http://randex.org/ The latest news and commentary on Ayn Rand and Objectivism en admin@randex.org Copyright 2012 2012-02-23T00:53:50+00:00 http://randex.org/index.php/weblog/ayn_rand_obamacare_contraception_and_ayn_rand http://randex.org/index.php/weblog/comments/ayn_rand_obamacare_contraception_and_ayn_rand It will be little comfort to the advocates of state-mandated “free” contraception that Ayn Rand, who would have abhorred Obamacare… Substantial, Positive, Opinion, It will be little comfort to the advocates of state-mandated “free” contraception that Ayn Rand, who would have abhorred Obamacare and all its mandates, was as staunch an advocate of birth control and women’s right to abortion as one can imagine. — Sheldon Richman, History News Network - Liberty & Power  #

Categories:  | ]]> 2012-02-23T01:34:57+00:00 Sheldon Richman, History News Network - Liberty & Power http://randex.org/index.php/weblog/ayn_rand_fab.com_and_the_fetish_for_design http://randex.org/index.php/weblog/comments/ayn_rand_fab.com_and_the_fetish_for_design If Ayn Rand planted the seed of the power of the individual theoretically, Steve Jobs took it to the level… Medium, Individualism, Positive, Opinion, If Ayn Rand planted the seed of the power of the individual theoretically, Steve Jobs took it to the level of demonstration. — Preetam Kaushik, Daily Deal Media  #

Categories: Individualism | ]]> 2012-02-23T01:32:06+00:00 Preetam Kaushik, Daily Deal Media http://randex.org/index.php/weblog/ayn_rand_fashion_week_highlight_survivalism_with_rad_hourani http://randex.org/index.php/weblog/comments/ayn_rand_fashion_week_highlight_survivalism_with_rad_hourani “This is kind of a celebration,” designer Rad Hourani told Rolling Stone Tuesday night after presenting another dynamic collection. “Fall… Medium, Books, The Fountainhead, Positive, Profile, Inaccurate, “This is kind of a celebration,” designer Rad Hourani told Rolling Stone Tuesday night after presenting another dynamic collection. “Fall 2012. I’ve been doing this five years now, and it keeps getting better.” He offers Howard Roark, protagonist of Ayn Rand’s Fountainhead, as a compelling literary twin: “we both embraced the idea of Nothing and made it something.” — Colleen Nika, Rolling Stone  #

Categories: The Fountainhead, Inaccurate | ]]> 2012-02-23T01:15:58+00:00 Colleen Nika, Rolling Stone http://randex.org/index.php/weblog/ayn_rand_a_very_young_ceo http://randex.org/index.php/weblog/comments/ayn_rand_a_very_young_ceo [Scvngr CEO Seth Priebatsch] doesn’t have a car, a girlfriend, or even his own apartment. He sleeps in the office… Medium, Books, Atlas Shrugged, Positive, Profile, [Scvngr CEO Seth Priebatsch] doesn’t have a car, a girlfriend, or even his own apartment. He sleeps in the office most nights near a dog-eared copy of Ayn Rand’s novel Atlas Shrugged, and occasionally at his parents’ house in Boston. [....] “It’s not control that matters—it’s winning,” he says. “I think about control in a very Randian way. If I believed someone could do a better job at that than me, I’d step aside, absolutely.” — Michael Fitzgerald, Technology Review (MIT)  #

Categories: Atlas Shrugged | ]]> 2012-02-23T00:59:55+00:00 Michael Fitzgerald, Technology Review (MIT) http://randex.org/index.php/weblog/ayn_rand_all_credit_to_my_parentssays_haryana_judiciary_exam_topper http://randex.org/index.php/weblog/comments/ayn_rand_all_credit_to_my_parentssays_haryana_judiciary_exam_topper It was Ayn Rand’s book Fountainhead, which Vikramjit [Singh] says helped him bring balance to his life when he was… Medium, Books, The Fountainhead, Positive, Profile, It was Ayn Rand’s book Fountainhead, which Vikramjit [Singh] says helped him bring balance to his life when he was not doing well a couple of years ago. Since then he has read the book several times. — Indian Express (Mumbai)  #

Categories: The Fountainhead | ]]> 2012-02-22T03:56:32+00:00 Indian Express (Mumbai) http://randex.org/index.php/weblog/ayn_rand_capital_shrugged http://randex.org/index.php/weblog/comments/ayn_rand_capital_shrugged Today, Rand’s fictional world has seemingly become a reality – endless bailouts and economic stimulus for the unproductive at the… Substantial, Books, Atlas Shrugged, Capitalism, Positive, Opinion, Today, Rand’s fictional world has seemingly become a reality – endless bailouts and economic stimulus for the unproductive at the expense of the most productive, and calls for additional taxation on capital investment. The shrug of Rand’s heroic entrepreneurs is to be found today within the tangled ciphers of corporate and government balance sheets. — Mark Spitznagel, Project Syndicate  #

Categories: Atlas Shrugged, Capitalism | ]]> 2012-02-22T03:28:05+00:00 Mark Spitznagel, Project Syndicate http://randex.org/index.php/weblog/ayn_rand_meet_the_candidates_ron_paul http://randex.org/index.php/weblog/comments/ayn_rand_meet_the_candidates_ron_paul [Ron Paul] was a keen student of the writings of Friedrich Hayek and Ayn Rand, and was inspired to enter… Brief, Positive, Profile, [Ron Paul] was a keen student of the writings of Friedrich Hayek and Ayn Rand, and was inspired to enter politics in 1971 after president Richard Nixon took the US currency off the Gold Standard – a move he saw as taking real value out of the dollar and making it purely a political commodity. — John Barron, ABC News - Planet America (Australia)  #

Categories:  | ]]> 2012-02-22T03:26:39+00:00 John Barron, ABC News - Planet America (Australia) http://randex.org/index.php/weblog/ayn_rand_hope_for_the_hip_hop_ocrisy_at_grammys http://randex.org/index.php/weblog/comments/ayn_rand_hope_for_the_hip_hop_ocrisy_at_grammys None other than Snoop Dogg, whose lyrics might expose him as a free-market capitalist, famously said that he had his… Brief, Capitalism, Positive, Opinion, None other than Snoop Dogg, whose lyrics might expose him as a free-market capitalist, famously said that he had his “mind on my money and my money on my mind” (Ayn Rand would be proud of him). — Ron Hart, Appeal-Democrat (Marysville, CA)  #

