I haven’t read this new biography of Rand yet, but the Amazon critics seem to think it’s worth while. I’ll wait until it’s in the library. Which is not very capitalistic of me, but I’m not pure about it like she was. Like most kids I rebelled against my parents’ politics, which was conservative. But I wavered.
Then, in college, I discovered Rand’s idea of Objectivism and went so far as to bet my Speech grade on an oration about it. The professor disliked her celebration of "reality" so much that he tried to undercut me at the top of the program he printed for our class speeches with a quote from Carl Jung: "People cannot stand too much reality."
Nowadays I agree with Jung. Which is probably why I read so much science fiction. I never read Atlas Shrugged, Rand’s most popular (and lately resurgent) novel. I remember some reviewer (just who I forget) paraphrased Shakespeare in calling it "As long as life and twice as tedious." I may never read it. But I still find her interesting and, of course, the idea that capitalism and the mighty corporations it sometimes creates can be heroic. I’ve been too much of a businessman myself over the years to find the type very threatening. Indeed, to demean the Willy Lomans of the world is to demean the very thing that keeps us free.
MORE: Via Instapundit, the movie made of her book We The Living is now on DVD.
THE TEXAS SCRIBBLER 
I haven’t read any Rand, I’m gonna have to.
I’d take any review on her books with a Texas sized grain of salt.
For instance, read the Publisher’s Weekly review of a book by a soldier who fought in Iraq.
The title of the book is “House to House” and it’s a story about fighting house to house funnily enough.
The PW reviewer hates the guy and mischaracterizes and attacks the book at every step.
Like this part
Anyone expecting an overview of strategy or political background to the war has picked the wrong book
I wonder, in a review of a book on building decks do they attack the book for not telling people how nails are made?
He says, contemptuous of liberals and a U.S. media that fails to support soldiers
Except that the guy relates a story about a CNN reporter who helped him when he was having a personal crisis. That’s the only journalist he mentions as I recall.
For an example on Rand, check out his post by Tom Maguire
http://justoneminute.typepad.com/main/2009/10/now-if-book-reviewers-read-the-books.html
The guy reviews a biography of Rand and shows he understands her not at all.
I can tell which movies I’ll like by reading the reviews. All the anti-war, hate-America movies got glowing reviews and yet, they stunk.
I like Heinlein a lot, I think Stranger in a Strange Land is the best book for understanding people and yet, I’ve seen people class it with Rand as being unreadable.
Heinlein, like Rand of course, makes the mistake of not liking collectivists. That’s a sin that can never be forgiven.
Sorry, link for the Amazon review
http://www.amazon.com/House-David-Bellavia/dp/1416574719
Cannot say I finished Atlas Shrugged. Can say that I’ve started, though 😉
I’m tempted to try it. Then I hear about things like the main character’s 33-page oration and I wonder if it’s worth it.