to know what they think and how they think - so we can stop them.
I’ve also found a paper titled “Principles of Progressive Politics” .. and it will curl your hair .. and as Glenn Beck says, “... make blood shoot right out of your eyes.”
Let me remind everyone on this thread of something. The second amendment is still in effect. If you allow yourself to be sold into slavery while still armed then you deserve it.
5.56mm
Future non-fiction discussions: “Peter the Great” or “Dreadnought,” both by Robert Massey.
William Shirer’s classic “The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich.” Brilliant history and a lot of parallels to the current direction of our country.
Fiction: Robert Heinlein’s “The Moon is a Harsh Mistress,” “Time Enough for Love,” “The Past Through Tomorrow.”
For some lengthy but great literature: Victor Hugo’s “Les Miserable.”
I write, both for reading and for the spoken word. This speech was designed to be read, not spoken.
That's pretty funny. Ayn and the feminists were bitter enemies.
She was a huge fan of Aristotle (as the three divisions of the book imply) and the skeleton in her closet was St. Thomas Aquinas. She was actually going to have a character in the book called Father Amadeus but her contempt for religion nixed it.
My guess is they weren’t mean and nasty enough for her.
Modern Times by Paul Johnson, The Law by Bastiat, Witness by Whitakker Chambers, Reflections on the Revolution in France by Edmund Burke, The Conservative Mind by Russell Kirk and (if you could possibly find it) Conservatism from John Adams to Churchill by Peter Viereck. (Just MHO.)
Or the short story Harrison Bergeron by Kurt Vonnegut.
She was a self-described man-worshipper and held them in contempt for their collectivist view of women.
She was a real creep. She told her husband in front of others that she was going to have an affair with one of his friends, and there was nothing he could do about it. She did it, too.
Publius is chuckling - he knows I have a special weakness for Burke. It wouldn't be easy breaking that one up into sections but it'd be fun. I'm thinking at last I'd have the last word against Conor Cruise O'Brien...well, because he's been dead for the last eight months... ;-)
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