Categories: Capitalism | ]]> 2012-02-22T03:22:06+00:00 Ron Hart, Appeal-Democrat (Marysville, CA) http://randex.org/index.php/weblog/ayn_rand_holding_out_for_a_political_hero http://randex.org/index.php/weblog/comments/ayn_rand_holding_out_for_a_political_hero Bastiat attributed the willingness to engage in legalized plunder to either “egotism” (essentially, self-interest) or “false philanthropy.” He observed that… Substantial, Altruism, Egoism, Individual Rights, Positive, Opinion, Objectivist author, Bastiat attributed the willingness to engage in legalized plunder to either “egotism” (essentially, self-interest) or “false philanthropy.” He observed that men believe it is reasonable to take the fruits of others’ labor if the system has established a free-for-all. But no such systems or the politicians that establish them are willing to admit that they have erected kleptocracies. “All for all,” they say, “fair is fair.” Ayn Rand would instead place the blame on altruism, the belief that “man has no right to exist for his own sake, that service to others is the only justification of his existence, and that self-sacrifice is his highest moral duty, virtue and value.” It is false philanthropy, because it has nothing to do with charity or benevolence. It means one must literally put others before himself. — Amy Peikoff, Washington Times  #

Categories: Altruism, Egoism, Individual Rights, Objectivist author | ]]> 2012-02-22T03:12:12+00:00 Amy Peikoff, Washington Times http://randex.org/index.php/weblog/ayn_rand_gunfight_at_the_ok_corral http://randex.org/index.php/weblog/comments/ayn_rand_gunfight_at_the_ok_corral The term melodrama is derived from the Greek melos, music, and French drame, drama, and refers to any dramatic work… Medium, Positive, Opinion, The term melodrama is derived from the Greek melos, music, and French drame, drama, and refers to any dramatic work that exaggerates the story line and the cast of characters in order to appeal to the emotions of the viewers. Constant conflict is the deus ex machina of melodrama. As author Ayn Rand, writes in her book, The Art of Fiction: A Guide for Writers and Readers, “a drama involves primarily a conflict of values within a man (as expressed in action); a melodrama involves only a conflict of man with other men.” — Sivaram Srikandath, Manorama Online  #

Categories:  | ]]> 2012-02-21T02:33:29+00:00 Sivaram Srikandath, Manorama Online http://randex.org/index.php/weblog/ayn_rand_americas_cultural_death_smartphone_game_apps http://randex.org/index.php/weblog/comments/ayn_rand_americas_cultural_death_smartphone_game_apps With the convenience of app games, we deny ourselves the experience of the games that might actually be remembered one… Brief, BioShock, Positive, Opinion, With the convenience of app games, we deny ourselves the experience of the games that might actually be remembered one day. When there are games like Bioshock, which explores the philosophy of Ayn Rand through adventuring around a ruined utopia, why do we choose games like Fruit Ninja? — Ryan Anderson, Mainstream (Paint Branch High School, Burtonsville, MD)  #

Categories: BioShock | ]]> 2012-02-21T02:31:11+00:00 Ryan Anderson, Mainstream (Paint Branch High School, Burtonsville, MD) http://randex.org/index.php/weblog/ayn_rand_yaron_brook_amp_doug_casey_debate_the_need_for_government http://randex.org/index.php/weblog/comments/ayn_rand_yaron_brook_amp_doug_casey_debate_the_need_for_government Dr. Yaron Brook of the Ayn Rand Institue and Doug Casey of Casey Research joined me today for a lively… Substantial, Ayn Rand Institute, Capitalism, Individual Rights, Individualism, Yaron Brook, Positive, Interview, Audio, Dr. Yaron Brook of the Ayn Rand Institue and Doug Casey of Casey Research joined me today for a lively discussion about the need for government and why it always turns out wrong. Amazingly, these two prominent advocates of personal freedom have never met before. They vehemently disagreed on the possibiliteis of an anarchical society; Doug believes it’s the only sensible way for people to co-exist, and Yaron believes it’s a sure pathway to tyranny. The discussion then turned to the state’s monopoly on force, where Doug’s belief is this inevitably leads to grave injustice, and Yaron insists force be taken away from the individual and put into the state’s hands with tight controls. — Kerry Lutz, GoldSilver.com  #

Categories: Ayn Rand Institute, Capitalism, Individual Rights, Individualism, Yaron Brook, Audio | ]]> 2012-02-21T02:18:13+00:00 Kerry Lutz, GoldSilver.com http://randex.org/index.php/weblog/ayn_rand_phillydeals_capitalism_working_for_makers_of_libertarian_film http://randex.org/index.php/weblog/comments/ayn_rand_phillydeals_capitalism_working_for_makers_of_libertarian_film How do capitalist ideas fare in the real-world video entertainment market? “We’re close on breaking even” on Part One, and… Substantial, Atlas Shrugged movie, Books, Atlas Shrugged, Capitalism, Individual Rights, Positive, News, How do capitalist ideas fare in the real-world video entertainment market? “We’re close on breaking even” on Part One, and most of the way to raising $25 million for the next part of a planned trilogy version of Ayn Rand’s libertarian fantasy novel Atlas Shrugged, says John Aglialoro, owner of the exercise-equipment-maker Cybex International and head of the Haddonfield production company that’s financing the films. Part One, which opened Oct. 15, has nearly paid for its production costs, if you don’t add the expenses he racked up haggling with producers, writers, directors, and actors since he bought rights to the 1957 novel 20 years ago. — Joseph N. Distefano, Philadelphia Inquirer  #

