Ayn Rand

by Jeffrey Britting

Ayn Rand made a profound impact as both a philosopher who founded a school of social thought, Objectivism, and as a novelist of penetrating insight and vision. Her works are founded on heroic ideals,... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1585674060
• ISBN13: 9781585674060
• Release Date: July 2004
• Publisher: Harry N. Abrams
• Length: 135 Pages
• Weight: 0.70 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 5.3" x 7.5"
• Age Range: 18 years and up
• Grade Range: Postsecondary and higher

Customer Reviews

Another quick reference guide by OVERLOOK PRESS

This book is part of a series of small books published by OVERLOOK PRESS. Each book is written by a different author that specilizes in the various 'poets-writers-philosophers', as stated in each title. I own several of these OVERLOOK PRESS books and I love them all,but note that this is only my personal opinion. Please read my brief explanations as to why I enjoyed these OVERLOOK books.... ~~~ First, I must point out that these small books are not complete biographies on the subjects. Rather,these books are short reference guides on each subject. (Great for beginners wanting to have a basic knowledge of each specific poet-writer-philosopher). The most wonderful thing about each of these OVERLOOK PRESS books are the photos. Each book begins with the writer's early life, supported by wonderful photos (eg: where they were born, what their families looked like, etc). Then the chapters move on to explain the writer's basic philosophies. Next, the OVERLOOK books recount some of the most famous (well-known) experiences that each writer experienced throughout their lives. Lastly, each book gives a time-line of the writer's lives in an appendix towards the end of each book. For example, this book I'm reviewing here is about AYN RAND. Ayn Rand was a highly complex individual, and very difficult to pin down in one small book. Her philosophy (Objectivism) is difficult to explain in a few short chapters of a small book like this one. Therefore, if a reader is interested in reading specifically about Objectivism, then it would be best for them to buy a philosophy book on the subject first, before buying this brief OVERLOOK PRESS book. However, if the reader is interested, as I was, in buying a book on Ayn Rand,...a book that shows what she looked like throughout her life and explains some basics about her life, then this book will not dissappoint.

Well-written, succinct, accurate

I approached this book with a bit of trepidation but was pleasantly surprised. Britting has written a succinct, accurate, and appropriately inspiring precis of Ayn Rand's life. His formula is pretty simple: he sticks scrupulously to the facts, and puts them in their proper perspective. You couldn't ask for more in 134 pages. In addition, the book contains some gorgeous photographs (of St. Petersburg; The Fountainhead dust jacket portrait of Rand; of "Galt's Gulch" in Colorado), and is chock full of intriguing trivia that I hadn't encountered (or dreamed of) in two decades' study of Objectivism: who knew that E.L. Doctorow wrote the ad copy for "For the New Intellectual"; that Rand's favorite painting was Dali's "Corpus Hypercubus"; and that she opposed Japanese internment during WW II? I also think that Britting's treatment of Rand's HUAC testimony and her association and eventual break with the Brandens is a model of lucidity and fairness. He presents the facts in a way that is favorable to Rand, but the facts he presents are undeniably true and relevant to any judgment one might make about Rand on those issues. I don't see how one can call this "hagiography" unless, of course, one begins with an a priori animosity against Rand (and in favor of Lillian Hellman, the CPUSA, Josef Stalin, the KGB, and/or the Brandens) and wants to see that animosity expressed in print. As I lack the relevant animosity, I don't see hagiography here; I just see a book well worth reading, and at a bargain price.

A Hymn to a Woman Who Loved Life

This book is simply beautiful -- and it should be. Ayn Rand possessed a benevolent spirit, a tremendous intellect, and an unstoppable dedication to her work. She was both kind and powerful, joyful and driven, witty and serious. In short, Ayn Rand was one of the most intriguing human beings that this world has ever seen. If you don't know about her already, buy Atlas Shrugged. If you do know about her and you simply want to get to know her better, buy this gorgeous and informative little book.

DELIGHTFUL !

This book expands upon the biographical information in "Ayn Rand: A Sense of Life," the companion book to the Academy Award-nominated documentary. It explores Miss Rand's life as a lone champion of individualism -- the great defender of freedom and the pursuit of happiness. I especially enjoyed the photos of the young Ayn Rand, and information about her family. The many letters between them quoted here, smash the myth (perpetrated by inept pseudo-biographer Barbara Branden) that they were enemies. Those who love Ayn Rand's fiction will find many details on the genesis of her monumental novels, "We the Living," "Anthem," "The Fountainhead," and "Atlas Shrugged." Ayn Rand gives those who seek to understand the world, a rational philosophy to live by. She inspires, and sets minds on fire. The intellectual movement she created will lead to a second Renaissance: a rebirth of reason, Romanticism, and individual rights. The only possible criticism of this book, is that it measures only 5" x 7". I'm sure her fans would gladly pay more, for a larger volume.

A brief journey through a great life

Jeff Britting's "Ayn Rand" is a superb account of the life of one of the most interesting intellectuals of the 20th century. Many have read her novels the Fountainhead and Atlas Shrugged but few know that the details of her life make her seem very much like a character out of her own novels. Her youth in Russia is recounted in some detail, as well as her departure for the United States, and her early career writing for film and theater. This is followed by further information on the writing of her novels culminating in Atlas Shrugged. Then, having completed her goals in literature, she moved to focus more on helping to spread the philosophy she developed in the course of writing her novels by writing and speaking wherever and whenever she could. This book is a good starting point for understanding her life. It contains a little more detail than the Academy Award Nominated movie "A sense of life" of which Britting is the producer. For greater details on her intellectual development I recommend "The Journals of Ayn Rand" edited by David Harriman. For more biographical details see also "Letters of Ayn Rand" edited by Michael Berliner, which contains much of her correspondence.