This collection of essays was the last work planned by Ayn Rand before her death in 1982. In it, she summarizes her view of philosophy and deals with a broad spectrum of topics. According to Ayn Rand, the choice we make is not whether to have a philosophy, but which one to have: rational, conscious, and therefore practical; or contradictory, unidentified, and ultimately lethal. Written with all the clarity and eloquence that have placed Ayn Rand's Objectivist philosophy in the mainstream of American thought, these essays range over such basic issues as education, morality, censorship, and inflation to prove that philosophy is the fundamental force in all our lives.
Philosophy: Who Needs It (The Ayn Rand Library)
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Editorial Reviews
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''Ayn Rand's writings have altered and shaped the lives of millions. This selection of essays is an example of her best.'' --Alan Greenspan, former chairman of the Federal Reserve Bank
''Although this omnibus volume. . . is written for an audience of believers, readers unfamiliar with [Rand's] novels might find it a useful starting point.'' --Publishers Weekly
For those who want to understand the philosophic implications of our era, this collection by Ayn Rand is an excellent place to begin. --Richmond News-Leader
''Although this omnibus volume. . . is written for an audience of believers, readers unfamiliar with [Rand's] novels might find it a useful starting point.'' --Publishers Weekly
For those who want to understand the philosophic implications of our era, this collection by Ayn Rand is an excellent place to begin. --Richmond News-Leader --This text refers to the Audio CD edition.
''Although this omnibus volume. . . is written for an audience of believers, readers unfamiliar with [Rand's] novels might find it a useful starting point.'' --Publishers Weekly
For those who want to understand the philosophic implications of our era, this collection by Ayn Rand is an excellent place to begin. --Richmond News-Leader
''Although this omnibus volume. . . is written for an audience of believers, readers unfamiliar with [Rand's] novels might find it a useful starting point.'' --Publishers Weekly
For those who want to understand the philosophic implications of our era, this collection by Ayn Rand is an excellent place to begin. --Richmond News-Leader --This text refers to the Audio CD edition.
About the Author
AYN RAND (1905-1982) was born in Russia, graduated from the University of Leningrad, and came to the United States in 1926. She published her first novel in 1936. With the publication of The Fountainhead in 1943, she achieved a spectacular and enduring success and her unique philosophy, Objectivism, gained a worldwide following.
--This text refers to the
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Ayn Rand's first novel, We the Living, was published in 1936. With the publication of The Fountainhead in 1943, she achieved spectacular and enduring success. Through her novels and nonfiction writings, which express her unique philosophy, Objectivism, Rand maintains a lasting influence on popular thought.
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
82 of 86 people found the following review helpful
Format:Mass Market Paperback
After writing my review for this book, I found that my opinion had already been expressed in a previous review from July, 1999:
"The title essay was originally a speech given at West Point, and one of Miss Rand's own favorite pieces. In it, she eloquently demonstrates the importance of philosophy in man's life... in EVERY man's life. "...the choice we make is not whether to have a philosophy, but which one to have: rational, conscious, and therefore practical; or contradictory, unidentified, and therefore lethal." This book is for those interested in philosophy, as well as for those who aren't.
"As Leonard Peikoff states in the Introduction, "Ayn Rand was not only a novelist and a philosopher; she was also a salesman of philosophy -- the greatest salesman philosophy has ever had." Philosophy's purpose is not to impress people at cocktail parties or to "trick" people in debates with ready-to-wear paradoxes. Philosophy is essential to life -- read this book to discover why. "
However, some assertions proposed in negative reviews should be addressed for prospective readers. The assertion that her "theory of human nature states that men are the product of whatever philosophical convictions they happen to "program" into their minds" is an absolutely inaccurate representation of Rand's theory and needs to be identified as such. Rand's theory, obvious for any reader with an honest desire to understand what she wrote, was that the state of a person's life, including his actions, productivity and overall happiness, result from the beliefs and values that a person holds. As was stated earlier, a person has no choice whether or not to hold a philosophy; the conceptual nature of consciousness allows one no option other than to have beliefs and values. The issue is whether to form your beliefs and values by the method of rational, conscious thought or simply to allow them to arise within your unconscious as the result of arbitrary life experience (meaning: by default). *This* is the reason that philosophy is a practical necessity for every human being and why the answer implicit within the question "who needs it?" is EVERYONE.
An important aspect of life is "relating to other people", but this is in no way fundamental. Social relations fall within the context of politics, the branch of philosophy dealing with interactions between people. Politics is derivative of ethics which is derivative of the fundamental branches of philosophy: epistemology and metaphysics. Underlying fulfilling and happy life of satisfying relationships is the ability to use one's mind properly. All actions an individual takes result from his beliefs and values just as in logic, conclusions follow from premises. Dismissing these fundamental facts as impractical philosophical speculation is both myopic and concrete-bound. An understanding of these issues is the beauty of this book and the rest of Rand's work. Take heed, however. If you have already made up your mind to reject a derivative part of her philosophy, such as laissez faire capitalism or the ethics of one's own life as the standard of value, and are unwilling to question your pre-established beliefs, then you will derive no benefit from this reading.