Categories: Atlas Shrugged movie, Atlas Shrugged, Capitalism, Individual Rights | ]]> 2012-02-16T03:57:22+00:00 Joseph N. Distefano, Philadelphia Inquirer http://randex.org/index.php/weblog/ayn_rand_culture_shock_and_awe http://randex.org/index.php/weblog/comments/ayn_rand_culture_shock_and_awe Ellia Tilley-Pahad, a fourthyear global management student, just started a semester at the University of Zaragoza in Zaragoza, Spain. [....]… Brief, Books, The Fountainhead, Positive, Opinion, Ellia Tilley-Pahad, a fourthyear global management student, just started a semester at the University of Zaragoza in Zaragoza, Spain. [....] Pahad expressed concern over his mediocre Spanish in his correspondence home, and also noted that a party he went to was chock-full of communists — which is probably a bit of an uncomfortable situation to someone currently enthralled by Ayn Rand’s The Fountainhead. He says he remembered his manners and refrained from discussing politics, so he survived. — Imran Khan, The Eyeopener (Ryerson U, Toronto)  #

Categories: The Fountainhead | ]]> 2012-02-16T03:54:13+00:00 Imran Khan, The Eyeopener (Ryerson U, Toronto) http://randex.org/index.php/weblog/ayn_rand_bringing_atlas_shrugged_to_life http://randex.org/index.php/weblog/comments/ayn_rand_bringing_atlas_shrugged_to_life Love it or hate it; agree or disagree; it’s undeniable that Ayn Rand’s magnum opus, “Atlas Shrugged” deals with monumental… Substantial, Atlas Shrugged movie, Books, Atlas Shrugged, Positive, Review, Image, Love it or hate it; agree or disagree; it’s undeniable that Ayn Rand’s magnum opus, “Atlas Shrugged” deals with monumental ideas conveyed through larger-than-life characters. Its very immensity is the reason that, although this 1,000-plus page tome has remained on many bestseller lists ever since it appeared in 1957, bringing it to the screen had been an insurmountable task. That is, until now. — Jay Ankeney, TV Technology  #

Categories: Atlas Shrugged movie, Atlas Shrugged, Image | ]]> 2012-02-16T01:49:44+00:00 Jay Ankeney, TV Technology http://randex.org/index.php/weblog/ayn_rand_book_blog_anthem http://randex.org/index.php/weblog/comments/ayn_rand_book_blog_anthem The feeling of not being considered an individual is a feeling that is familiar to me. I not too long… Substantial, Books, Anthem, Individualism, Positive, Review, Image, The feeling of not being considered an individual is a feeling that is familiar to me. I not too long ago read a book entitled, Anthem by Ayn Rand. If I was to go in the library I would not have picked that book out. But I am glad that my AP Literature teacher gave me and my fellow classmates that book to read. — Keonna Smith, Scope (Hill Regional Career HS, New Haven, CT)  #

Categories: Anthem, Individualism, Image | ]]> 2012-02-16T01:25:57+00:00 Keonna Smith, Scope (Hill Regional Career HS, New Haven, CT) http://randex.org/index.php/weblog/ayn_rand_special_effects_gone_with_the_wind_and_genre_difficulties http://randex.org/index.php/weblog/comments/ayn_rand_special_effects_gone_with_the_wind_and_genre_difficulties Scarlett is both a proto-feminist hero, and an almost Ayn Rand-y paragon of self-advancement. Not only does she tickle the… Medium, Positive, Opinion, Scarlett is both a proto-feminist hero, and an almost Ayn Rand-y paragon of self-advancement. Not only does she tickle the imaginations of liberals and libertarians, but her canny progress from marriage to marriage takes place entirely within the boundaries of so-called “traditional” womanhood — something I’d bet more than a few Schlafly-types have found validating. — Brian Ted Jones, The Millions  #

Categories:  | ]]> 2012-02-16T01:22:13+00:00 Brian Ted Jones, The Millions http://randex.org/index.php/weblog/ayn_rand_politically_incorrect_with_floyd_mayweather http://randex.org/index.php/weblog/comments/ayn_rand_politically_incorrect_with_floyd_mayweather I get a kick out of these holier-than-thou writers (who are white) that have the gall to call Floyd Mayweather… Medium, Individual Rights, Positive, Opinion, I get a kick out of these holier-than-thou writers (who are white) that have the gall to call Floyd Mayweather a racist. Get real. Ayn Rand once said “The smallest minority on earth is the individual. Those who deny individual rights cannot claim to be defenders of minorities.” — Hans Olson, BoxingInsider  #

Categories: Individual Rights | ]]> 2012-02-16T01:14:00+00:00 Hans Olson, BoxingInsider http://randex.org/index.php/weblog/ayn_rand_government_on_steroids http://randex.org/index.php/weblog/comments/ayn_rand_government_on_steroids If you haven’t read the 1957 classic novel “Atlas Shrugged”, or seen the movie, now is the time. The brilliant… Substantial, Atlas Shrugged movie, Books, Atlas Shrugged, Positive, Opinion, If you haven’t read the 1957 classic novel “Atlas Shrugged”, or seen the movie, now is the time. The brilliant author, Ayn Rand, emigrated from Russia in 1926 at the age of 21. In this novel, she explores a dysfunctional United States where society’s productive citizens are suffering from crushing government regulations and increasing taxation. She describes a world in which a bloated government asserts more and more control over individuals and industry, leading to the collapse of society. — Lee Parsons, Rocky Mountain Collegian (CO State U, Fort Collins)  #

Categories: Atlas Shrugged movie, Atlas Shrugged | ]]> 2012-02-15T17:53:33+00:00 Lee Parsons, Rocky Mountain Collegian (CO State U, Fort Collins) http://randex.org/index.php/weblog/ayn_rand_shikha_dalmia_on_ayn_rand_illegal_immigration_and_the_gop http://randex.org/index.php/weblog/comments/ayn_rand_shikha_dalmia_on_ayn_rand_illegal_immigration_and_the_gop Earlier this month was the birthday of Ayn Rand, the controversial philosopher and novelist, who emigrated from the Soviet Union… Medium, Individual Rights, Personal life, Positive, Image, Earlier this month was the birthday of Ayn Rand, the controversial philosopher and novelist, who emigrated from the Soviet Union in 1926. Regardless of what one thinks of her ideas, there is no denying that she was a great American. When the American intelligentsia was playing footsie with Soviet communism, Rand unabashedly defended liberty and individual rights. — Reason - Hit & Run  #

