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Ayn Rand

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Jeff Britting's "Ayn Rand" is a superb account of the life of one of the most interesting intellectuals of the 20th century. Many have read her novels the Fountainhead and Atlas Shrugged but few know that the details of her life make her seem very much like a character out of her own novels. Her youth in Russia is recounted in some detail, as well as her departure for the United States, and her early career writing for film and theater. This is followed by further information on the writing of her novels culminating in Atlas Shrugged. Then, having completed her goals in literature, she moved to focus more on helping to spread the philosophy she developed in the course of writing her novels by writing and speaking wherever and whenever she could.

This book is a good starting point for understanding her life. It contains a little more detail than the Academy Award Nominated movie "A sense of life" of which Britting is the producer. For greater details on her intellectual development I recommend "The Journals of Ayn Rand" edited by David Harriman. For more biographical details see also "Letters of Ayn Rand" edited by Michael Berliner, which contains much of her correspondence.

This book expands upon the biographical information in "Ayn Rand: A Sense of Life," the companion book to the Academy Award-nominated documentary. It explores Miss Rand's life as a lone champion of individualism -- the great defender of freedom and the pursuit of happiness.

I especially enjoyed the photos of the young Ayn Rand, and information about her family. The many letters between them quoted here, smash the myth (perpetrated by inept pseudo-biographer Barbara Branden) that they were enemies.

Those who love Ayn Rand's fiction will find many details on the genesis of her monumental novels, "We the Living," "Anthem," "The Fountainhead," and "Atlas Shrugged."

Ayn Rand gives those who seek to understand the world, a rational philosophy to live by. She inspires, and sets minds on fire. The intellectual movement she created will lead to a second Renaissance: a rebirth of reason, Romanticism, and individual rights.

The only possible criticism of this book, is that it measures only 5" x 7". I'm sure her fans would gladly pay more, for a larger volume.

This is a terrific short and graphic biography of philosopher/author Ayn Rand. The photos and images of memorabilia add to the joy of reading this book. This is really a biography and *not* a summary of her philosophy in any way. Of course her life shares some aspects of her heroes- she suffered some setbacks but was ultimately successful. As such this book still makes for an inspirational story.

This book is simply beautiful -- and it should be. Ayn Rand possessed a benevolent spirit, a tremendous intellect, and an unstoppable dedication to her work. She was both kind and powerful, joyful and driven, witty and serious. In short, Ayn Rand was one of the most intriguing human beings that this world has ever seen. If you don't know about her already, buy Atlas Shrugged. If you do know about her and you simply want to get to know her better, buy this gorgeous and informative little book.

Rand was rather circumspect about her life, preferring to let her philosophy be demonstrated through her characters. What biographies there are come from the dubious sources of Nathaniel and Barbara Branden, who are responsible for both the hagiographic Who is Ayn Rand? and the highly critical Judgement Day and The Passion of Ayn Rand. But a reliable biography is a good source: less subject to manipulation, it is a more honest, realistic depiction of a philosophy than a character whose circumstances can be rigged to cast them in the best possible light.

Jeff Britting was an associate producer of the documentary Ayn Rand: A Sense of Life and took the accompanying photographs from the Leonard Peikoff-controlled Ayn Rand Archive, so he has a potential bias as well, though it doesn't particularly show.

But enough talk of biases. This book starts from the very beginning and fills in much detail about Rand's early life, back when she was still Alisa Rosenbaum and living in St. Petersburg. After the scant coverage in the above-mentioned biographies, it's hard to believe that such details are even available, discussing her relationship with her parents and sisters and providing photographs of her birth certificate, the building her family lived in when she was born, and numerous family photos. Fans probably know that her first fictional hero was a character named Cyrus from a boy's magazine of adventure serials. Britting fills in details about how she came upon Cyrus and even includes a drawing.

Such details and illustrations continue throughout: Rand at university, complete with her application photo, a picture of Lev Bekkerman, her first romantic interest, Rand in her museum guide uniform, and her desperation with her ideals conflicting so painfully with the Soviet police state. Even her parents realize that she can't survive for long unless she can get away.

The opportunity opens up in 1924, with an invitation from a cousin of her mother's in Chicago, and the scheming begins: her mother and sisters take politically correct jobs and endeavor to lead exemplary communist lives, all so that Rand can get a passport and leave the country. In early 1926, she manages to do so, shouting to her parents as the train leaves Leningrad, "By the time I come back, I'll be famous!"

