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The Ayn Rand Cult 1st Edition

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Jeff Walker (Author)
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Jeff Walker (Author)
3.3 out of 5 stars 75 customer reviews
ISBN-13: 978-0812693904
ISBN-10: 0812693906
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Product Details

  • Paperback: 396 pages
  • Publisher: Open Court Publishing Company; 1st edition (December 30, 1998)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0812693906
  • ISBN-13: 978-0812693904
  • Product Dimensions: 6 x 0.8 x 9 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
  • Average Customer Review: 3.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (75 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,507,158 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Top Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 starsFollow the Randian Road? A retraction.
By John Allen <editor4k@bellsouth.net on August 22, 2000
Format: Paperback
After re-reading THE AYN RAND CULT (this time with the aid of an index, bibliography, and citations for each quote), I would be remiss in not correcting my 1-star review, dated 2/19/99. In fairness, however, and for educational purposes, I hope the earlier review remains posted.
As I write this, 16 of 43 reader-reviews carry only 1 or 2 stars. Most negative reviews read like cases of 'kill the messenger,' and many were clearly submitted by ardent Rand fans. In the investment world, one can often take analyses of "experts" as contrarian indicators; so, too, with book and movie reviews and, frequently opinions of others. [Of course, this caveat might also apply to me. You decide.]
I ceased to be a 'Rand fan' in 1980, after increasingly serious doubts that first began to surface in 1969. Because I personally knew 13 of the 29 people Mr. Walker interviewed, in addition to Ayn Rand and Frank O'Connor, I can confirm much of Walker's book from a first-hand perspective, beginning in 1964 at Denver University.
Walker's thesis is that "certain philosophies, by their nature, are conducive to a cult mentality," and that Objectivism is such a doctrine. His Introduction is the best summation of the "Objectivist Movement" I can remember reading during the past 20 years. The entirety of Chapter 2 is devoted to discussing cults in general, destructive cults, and the many ways in which Objectivism qualifies in virtually all aspects. The balance of the book, except for the 'might have been' alternative biography at the end, explores in detail each of those aspects, and much more.
His account covers vast territory in plain, non-jargonized English.Read more ›
12 Comments 124 people found this helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No Sending feedback...
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3.0 out of 5 starsWho is Jeff Walker?
By Michael Vanier on November 6, 2000
Format: Paperback
I have very mixed feelings about this book. On the positive side, the book contains a tremendous amount of interesting historical information about Ayn Rand and the Objectivist movement. The author quite successfully makes his point that Objectivism was/is a cult; though this is hardly an original claim, it has never been so thoroughly supported as it is here. However, the book is so negative and biased that it undercuts the arguments Walker is trying to make. Walker doesn't even try to be objective; I challenge you to find a single positive thing said about Rand or the Objectivist movement in the book's 300+ pages. I think Satan comes across better in the Bible than Rand does here. Most of the evidence given is through quotes, generally from former Objectivists. That's fine, but there is also a tremendous amount of unsupported (and nasty) editorializing, e.g. "By all accounts, the young Alissa [Rand] was not a particularly lovable child." Also, Walker often goes to great lengths to discredit certain people (notably Nathaniel Branden), and then uses quotes from them to support later arguments. If they aren't credible, why should we give their opinions any credence? Also, Walker accuses Branden of being responsible for his second wife's death and subtly implies that Leonard Peikoff is a homosexual. I could go on and on, but the point I'm trying to make is that Walker has a tremendous axe to grind, and much of the book appears to be a smear campaign for its own sake. Furthermore, Walker never makes it clear exactly why he hates Rand and Objectivism so much, aside from the fact that Peikoff threatened to sue him once regarding a radio program on Rand that Walker wrote.Read more ›
9 Comments 125 people found this helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No Sending feedback...
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3.0 out of 5 starsAn OK book, but not scholarly or profound,
By mpresley@bellsouth.net on March 20, 1999
Format: Paperback
Jeff Walker's book, "The Cult of Ayn Rand", is a mixed bag. The writing style ranges from erratic to concise and cogent, however his obvious disdain for Rand and the members of her circle intrudes on his analysis and places his own objectivity at question (pun unintended). On the other hand, anyone interested in understanding Rand and her followers ought to read the book in spite of its imperfections. The first clue as to the tone of the book is the cover. Rand (never what many would call a beautiful woman) appears as a caricature. This, when coupled with the garish yellow on red layout immediately tells the reader that what is inside is not likely to be either pretty or particularly refined. In this case it is easy to judge the book from its cover.
The book is fairly well documented from both existing sources along with his own interviews. Walker begins with a history of the inner workings of Objectivism as a cult followed by several brief discussions of key players-Nathaniel Brandon, Leonard Peikoff, and Alan Greenspan. The portraits are not flattering. Unfortunately, in the case of Greenspan, inasmuch as he was not a key player in either the formation or evolution of the "cult," Walker has to spend his time criticizing Greenspan's handling of Federal Reserve monetary policy. In Walker's estimation, the Fed Chairman's job performance has been and continues to be marginal at best. In the author's opinion, Greenspan is indirectly responsible for the Savings and Loan debacle, and directly responsible for, among other things, "Black Monday" and George Bush's reelection failure. Walker attempts to explain Greenspan's Federal Reserve policy actions as a function of the influence of Rand's zero inflationist and gold standard views.Read more ›
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Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 starsA cult certainly, genius certainly.

And yes it was and is a cult. Fascinating women. Her vision is almost inhuman to my ear but... her books are classics and completely unique and of course still highly political. Read more

Published 14 months ago by Knight Rain
5.0 out of 5 starsFive Stars

very interesting.

Published 18 months ago by C. E. Robinson
5.0 out of 5 starsRand and Disney: the Childrens' Crusade.

I enjoy helping out with my neighbor's children. Having not fully recovered from the crash of '08, both parents have taken second, part-time jobs that, for three days a week, leave... Read more

Published 21 months ago by bill harris
3.0 out of 5 starsVery mean, very niche, very interesting

It's not too hard to find nasty denunciations of Ayn Rand in print, but none are quite as comprehensive as Jeff Walker's. Read more

Published 21 months ago by J.B. Anderson
5.0 out of 5 starsThe Ayn Rand Cult

I have recently made it a goal to read all of her books, and all of those that discredit her. Since I heard certain politicians proclaim her to be a genius, I wanted to know what... Read more

Published 24 months ago by junebug
2.0 out of 5 starsCult of the teacher worshipers

I have read through Walker's book, and find it has so much difficulty in making a specific point, that any factual information identified has little relevance to anything. Read more

Published on March 13, 2014 by C. Walker
4.0 out of 5 starsThe Rand Kool-Aid drinkers want it both ways

Apparently Jeff Walker worked for a Canadian radio network in the early 1990's, and he got assigned the task of preparing a show about Ayn Rand and her original movement in the... Read more

Published on August 19, 2013 by M. A. Plus
5.0 out of 5 starsA Real Heroine

Ditto from my previous comments about admiration for Rand. Cannot say more except it's not easy reading but very interesting.

Published on January 28, 2013 by mary petts
2.0 out of 5 starsVery difficult to get through

First of all, you must be extremely interested in Objectivism and Rand to want to really read this book.... Read more

Published on April 12, 2012 by KDelphi
2.0 out of 5 starswhat is 'cult'? If it's a cult, so then?

Did he define what is meant by 'cult'? Did he say that to be a cult is good or bad - how?
The fact is, each of us all belongs to a cult. Read more

Published on July 7, 2011 by Oun K.

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