Order from a Major Online Bookstore
Ultimate Book Price Comparison Engine
Save Your Time And Money
| AnyBook4Less.com | Order from a Major Online Bookstore |
|
| Home | Store List | FAQ | Contact Us | | ||
| Ultimate Book Price Comparison Engine Save Your Time And Money |
||
 |
Title: Letters of Ayn Rand by Ayn Rand, Michael S. Berliner, Leonard Peikoff ISBN: 0-452-27404-4 Publisher: Plume Pub. Date: February, 1997 Format: Paperback Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $20.00 |
Average Customer Rating: 3.86 (14 reviews)
Rating: 4
Summary: The Other Side of Ayn Rand
Comment: This collection of Ayn Rand's letters is an interesting and important addition to her works. It was edited by Michael Berliner, then-executive director of the Ayn Rand Institute. (ARI advocates the "Official Objectivism" of Leonard Peikoff.) For those who know Rand through her at times shrill writing and the self-serving accounts of former insiders, this collection presents a valuable "other side" to Rand. Written over a period of 55 years, we read love letters to her husband, letters to friends and fans, and letters to politicians. In fact, Rand corresponded with some of the most famous people of the century, such as Alexander Kerensky, H. L. Mencken, Frank Lloyd Wright, and Barry Goldwater, to name a few. The philosophical portions of the letters are quite meaty, and Rand obviously put a great deal of effort into her correspondence.
Not surprisingly, the only letters to Nathaniel Branden included were written before he became her associate. The end result is that Branden's contributions to Objectivism are downplayed, which is typical of the material produced by the ARI. (For example, even though Rand approved of Branden's writings published prior to their split, they do not appear in THE AYN RAND LEXICON or other post-split collections.)
The most interesting selections are the letters to Isabel Paterson and the distinguished philosopher John Hospers. In order to get permission to quote Hospers' comments contained in Rand's letters, the editor was obliged to include a statement from Hospers. As Hospers says, Rand occasionally misrepresented or misunderstood his point, so printing only Rand's letters to Hospers makes him "look like a bloody fool. . . . And that isn't quite fair, is it?"
Rating: 5
Summary: It's a shame someone has to die...
Comment: ...in order for a book like this to be published. But finally we get a real look into the private life of a fascinating author and philosopher. Having just finished a number of years at PSU, it seems clear that Objectivism is making headway as a serious philosophical view.
I'm more interested in music myself than philosophy, but I did notice that in the study of philosophy the Ball that Miss Rand got rolling so many years ago has gathered quite a bit of size and speed. Her ideas made sense to me both before and after I studied Logic, Semantics, and Philosophy. In fact, after studying the "big boys," as one professor of mine called them, I definitely saw a need for a philosophy that states that things are what they are!!
Anyway, I'm devouring this book!!!
Rating: 2
Summary: Maybe worthwhile for Rand scholars....
Comment: Perhaps I was just coming down off of an Ayn Rand high when I read this, but whatever the case, this collection of correspondance just doesn't deserve a place beside Rand's self-published work, which is in sufficient abundance to make a collection like this unwarranted.
If you are thoroughly absorbed into Rand's Cult of Personality (amazingly effective even after her death), then you will probably enjoy this work. There was certainly a time where I would have devoured every letter. If, on the other hand, you have been impressed and affected by The Fountainhead, Atlas Shrugged, We The Living, or Anthem, I would strongly suggest working through Rand's nonfiction before diving into this book.
 |
Title: Journals of Ayn Rand by Ayn Rand, David Harriman, Leonard Peikoff ISBN: 0452278872 Publisher: Plume Pub. Date: August, 1999 List Price(USD): $22.00 |
 |
Title: The Art of Fiction: A Guide for Writers and Readers by Ayn Rand, Tore Boeckmann, Leonard Peikoff ISBN: 0452281547 Publisher: Plume Pub. Date: January, 2000 List Price(USD): $12.95 |
 |
Title: Philosophy: Who Needs It by Ayn Rand ISBN: 0451138937 Publisher: New American Library Pub. Date: April, 1985 List Price(USD): $7.99 |
 |
Title: The Art of Nonfiction: A Guide for Writers and Readers by Ayn Rand, Robert Mayhew, Peter Schwartz ISBN: 0452282314 Publisher: Plume Pub. Date: 30 January, 2001 List Price(USD): $14.00 |
 |
Title: Return of the Primitive: The Anti-Industrial Revolution by Ayn Rand, Peter Schwartz ISBN: 0452011841 Publisher: Meridian Books Pub. Date: January, 1999 List Price(USD): $16.00 |
Thank you for visiting www.AnyBook4Less.com and enjoy your savings!
Copyright� 2001-2021 Send your comments
