Capitalism: The Unknown Ideal by Ayn Rand, Nathaniel Branden, Alan Greenspan, Robert Hessen
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Book Reviews of Capitalism: The Unknown Ideal
Book Review: Capitalism equals Liberty
Summary: 5 Stars
This volume by Rand and her allies at the time, Alan Greenspan, and Nathaniel Branden, is excellent. Rand's articles show how the only moral political and economic system is capitalism. Property rights, reason and rational thought are what has freed man from the shackles of mysticism, superstition, and religious tyranny. The best articles are Branden's "Alienation" in which he points out the fallacies of the anti modern ideals of Erich Fromm's " The Art of Loving". Fromm is exposed as an admirer of the Dark Ages and pines for the ideals of collectivism. Another great article is Rand's " The Roots of War" in which she condemns the Vietnam War and the draft. She rightly points out the futility of Vietnam and the slavery that the draft creates. She smashes the ideals of conservative collectivism in her article " Conservatism: An Obituary" by show the moral and intellectual bankruptcy of conservatism. She exposes the conservative worship of "tradition" and "order". She also ridicules the weak and sorry defenses that conservatives state for capitalism, and freedom. This little book has some of Rand's best writings and thoughts. A great buy for those that support capitialism and freedom.Book Review: I was about to buy this book
Summary: 5 Stars
I was about to buy this book from Amazon.com, until I read the "Editorial Review." Amazon[.com] put this on my 'reccomedations' page, as I'm a huge Ayn Rand fan - "an advocate of reason, egoism, and capitalism". Sadly, on that page was the first few lines of this review! Thank goodness that I *now* know that this book is a "relic of the past," and an "outlandish piece of propaganda." I think that Mark Pumphrey's assertion that the "author's overconfident sense of her own rightness and persistence at pressing her points with little respect for opposing views can quickly become more than a little annoying" applies more to that editorial review than to this book, a splendid collection of essays by Ayn Rand, Nathaniel Branden, Robert Hessen, and (the current U.S. Federal Reserve Board Chairman) Alan Greenspan. This book is more about the moral underpinings of capitalism, the only system in which we are free to choose how to labor, and how to exercise the fruits of that labor; than it is about the economics of capitalism, for which I would reccomend "Free to Choose" by Milton Friedman, or "New Ideas From Dead Economists" by Todd G. Buchholz - both available here.Book Review: Probably Rand's best book
Summary: 5 Stars
In an earlier review that scrolled off the page long ago, I suggested that this was Rand's best book because (a) she stuck largely to political theory and (b) had enough sense to get help with the hard parts. You can click to the next page if you want to read the rest of the review.Here I'll add that it's an important book for another reason: between the lines, it makes a tremendous concession to non-Objectivist ethics.
In the opening essay, on p. 24 of the current paperback edition, Rand acknowledges that there is such a thing as "socially objective value" -- her term for what Mises would have called _subjective_ value -- and says it is this kind of value that the free market serves.
In the course of discussing this sort of value, Rand concedes (with her teeth gritted) that the values appropriate for what she called "man _qua_ man_" (and here defines as "man at his best") just aren't appropriate for everybody.
If this insight were followed up consistently, the whole Objectivist ethic would need to be revised from the ground up. Keep that in mind if you go on to read _The Virtue of Selfishness_.
Book Review: indispensible
Summary: 5 Stars
If you are new to Ayn Rand, this may not be the best place to start. Perhaps try For the New Intellectual as a nonfiction base, and Anthem if you perfer fiction. I found this book to be so incredibily powerful and important for many reasons. The theory of capitalism is laid out, given context using history relevence, and is compared to other modes of thinking, namely altruism. Rand makes fundamental arguements for the morality of capitalism in a philisophic sense, as well as making economic and governmental connections. She breaks apart altruism and its precipitation into government, ie. socialism/collectivism. The arguements made, and the thorough nature in which she makes them really made a connection with me and have had a huge impact on my political and philosophic views. There is really no better way of describing this book than by saying it is completely indispensible, especially for those entering adulthood, who are still forming themselves intellectually. This book sheds light on capitalism in a way that today is infrequently seen(unfortunately), and articulated by the best. You will not be disappointed here.Book Review: Who said Rand Isn't Accessible?
Summary: 5 Stars
The essays in this book differ from those in many of Rand's other works because of its accessibility. Although many Objectivists will tell you to start elsewhere, I find that this book has many great arguments for capitalism that the lay man will understand, so START HERE FOR AYN RAND'S NON-FICTION.
Another remarkable feature of the book is its historical perspective. I was hesitant, at first, to get this book because the articles are written from the late forties to late sixties, however, the timeless quality of the articles really shine through. They are so well put together that they stand the test of time. Contributing author Alan Greenspan was the longest sitting chairman of the Fed, so that alone is enough to understand the importance that this book has for current and past economic policy in the United States.
Unlike many other essay collections, this book has a great progression of essays. You can read this book from start to finish, always adding onto the ground established by "What is Capitalism" until the entire picture opens up before you.