Categories: Individual Rights, Personal life, Image | ]]> 2012-02-15T17:43:55+00:00 Reason - Hit & Run http://randex.org/index.php/weblog/ayn_rand_bjoern_wahlroos_a_portrait_of_a_capitalist http://randex.org/index.php/weblog/comments/ayn_rand_bjoern_wahlroos_a_portrait_of_a_capitalist Wahlroos’s arguments are arguments of economics, but his starting point is based on his concept of humanity, which in turn… Medium, Books, Atlas Shrugged, Capitalism, Positive, Profile, Wahlroos’s arguments are arguments of economics, but his starting point is based on his concept of humanity, which in turn is based on the blessed nature of the pursuit of personal gain and competition. He names three thinkers that are important to him. [....] The third spiritual beacon is the writer and philosopher Ayn Rand, who emigrated from Russia to the United States in the 1920s. In her works, Rand proclaims the right of the individual to live free of the tyranny of the majority. “You had a story in Helsingin Sanomat on what people had scribbled onto spoiled ballots in the presidential elections. In the picture there was one ballot on which was written ‘Who is John Galt?’” Rand’s main work Atlas Shrugged begins with this question. “It was an extreme libertarian statement about the presidential elections.” Libertarians demand that the control of the state should be kept to a minimum. Could it have been Björn Wahlroos’s ballot? — Ilkka Ahtiainen and Antti Blåfield, Helsingin Sanomat (Helsinki)  #

Categories: Atlas Shrugged, Capitalism | ]]> 2012-02-15T04:02:27+00:00 Ilkka Ahtiainen and Antti Blåfield, Helsingin Sanomat (Helsinki) http://randex.org/index.php/weblog/ayn_rand_the_devil_you_know http://randex.org/index.php/weblog/comments/ayn_rand_the_devil_you_know As Ayn Rand said in the quote above, “The world you desired can be won, it exists, it is real,… Medium, Books, Atlas Shrugged, Positive, Opinion, As Ayn Rand said in the quote above, “The world you desired can be won, it exists, it is real, it is possible, it's yours.” — Bob Havey, Easton Patch (MA)  #

Categories: Atlas Shrugged | ]]> 2012-02-15T04:00:10+00:00 Bob Havey, Easton Patch (MA) http://randex.org/index.php/weblog/ayn_rand_39atlas_shrugged39_still_flying_off_shelves http://randex.org/index.php/weblog/comments/ayn_rand_39atlas_shrugged39_still_flying_off_shelves New reports from Ayn Rand’s publisher indicates that sales figures for “Atlas Shrugged” are continuing a remarkable trend. In 2011… Substantial, Ayn Rand Institute, Books, Atlas Shrugged, Capitalism, Yaron Brook, Positive, News, New reports from Ayn Rand’s publisher indicates that sales figures for “Atlas Shrugged” are continuing a remarkable trend. In 2011 all English editions of “Atlas Shrugged” sold 445,000 copies. “This is incredible,” says Dr. Yaron Brook, executive director of the Ayn Rand Institute. “Since Obama was elected, ‘Atlas Shrugged’ has sold more than 1.5 million copies. This is unheard of in the publishing industry, for a 55-year-old novel to register sales of this magnitude. And what’s even more remarkable is that this is even more than the book sold in 1957 . . . when it was a best seller!” — Salem-News (OR)  #

Categories: Ayn Rand Institute, Atlas Shrugged, Capitalism, Yaron Brook | ]]> 2012-02-15T03:56:05+00:00 Salem-News (OR) http://randex.org/index.php/weblog/ayn_rand_radnor_high_school_student_gets_third_place_in_national_writing_co http://randex.org/index.php/weblog/comments/ayn_rand_radnor_high_school_student_gets_third_place_in_national_writing_co When Andrew Lin was 10, he tried reading a book no child his age would normally try to read –… Substantial, Ayn Rand Institute, Books, Anthem, Atlas Shrugged, The Fountainhead, We The Living, Essay Contests, Individualism, Positive, News, When Andrew Lin was 10, he tried reading a book no child his age would normally try to read – Ayn Rand’s 752-page novel, Fountainhead. “I didn’t quite understand it then, but I reread it again last year, and I was struck by not only how much I understood it but also how it’s the kind of work that captures the spirit of the times we need to look at [present day],” Lin, now 17, said about the philosophical novel. The book resonated with the junior Radnor High School student to the extent that he not only explored other works by the Russian-American philosophical novelist, but also entered in two essay contests by the author’s nonprofit organization, The Ayn Rand Institute. — Josh Fernandez, Philadelphia Inquirer - Neighbors  #

Categories: Ayn Rand Institute, Anthem, Atlas Shrugged, The Fountainhead, We The Living, Essay Contests, Individualism | ]]> 2012-02-15T03:50:55+00:00 Josh Fernandez, Philadelphia Inquirer - Neighbors http://randex.org/index.php/weblog/ayn_rand_paul_burri_quality_becomes_meaningless_when_all_things_are_equal http://randex.org/index.php/weblog/comments/ayn_rand_paul_burri_quality_becomes_meaningless_when_all_things_are_equal One of the characters in Ayn Rand’s The Fountainhead describes his plan for destroying any sense of quality in a… Medium, Books, The Fountainhead, Positive, Opinion, One of the characters in Ayn Rand’s The Fountainhead describes his plan for destroying any sense of quality in a society. According to him, it is really quite simple — just socialize all values so that everything is equal. “Quality” implies that one thing is superior to another, and when all things are equal, nothing is superior and the term “quality” becomes meaningless. First, you praise mediocrity in all things, whether it is in writing, music, the arts or any other human endeavor. Leave no room for praise of excellence. — Paul Burri, Noozhawk (Santa Barbara, CA)  #