42 of 45 people found the following review helpful
Format:Mass Market Paperback
Ayn Rand's philosophy of Objectivism is implicit in her novels, but
she held that the plot of a story was never to be subordinated to
didactic philosophical purposes. Thus, even in *Atlas Shrugged*, the
novel in which her philosophy is most explicit, many details are left
out. After *Atlas* was published, Ayn Rand spent much of the remainder
of her life writing essays that elaborate upon her philosophy and apply
it to current events. *Philosophy: Who Needs It* may be the best
collection of these essays for a curious reader to start with.
The answer to the question implicit in the title is that
*everyone* needs philosophy, that philosophy is an inescapable
part of your life. The real questions are: Is your philosophy an
integrated system that you consciously accept? Or is it a random
assortment of rules of thumb, trite slogans, and things you learned in
church, none of which you ever think to question? In the title essay,
Ayn Rand does not try to sell you on her particular philosophy, but on
the importance of philosophy as such. I recommend this book to anyone
who thinks philosophy is merely of "academic" interest.
39 of 44 people found the following review helpful
Format:Mass Market Paperback
It would be a bit silly to run on about this book, since all territory seems to have been covered exhaustively. 5 stars if you like her, one star if you hate her. All I would say is that this is an excellent book of essays which, even if you don't take all of it as the gospel, articulate some incredible points that certain political quarters would like to see disappear. Say what you will, she was an extraordinary intellectual force (which is obviously why she elicits such strong reactions) and her ideas aren't going away.
I can't wait to read more of her work.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
Answer: Everyone Needs Philosophy
One of my favorites of Rand's non-fiction books. It was compiled mostly from her newsletter, The Ayn Rand Letter, right before the end of her life and shows her rallying yet again... Read more
Published 7 days ago by Andy George
Ayn Rand: Tough Cookie; Tough Topics
I've always wondered about Ayn Rand and her objectivist philosophy, particularly her opposition to altruism. Read more
Published 1 month ago by bronx book nerd
Ayn Rand: Who needs her?
In typical Ayn Rand, god-like, fashion, it is the rich and powerful who make the rules. And if those rules don't conform to the requirements of the rich, powerful, elite, liberal,... Read more
Published 1 month ago by Flavius Stilicho
DON'T BE A SCHMOO
This book is a collection of 18 essays written from 1970 to 1975. As was Aristotle, Ayn Rand is concerned with: metaphysics (being, where and who am I? Read more
Published 2 months ago by G. Charles Steiner
Philosophy for Life
This book argues that whether we want it or not, whether consciously or not, we all are driven by philosophies. Read more
Published 16 months ago by well informed optimist
Good but refs written for back then
this book is very eye opening. it gives insight to things youve always seen and probably knewabout but never connected them properly as she has. Read more
Published 16 months ago by Chris Portela
Rand's lectures on philosophy/psychology
Few writers are capable of eliciting as powerful a reaction as Ayn Rand. From abject hatred to total adoration, her writing has stirred both. Read more
Published on January 16, 2010 by Bobby Newman
Haven't had time yet
I have not yet had time to read this book but look forward to it. I'm quite familiar with her works and plan to read it when work slows down.
Published on January 7, 2010 by Paul Coulston
An Active Mind is better than an Open Mind
History is vindicating Ayn Rand's warnings, which explains the current popularity of her novel Atlas Shrugged. Read more
Published on September 5, 2009 by Pieter
Choose Life
As history unfolds Ayn Rand's views are proving to be prophetic, which explains the current popularity of her great novel Atlas Shrugged. Read more
Published on September 3, 2009 by Pieter
Inside This Book
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First Sentence:
Since I am a fiction writer, let us start with a short short story. Read the first page Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
tribal lone wolf, metaphysically given, altruist morality, conceptual faculty, conscious convictions, fairness doctrine, stock seed, autonomous man Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Atlas Shrugged, Supreme Court, United States, First Amendment, Soviet Russia, Chief Justice Burger, Law of Identity, Helen Keller, Justice Douglas, Immanuel Kant, Nazi Germany, The New Republic, Annie Sullivan, The New York Times Book Review, West Point, Justice Brennan, Professor Paulsen, Science Without Experience, The Missing Link, Victor Hugo, Causality Versus Duty, John Rawls, Peregrine Worsthorne, The Ayn Rand Letter, Twin Oaks New!
Books on Related Topics | Concordance | Text Stats Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
Since I am a fiction writer, let us start with a short short story. Read the first page Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
tribal lone wolf, metaphysically given, altruist morality, conceptual faculty, conscious convictions, fairness doctrine, stock seed, autonomous man Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Atlas Shrugged, Supreme Court, United States, First Amendment, Soviet Russia, Chief Justice Burger, Law of Identity, Helen Keller, Justice Douglas, Immanuel Kant, Nazi Germany, The New Republic, Annie Sullivan, The New York Times Book Review, West Point, Justice Brennan, Professor Paulsen, Science Without Experience, The Missing Link, Victor Hugo, Causality Versus Duty, John Rawls, Peregrine Worsthorne, The Ayn Rand Letter, Twin Oaks New!
Books on Related Topics | Concordance | Text Stats Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
Citations (learn more)
This book cites 13
books:
See all 13 books this book cites
- Beyond Freedom & Dignity by B. F. Skinner on 6 pages
- A Theory of Justice by John Rawls on 5 pages
- Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand in Front Matter (1), Front Matter (2), and page 102
- The Miracle Worker by William Gibson on page 90, and page 93
- Helen Keller (In Their Own Words) by George Sullivan on page 90, and page 93
See all 13 books this book cites
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