The Virtue of Selfishness (Signet) by Ayn Rand
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Book Reviews of The Virtue of Selfishness (Signet)
Book Review: At last, an honest atheist!
Summary: 5 Stars
I chose the title for this review carefully. I have had numerous discussions with atheists. I have noticed a common inconsistency about them: they roundly criticize Christian doctrines such as the Incarnation, Resurrection, etc. But at the same time they affirm much of Christian morality, such as concern for the poor, the need to subjugate one's personal ambitions to the good of "society," etc. But they never build a case for why these "virtues" are of any use in a Universe without God, where a brutal system of survival of the fittest is directly responsible for what progress the world has enjoyed. When I confront them with this error in their thinking they either go into a glassy-eyed stare of start shouting slogans.
Rand is a refreshing change from these pseudo-intellectual morons. She starts with the premises that Man is the highest form of life in the Universe and that naturalistic evolution is true, and develops a moral code consistent with those beliefs. Her conclusion: that a society based on self interest will lead to the elimination of the weak and the development of better, smarter and prettier human beings. Now THAT is an ethical code consistent with a godless, materialistic Universe where the strong survive and the weak - well, screw them! I applaud Ms. Rand for having the courage her fellow unbelievers lack: to think out the true implications of their worldview. Bravo!
Book Review: Simply Outrageously Terriffic!
Summary: 5 Stars
This book is excellent! It is not such easy reading as are Atlas Shrugged and The Fountainhead, but if you liked them, then you will be greatly rewarded by reading "the Virtue of Selfishness". Ayn Rand explains the true meaning of selfishness and how it is corrupted by the altruist's of this world. Alturist's have twisted the concept of selfishness into a distorted, wicked image, when, in actuallity, true selfishness is a beautiful thing. True selfishness is what one experiences when he is rewarded for his own efforts. Yes, even if he earned a billion dollars and kept it all to himself it is beautiful and respectable! Altruist's have corrupted and shielded the beauty of true selfishness by inducing a feeling of guilt in individuals BECAUSE of their very own abilities. Altruist's claim, for example, that millionaire industralists are guilty of exploitation simply BECAUSE they have become rich (RICH! ) while their workers remain at a lower standard of living. The suggestion ( and guilt trip) is that the industralist is guilty because he did not give his money, his earnings away. They forget and ignore the fact and reality of how the industralist's products have benifitted themselves, the plant workers and simply raised everyone's standard of living. Read this book; enjoy it! And stay clear of altruist's and their philosophy!Book Review: Powerful Unadulterated Moral Objectivism!
Summary: 5 Stars
Ayn Rand (AR) makes no apologies for relating the truths behind true success: to love and empower others you must first love and empower yourself!
AR provides the framework for individualistic success knowing that such empowered persons historically have and thus will continue to create the trends and breakthroughs in technology and advances that benefit our society and the world. As such she admonishes the reader in pursuit of such destiny that: "one must never fail to pronounce moral judgment." To do so is to compromise the integrity of ourselves, our society and culture, and ultimately our nation. It becomes thus a moral impediment to individual progress and freedom.
To that end AR believed that the power and goodness of America (The United States of) was grounded in the fact that she (America) did not merely and unjustly "melt men into the gray conformity of a collective," rather "she united them by means of protecting their right to individuality."
Truly one of the most grand moral philosophers of the modern age. I rate this text at five stars for all lovers of freedom and individuality who exist and prosper while offering assistance and leadership to in spite of, not at the expense of, their fellow man.
Book Review: Love is Selfish
Summary: 5 Stars
Rand used the term altruism, in its original meaning (as used by philosopher August Comte who coined the term): self-sacrifice. To Rand, to sacrifice a greater value (say your beloved child), for the sake of a lesser value (some strangers you did not know) was wrong. (I agree).
To save your beloved wife from drowning would be selfish--because you loved her; to let her die to save some other stranger--when you loved your wife--would be unselfish.
Selfish, as Rand uses the term, means to act in ones own LONG-TERM rational self-interest.
It does not mean that one cannot have friends--only that "friends" who stab you in the back are not really your friends.
In fact, if you think about it: love IS selfish. To paraphrase Rand, before one can say 'I love you', one must first learn to say the word 'I'.
Of course, if one actually READ the book, one would know this. If one reads the book, and still holds these distorted views of Rand's work, then one is either stupid or dishonest.
This does not mean one may still not disagree--there are some things I disagree with Rand on; but, one should not stoop to dishonest smears, name-calling, and outright lies about her work.
Book Review: It's All in the Title
Summary: 5 Stars
Look at that title! Who else would dare use such a confrontational title? And justify it by saying she used it "for the reason that makes you afraid of it." I found it shocking when I first encountered it when I was about 20 years old. And freeing.
It initiated an important rite-of-passage -- a questioning of the mores I acquired from the prevailing culture. A questioning, in particular, of the importance of altruism.
Ayn Rand's writing has the potential to free many more people -- with her fiction -- and with her non-fiction collections such as this, with their little self-contained chapters on various philosophical issues. She seems to write for the popular audience. But she doesn't want to stray from logical rigor. So the reader must exercise his intellect and meet her halfway.
Afterwards, at the very least, the reader will gain a better understanding of her fiction where the characters (especially the heroes) are animated by more than emotions. But, if the reader is lucky, he will gain a whole new perspective on his life, whether he fully agrees with Rand or not.