Categories: The Fountainhead | ]]> 2012-02-15T03:08:37+00:00 Paul Burri, Noozhawk (Santa Barbara, CA) http://randex.org/index.php/weblog/measuring_the_currency_of_character_your_values_and_your_self http://randex.org/index.php/weblog/comments/measuring_the_currency_of_character_your_values_and_your_self In one of the most interesting chapters in Ayn Rand’s novel, “The Fountainhead,” the protagonist Howard Roark, an architect, turns… Medium, Books, The Fountainhead, Egoism, Positive, Opinion, In one of the most interesting chapters in Ayn Rand’s novel, “The Fountainhead,” the protagonist Howard Roark, an architect, turns down a very lucrative offer at a time when he is bankrupt because he would not compromise the design integrity of a building. When the gaping client asked him, “How could you be selfless at a time like this?” Roark replied, “That was the most selfish thing you’ve ever seen a man do.” — Cora Llamas, Manila Bulletin  #

Categories: The Fountainhead, Egoism | ]]> 2012-02-15T03:04:49+00:00 Cora Llamas, Manila Bulletin http://randex.org/index.php/weblog/ayn_rand_the_daily_bell_dr_yaron_brook_on_ayn_rand_capitalism_and_the_war_o http://randex.org/index.php/weblog/comments/ayn_rand_the_daily_bell_dr_yaron_brook_on_ayn_rand_capitalism_and_the_war_o Daily Bell: Acquaint us with your background, and how you became interested in Ayn Rand. Dr. Yaron Brook: I read… Substantial, Altruism, Ayn Rand Center, Ayn Rand Institute, Books, Atlas Shrugged, Capitalism: The Unknown Ideal, The Virtue of Selfishness, Capitalism, Egoism, Individual Rights, Individualism, Leonard Peikoff, Yaron Brook, Positive, Interview, Daily Bell: Acquaint us with your background, and how you became interested in Ayn Rand. Dr. Yaron Brook: I read Atlas Shrugged when I was 16. I was born and raised in Israel and was living there at the time, and I would say at the time when I read Atlas Shrugged I was a committed socialist, altruist and collectivist – the opposite of Ayn Rand. When a friend handed me the book and I read it, I really fought the book, but by the end Ayn Rand had won. She had convinced me that she was right and the ideas that I had held before were wrong. — Anthony Wile, Daily Bell  #

Categories: Altruism, Ayn Rand Center, Ayn Rand Institute, Atlas Shrugged, Capitalism: The Unknown Ideal, The Virtue of Selfishness, Capitalism, Egoism, Individual Rights, Individualism, Leonard Peikoff, Yaron Brook | ]]> 2012-02-14T04:54:46+00:00 Anthony Wile, Daily Bell http://randex.org/index.php/weblog/ayn_rand_prairie_portrait_nick_seguin_of_the_kauffman_foundation http://randex.org/index.php/weblog/comments/ayn_rand_prairie_portrait_nick_seguin_of_the_kauffman_foundation [Q:] An avid reader, you’ve certainly consumed your share of books on entrepreneurship and startups. Say someone’s about to make… Brief, Books, Atlas Shrugged, Positive, Interview, [Q:] An avid reader, you’ve certainly consumed your share of books on entrepreneurship and startups. Say someone’s about to make the entrepreneurial plunge. What three books do they have to read, and why? [A:] First, in our world of startups I’d say blogs are more valuable than books. But, if we’re going with books (and I only read real, paper books) top for me right now are: “The Lean Startup” – it’s not just about product, but about a system of thinking and stresses the blocking and tackling of startups; “Atlas Shrugged” – you either understand this, or you don’t; “The Alchemist” – to be a great entrepreneur you must be self-aware. To me, this book is all about self-awareness. — Michael Stacy, Silicon Prairie News  #

Categories: Atlas Shrugged | ]]> 2012-02-14T04:18:49+00:00 Michael Stacy, Silicon Prairie News http://randex.org/index.php/weblog/ayn_rand_guest_lecturer_says_global_warming_probably_not_human_caused http://randex.org/index.php/weblog/comments/ayn_rand_guest_lecturer_says_global_warming_probably_not_human_caused Clark Wilson, a member of the UT Objectivist Society, said he’s glad that [Fred] Singer came to speak because it… Medium, Positive, News, Clark Wilson, a member of the UT Objectivist Society, said he’s glad that [Fred] Singer came to speak because it provided an alternative voice to the global warming issue. “Just because I’m an objectivist doesn’t mean I believe green energy is a hoax… as an objectivist I want to know both sides,” said Wilson. — Monica Kortsha, The Horn (U of Texas, Austin)  #

Categories:  | ]]> 2012-02-13T03:28:15+00:00 Monica Kortsha, The Horn (U of Texas, Austin) http://randex.org/index.php/weblog/ayn_rand_interview_atlas_shrugged_producer_businessman_john_aglialoro http://randex.org/index.php/weblog/comments/ayn_rand_interview_atlas_shrugged_producer_businessman_john_aglialoro I wasn’t able to talk to John Aglialoro in time for my first article about ‘Atlas Shrugged Part 2’ this… Substantial, Atlas Shrugged movie, Books, Atlas Shrugged, Positive, Interview, I wasn’t able to talk to John Aglialoro in time for my first article about ‘Atlas Shrugged Part 2’ this week, but did catch up with him later, so I thought I’d write up what he had to say. The Haddonfield, N.J., businessman put up all of the money for ‘Atlas Shrugged Part 1’, which was about $12 million. For Part 2, he’s putting up $5 million and raising another $20 million. — Peter Key, The Business Journal (Greensboro, NC)  #

Categories: Atlas Shrugged movie, Atlas Shrugged | ]]> 2012-02-13T03:26:22+00:00 Peter Key, The Business Journal (Greensboro, NC) http://randex.org/index.php/weblog/ayn_rand_cpac_2012_rand_paul_has_a_few_questions_for_the_president http://randex.org/index.php/weblog/comments/ayn_rand_cpac_2012_rand_paul_has_a_few_questions_for_the_president Once again, the Democrats offer malaise, as they did when Carter ran for re-election. Ayn Rand wrote of “moochers” and… Medium, Capitalism, Positive, Opinion, Once again, the Democrats offer malaise, as they did when Carter ran for re-election. Ayn Rand wrote of “moochers” and “looters.” Rand Paul looks at the steps of the White House and sees “beseechers.” They’re trying to squeeze blood from a stone. “There’s nothing left to give,” Paul pointed out. — John Hayward, Human Events Online  #