The rest of the story is more familiar from the other biographies: moving to Los Angeles, meeting Cecil B. deMille and Frank O'Connor, and beginning her writing career. But the marvelous images continue: Rand's own sketch of Frank, deMille's handwritten access pass for Ayn, and her green card.

I could go on and on about little revelations here and there, but I'll flip quickly to the end, where toward the end of her life Rand begins writing her own screenplay of Atlas Shrugged. One depicted sheet shows thoughts she had on the casting, including such names as Martin Sheen (as Eddie), Tom Skerritt (Francisco), Ned Beatty (Taggart), Kate Jackson, and Julie Christie (no parts suggested for the women).

Some bits are certainly glossed over, such as Rand's affair with Nathaniel Branden (mentioned but only very lightly and that it was with the consent of all concerned), and the mistreatment of her husband that the Brandens allege. However, those have been covered in gory detail elsewhere, and this is a brief biography.

But, brief though it may be, it manages to cover a great deal of ground in a mere 118 copiously illustrated pages. This is a must-have for any Rand fan.

This book is part of a series of small books published by OVERLOOK PRESS. Each book is written by a different author that specilizes in the various 'poets-writers-philosophers', as stated in each title.

I own several of these OVERLOOK PRESS books and I love them all,but note that this is only my personal opinion.

Please read my brief explanations as to why I enjoyed these OVERLOOK books....

~~~ First, I must point out that these small books are not complete biographies on the subjects. Rather,these books are short reference guides on each subject. (Great for beginners wanting to have a basic knowledge of each specific poet-writer-philosopher).

The most wonderful thing about each of these OVERLOOK PRESS books are the photos. Each book begins with the writer's early life, supported by wonderful photos (eg: where they were born, what their families looked like, etc). Then the chapters move on to explain the writer's basic philosophies.

Next, the OVERLOOK books recount some of the most famous (well-known) experiences that each writer experienced throughout their lives.

Lastly, each book gives a time-line of the writer's lives in an appendix towards the end of each book.

For example, this book I'm reviewing here is about AYN RAND.

Ayn Rand was a highly complex individual, and very difficult to pin down in one small book. Her philosophy (Objectivism) is difficult to explain in a few short chapters of a small book like this one. Therefore, if a reader is interested in reading specifically about Objectivism, then it would be best for them to buy a philosophy book on the subject first, before buying this brief OVERLOOK PRESS book.

However, if the reader is interested, as I was, in buying a book on Ayn Rand,...a book that shows what she looked like throughout her life and explains some basics about her life, then this book will not dissappoint.

Jeff Britting (archivist for the Ayn Rand Institute) has written a brief (135 pages or so) biography of Ayn Rand. The book contains dozens of photos so you really aren't getting anything close to a full-scale biography. The book is less hagiographic than you might expect given Mr. Britting's employer--Rand isn't so much praised as her flaws ignored. The split with the Brandens is mentioned, but their importance on her philosophy neglected.

I approached this book with a bit of trepidation but was pleasantly surprised. Britting has written a succinct, accurate, and appropriately inspiring precis of Ayn Rand's life. His formula is pretty simple: he sticks scrupulously to the facts, and puts them in their proper perspective. You couldn't ask for more in 134 pages. In addition, the book contains some gorgeous photographs (of St. Petersburg; The Fountainhead dust jacket portrait of Rand; of "Galt's Gulch" in Colorado), and is chock full of intriguing trivia that I hadn't encountered (or dreamed of) in two decades' study of Objectivism: who knew that E.L. Doctorow wrote the ad copy for "For the New Intellectual"; that Rand's favorite painting was Dali's "Corpus Hypercubus"; and that she opposed Japanese internment during WW II?

I also think that Britting's treatment of Rand's HUAC testimony and her association and eventual break with the Brandens is a model of lucidity and fairness. He presents the facts in a way that is favorable to Rand, but the facts he presents are undeniably true and relevant to any judgment one might make about Rand on those issues. I don't see how one can call this "hagiography" unless, of course, one begins with an a priori animosity against Rand (and in favor of Lillian Hellman, the CPUSA, Josef Stalin, the KGB, and/or the Brandens) and wants to see that animosity expressed in print.

As I lack the relevant animosity, I don't see hagiography here; I just see a book well worth reading, and at a bargain price.

This is an excellent example of the cutlish, doltish approach many "objectivists" take to Rand. For the true believers, it is "good" because it reinforces their beliefs. For thinking people on any side of the Rand debate, it is just another simpering example of group-think.