Categories: Capitalism | ]]> 2012-02-13T03:08:59+00:00 John Hayward, Human Events Online http://randex.org/index.php/weblog/ayn_rand_can_you_pass_a_beverly_hillbillies_test http://randex.org/index.php/weblog/comments/ayn_rand_can_you_pass_a_beverly_hillbillies_test With five decades’ distance it’s clear that books as seemingly different as “The Organization Man,” “The Lonely Crowd,” “The Feminine… Medium, Books, Atlas Shrugged, Positive, Opinion, Syndicated, With five decades’ distance it’s clear that books as seemingly different as “The Organization Man,” “The Lonely Crowd,” “The Feminine Mystique” and “Atlas Shrugged” were really all about the same thing: the alienation and discomfort of gifted, independent-minded individuals in a society in which the “normal” ruled. The “cognitive elite” felt left out of or oppressed by the country’s culture and, as a result, scorned it. — Virginia Postrel, Bloomberg  #

Categories: Atlas Shrugged, Syndicated | ]]> 2012-02-12T04:13:13+00:00 Virginia Postrel, Bloomberg http://randex.org/index.php/weblog/ayn_rand_new_ayn_rand_documentary_wrapping_month_long_tour http://randex.org/index.php/weblog/comments/ayn_rand_new_ayn_rand_documentary_wrapping_month_long_tour Author/philosopher Rand began writing her last and most ambitious novel – “Atlas Shrugged” – in the years immediately following World… Substantial, Books, Atlas Shrugged, Capitalism, Positive, Opinion, Video, Author/philosopher Rand began writing her last and most ambitious novel – “Atlas Shrugged” – in the years immediately following World War II. Her working title for the book was “The Strike.” It was about what would happen if all the productive people in America went on strike, leaving the entitlement recipients and governmental regulators she called “moochers” and “looters” without anyone to create value for them. The result is chaos and ultimate disaster. — Chris Mortensen, Big Hollywood  #

Categories: Atlas Shrugged, Capitalism, Video | ]]> 2012-02-12T03:43:19+00:00 Chris Mortensen, Big Hollywood http://randex.org/index.php/weblog/ayn_rand_challenge_before_convergence_review http://randex.org/index.php/weblog/comments/ayn_rand_challenge_before_convergence_review In The Fountainhead, Howard Roark memorably critiques the Parthenon: “The famous flutings on the famous columns -- what are they… Medium, Books, The Fountainhead, Positive, Opinion, In The Fountainhead, Howard Roark memorably critiques the Parthenon: “The famous flutings on the famous columns -- what are they there for? To hide the joints in wood -- when columns were made of wood, only these aren’t, they’re marble.” He points out that these marble structures were themselves eventually mimicked in steel and concrete. Of course by that point, the design made absolutely no sense (there were no joints to hide) but that’s what happens with evolutionary adaption rather than applying first principles. — Jeremy Philips, The Australian  #

Categories: The Fountainhead | ]]> 2012-02-12T03:38:39+00:00 Jeremy Philips, The Australian http://randex.org/index.php/weblog/ayn_rand_jason_womack_presents_ayn_rand_and_atlas_shrugged_in_the_business http://randex.org/index.php/weblog/comments/ayn_rand_jason_womack_presents_ayn_rand_and_atlas_shrugged_in_the_business In the movie “Wall Street,” Gordon Gekko tells us “greed is good.” Well, is it? Ayn Rand’s philosophical approach to… Medium, Books, Atlas Shrugged, Egoism, Positive, In the movie “Wall Street,” Gordon Gekko tells us “greed is good.” Well, is it? Ayn Rand’s philosophical approach to innovation, creativity, and a willingness to do the best we can and to be rewarded for it is especially timely. You’re invited to share in a salon-type discussion about how ideas Ms. Rand wrote about 55 years ago might apply to the business world of today. The Anthem Foundation will provide copies of Atlas Shrugged for students in attendance. — Go Memphis  #

Categories: Atlas Shrugged, Egoism | ]]> 2012-02-12T03:28:50+00:00 Go Memphis http://randex.org/index.php/weblog/ayn_rand_life_goes_on http://randex.org/index.php/weblog/comments/ayn_rand_life_goes_on 2012 may become the year that I’m finally giving up things that are merely occupying space in this house. But… Brief, Medium, Books, The Fountainhead, Positive, Opinion, 2012 may become the year that I’m finally giving up things that are merely occupying space in this house. But where to start? I have to read the books and magazines before selling them or giving them to friends who read. There are books that will of course remain in the shelves because I’m just so attached to them, seeing the titles there somehow comfort me. I mean, how could I survive without Ayn Rand’s “The Fountainhead”? — Netnet Camomot, Mindanao Gold Star Daily (Cagayan de Oro City)  #

Categories: The Fountainhead | ]]> 2012-02-12T03:22:51+00:00 Netnet Camomot, Mindanao Gold Star Daily (Cagayan de Oro City) http://randex.org/index.php/weblog/ayn_rand_understanding_the_global_warming_debate http://randex.org/index.php/weblog/comments/ayn_rand_understanding_the_global_warming_debate In the early 1980′s I saw Ayn Rand speak at Northeastern University. In the Q&A period afterwards, a woman asked… Medium, Positive, Opinion, In the early 1980′s I saw Ayn Rand speak at Northeastern University. In the Q&A period afterwards, a woman asked Ms. Rand, “Why don’t you believe in housewives?” And Ms. Rand responded, “I did not know housewives were a matter of belief.” In this snarky way, Ms. Rand was telling the questioner that she had not been given a valid proposition to which she could agree or disagree. What the questioner likely should have asked was, “Do you believe that being a housewife is a morally valid pursuit for a woman.” That would have been an interesting question (and one that Rand wrote about a number of times). In a similar way, we need to ask ourselves what actual proposition do the 97% of climate scientists agree with. And, we need to understand what it is, exactly, that the deniers are denying. — Warren Meyer, Forbes  #

Categories:  | ]]> 2012-02-12T03:17:13+00:00 Warren Meyer, Forbes http://randex.org/index.php/weblog/ayn_rand_atlas_undocumented http://randex.org/index.php/weblog/comments/ayn_rand_atlas_undocumented Last week was the birthday of Ayn Rand, the controversial philosopher and novelist, who emigrated from the Soviet Union in… Substantial, Books, Atlas Shrugged, Personal life, Positive, Image, Last week was the birthday of Ayn Rand, the controversial philosopher and novelist, who emigrated from the Soviet Union in 1926. Regardless of what one thinks of her ideas, there is no denying that she was a great American. When the American intelligentsia was playing footsie with Soviet communism, Rand unabashedly defended liberty and individual rights, America’s core values, famously declaring: “[The] United States of America is the greatest, the noblest and, in its original founding principles, the only moral country in the history of the world.” But this proud naturalized American, who arguably did more than any contemporary figure to restore the faith of Americans in America, might have been hounded out of the country if one of our current crop of Republican hopefuls had been president when she arrived. Why? Because Rand lied and bent every rule to gain entry into the United States. — Shikha Dalmia, The Daily  #

Categories: Atlas Shrugged, Personal life, Image | ]]> 2012-02-12T03:10:00+00:00 Shikha Dalmia, The Daily http://randex.org/index.php/weblog/ayn_rand_reason_writers_around_town_shikha_dalmia_on_ayn_rand_and_gop_restr http://randex.org/index.php/weblog/comments/ayn_rand_reason_writers_around_town_shikha_dalmia_on_ayn_rand_and_gop_restr Last week was Ayn Rand’s birthday, the Russian emigre who did more to restore the faith of Americans in America… Medium, Personal life, Positive, Opinion, Last week was Ayn Rand’s birthday, the Russian emigre who did more to restore the faith of Americans in America than any contemporary figure, regardless of where one stands on her philosophical ideas. But Reason Foundation Senior Analyst Shikha Dalmia notes in her latest column, if anyone from the current field of GOP candidates had been president then, Rand would have likely been booted out of the country. Why? Because Rand lied and bent every rule to gain entry into the United States. — Reason - Hit & Run  #

Categories: Personal life | ]]> 2012-02-12T03:06:21+00:00 Reason - Hit & Run http://randex.org/index.php/weblog/ayn_rand_failing_great_expectations http://randex.org/index.php/weblog/comments/ayn_rand_failing_great_expectations Celebrating the 200th birth anniversary of [Charles Dickens], we speak to the youth stepping into the literary world and know… Brief, Books, The Fountainhead, Positive, Celebrating the 200th birth anniversary of [Charles Dickens], we speak to the youth stepping into the literary world and know their favourite books and why. [....] Roshni Banerjee: [....] Other mentionable works would be the Harry Potter series, which I practically grew up with, Angels and Demons by Dan Brown and Fountainhead by Ayn Rand. — Postnoon (Hyderabad)  #

Categories: The Fountainhead | ]]> 2012-02-12T00:17:21+00:00 Postnoon (Hyderabad) http://randex.org/index.php/weblog/ayn_rand_free_market_looks_like_socialism_to_me http://randex.org/index.php/weblog/comments/ayn_rand_free_market_looks_like_socialism_to_me We need new intellectuals to complete the American Revolution. For a rational world, without vampires, read Ayn Rand’s “Atlas Shrugged.” Medium, Books, Atlas Shrugged, Capitalism, Individual Rights, Individualism, Positive, Letter to the editor, Objectivist author, We need new intellectuals to complete the American Revolution. For a rational world, without vampires, read Ayn Rand’s “Atlas Shrugged.” — Stephen Grossman, Standard-Times (New Bedford, MA)  #

Categories: Atlas Shrugged, Capitalism, Individual Rights, Individualism, Objectivist author | ]]> 2012-02-11T04:50:08+00:00 Stephen Grossman, Standard-Times (New Bedford, MA) http://randex.org/index.php/weblog/ayn_rand_the_american_redoubt_where_survivalists_plan_to_survive http://randex.org/index.php/weblog/comments/ayn_rand_the_american_redoubt_where_survivalists_plan_to_survive [James Wesley Rawles] pays homage to “Galt’s Gulch,” novelist Ayn Rand’s concept of a hidden retreat for disaffected capitalists. “The… Medium, Books, Atlas Shrugged, Capitalism, Positive, Profile, Syndicated, [James Wesley Rawles] pays homage to “Galt’s Gulch,” novelist Ayn Rand’s concept of a hidden retreat for disaffected capitalists. “The preparedness movement has grown at the fastest rate I have seen in my entire lifetime — faster than in the late ‘70s, when the Iran hostage crisis had people very concerned, much faster than in the late ‘90s, when people were concerned about Y2K,” Rawles said. — Kim Murphy, Los Angeles Times  #

Categories: Atlas Shrugged, Capitalism, Syndicated | ]]> 2012-02-11T04:44:26+00:00 Kim Murphy, Los Angeles Times http://randex.org/index.php/weblog/ayn_rand_amber_heard_channels_marilyn_monroe_for_max_italy http://randex.org/index.php/weblog/comments/ayn_rand_amber_heard_channels_marilyn_monroe_for_max_italy Taking her beauty overseas, Amber Heard is featured on the cover of the February 2012 issue of Italy’s Max magazine.… Brief, Celebrity Admirers, Positive, News, Taking her beauty overseas, Amber Heard is featured on the cover of the February 2012 issue of Italy’s Max magazine. [....] In the accompanying interview, Miss Heard talks about her love of reading, as she said, “Generally I do not read novels, I prefer Richard Dawkins, Christopher Hitchens, Ayn Rand and Dave Eggers. I read continuously, almost four books a week.” — The Gossip Girls  #

Categories: Celebrity Admirers | ]]> 2012-02-11T04:35:45+00:00 The Gossip Girls http://randex.org/index.php/weblog/ayn_rand_dating_guru_comes_to_cpac http://randex.org/index.php/weblog/comments/ayn_rand_dating_guru_comes_to_cpac [Wayne Elise] has been hailed a pick-up artist and an escape artist (this doesn’t scare us at all). “Learn everything… Medium, Books, Atlas Shrugged, Positive, News, [Wayne Elise] has been hailed a pick-up artist and an escape artist (this doesn’t scare us at all). “Learn everything from how to avoid scaring away your own personal Dagny Taggart in the first five minutes of the conversation, to whether Tea Partiers and Occupiers can share something more than a dislike for bailouts,” the description for the event says. For the uniformed, Taggart is the protagonist in Ayn Rand‘s Atlas Shrugged. — Eddie Scarry, mediabistro.com - FishbowlDC  #

Categories: Atlas Shrugged | ]]> 2012-02-11T04:27:56+00:00 Eddie Scarry, mediabistro.com - FishbowlDC http://randex.org/index.php/weblog/ayn_rand_roark_is_my_hero_for_life http://randex.org/index.php/weblog/comments/ayn_rand_roark_is_my_hero_for_life [A] book that I read again and again is The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand. Howard Roark, the central character, is… Medium, Books, The Fountainhead, Positive, Opinion, [A] book that I read again and again is The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand. Howard Roark, the central character, is my hero for life. I feel when you read about legendary characters like Roark you get inspired by them. — Rina Dhaka, Deccan Chronicle  #

Categories: The Fountainhead | ]]> 2012-02-11T04:06:51+00:00 Rina Dhaka, Deccan Chronicle http://randex.org/index.php/weblog/ayn_rand_coulter_care http://randex.org/index.php/weblog/comments/ayn_rand_coulter_care Here is why the individual mandate inevitably leads to full-blown socialized medicine, as it has with Obamacare: When the government… Brief, Books, Atlas Shrugged, Positive, Opinion, Here is why the individual mandate inevitably leads to full-blown socialized medicine, as it has with Obamacare: When the government mandates that you have to buy health insurance, then it has to specify what health insurance is required to satisfy the mandate. This means politics is involved in deciding what must be included and covered by that insurance. And once politics is involved, that means you can't leave anything out. [....] We will see that when the final regulations are issued for Obamacare by the Supreme Dictator, Kathleen Sebelius (who looks and acts the part of a villain from an Ayn Rand novel). — Peter Ferrara, American Spectator  #

Categories: Atlas Shrugged | ]]> 2012-02-11T03:55:51+00:00 Peter Ferrara, American Spectator http://randex.org/index.php/weblog/ayn_rand_ramesh_prasad_revives_prasad_productions_banner http://randex.org/index.php/weblog/comments/ayn_rand_ramesh_prasad_revives_prasad_productions_banner Director Raj Madiraju says he was inspired by the character of Howard Roark in the book The Fountainhead by Ayn… Medium, Books, The Fountainhead, Positive, Profile, Director Raj Madiraju says he was inspired by the character of Howard Roark in the book The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand. “Rushi (the doctor in the film) is like Howard Roark. There is openness in what he says, his body language and philosophy. He believes in what he does. — Radhika Rajamani, Rediff  #

Categories: The Fountainhead | ]]> 2012-02-10T20:58:56+00:00 Radhika Rajamani, Rediff http://randex.org/index.php/weblog/ayn_rand_alinsky_not_an_activist_to_emulate http://randex.org/index.php/weblog/comments/ayn_rand_alinsky_not_an_activist_to_emulate Characterizing [Saul] Alinsky as “apolitical” because he did not identify with any specific ideology misses an insight brought to the… Substantial, Altruism, Books, Atlas Shrugged, Egoism, Positive, Opinion, Inaccurate, Characterizing [Saul] Alinsky as “apolitical” because he did not identify with any specific ideology misses an insight brought to the fore by author/philosopher Ayn Rand: No social system can survive without a moral base. Although Rand’s notion of a “virtue of selfishness” antagonizes many people, the essence of her work was developing a logically consistent moral code based on the observation that all people act out of self-interest, which is also a premise of Alinsky’s philosophy. — Craig Westover, Star-Tribune (Minneapolis)  #

Categories: Altruism, Atlas Shrugged, Egoism, Inaccurate | ]]> 2012-02-10T04:50:45+00:00 Craig Westover, Star-Tribune (Minneapolis) http://randex.org/index.php/weblog/ayn_rand_letter_the_i_wants_never_satisfied http://randex.org/index.php/weblog/comments/ayn_rand_letter_the_i_wants_never_satisfied The socialists in our state will discredit Ayn Rand’s book “Atlas Shrugged.” They will say that the scenario in the… Brief, Books, Atlas Shrugged, Positive, Letter to the editor, The socialists in our state will discredit Ayn Rand’s book “Atlas Shrugged.” They will say that the scenario in the book will never take place and that the utopian Illinois government does not function the way Rand depicts. As a self-employed, tax-paying citizen, I see it differently. — William M. Crews, State Journal-Register (Springfield, IL)  #

Categories: Atlas Shrugged | ]]> 2012-02-10T04:35:58+00:00 William M. Crews, State Journal-Register (Springfield, IL) http://randex.org/index.php/weblog/ayn_rand_part_2_of_atlas_shrugged_movie_getting_ready_to_roll_production http://randex.org/index.php/weblog/comments/ayn_rand_part_2_of_atlas_shrugged_movie_getting_ready_to_roll_production On February 2—Ayn Rand’s birthday—John Aglialoro, the producer of Atlas Shrugged Part 1, announced cameras will soon roll on Part… Substantial, Atlas Shrugged movie, Books, Atlas Shrugged, We The Living, Positive, News, Image, On February 2—Ayn Rand’s birthday—John Aglialoro, the producer of Atlas Shrugged Part 1, announced cameras will soon roll on Part 2 of the planned movie trilogy of Rand’s novel. The film will be in theaters this fall. And, as with the first movie, The Atlas Society (TAS) will be heavily involved both in promoting the movie and spreading Rand’s Objectivist philosophy. — Karl Dickey, The Examiner  #

Categories: Atlas Shrugged movie, Atlas Shrugged, We The Living, Image | ]]> 2012-02-10T04:31:16+00:00 Karl Dickey, The Examiner