The Passion of Ayn Rand's Critics (Hardcover)

~ James Valliant (Author)
Key Phrases: stylized universe, social metaphysician, social metaphysics, Ayn Rand, Barbara Branden, Nathaniel Branden (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review

"This book is going to be the Objectivist sensation of the year." -- Autonomist

"This is a vital work, perhaps a bible, for the serious students and supporters of Ayn Rand." -- Robert Middlemiss, editor-in-chief Durban House Publishing

Product Description

For years, best-selling novelist and controversial philosopher Ayn Rand has been the victim of posthumous portrayals of her life and character taken from the pages of the biographies by Nathaniel Branden and Barbara Branden. Now, for the first time, Rand's own never-before-seen journal entries on the Brandens, and the first in-depth analysis of the Brandens' works, reveal the profoundly inaccurate and unjust depiction of their former mentor. This explosive book lays to rest the myths promulgated by the Brandens' books that have made their way into both the popular and scholarly debates about Rand's life and work, from academic journals to Hollywood movies. At last author James S. Valliant shines light on the truth hidden by the Brandens' biographies and sets the record straight on one of the most influential thinkers of our time.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 385 pages
• Publisher: Durban House (May 1, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1930754671
• ISBN-13: 978-1930754676
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.3 x 1.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (41 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #537,134 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

25 of 33 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Remarkably poorly done, December 27, 2008

By	Rich Yampell - See all my reviews

Let's start with my context. I am not a member of any Objectivism faction. I have never met or had anything to do with any of James Valliant, Nathaniel Branden, Barbara Branden, or Ayn Rand. I'm just a guy who has read Ayn Rand's work with interest and enthousiasm, and read both Brandens' books on her. I don't know that I call myself an Objectivist, but I am in basic agreement with all of its core premises.

And the most important of those, as Rand herself claimed, is reason. And so it was in accordance with reason that I wanted to read this book, to get the other side of the story and judge for myself.

Sadly, reason is what this book is wholly lacking. I wasn't even able to get more than a few chapters into it before I was forced to judge it worthless and not worth my time. Paragraph after paragraph, sentence after sentence was filled with claims and assertions that simply did not meet the basic test of logic. There were very specific errors in logic, but also a broad one underlying (and undermining) the whole affair: the assumption that anything the Brandens say must be taken with great skepticism, but anything that Rand says is unquestioned Truth, to be taken at face value. The result is that this is not a scholarly work that objectively examines the evidence and draws negative conclusions about the Brandens' accounts. This is a deliberate hatchet job, determined to focus on any negative aspect it can find or manufacture, and ignore any possible positive evidence, inference, or interpretation. The Brandens never get the benefit of doubt on any point, while Rand never gets the detriment of even a single doubt.

And it's a shame, because an even-handed examination of the veracity of the Brandens' accounts would be valuable. It is rather a shame that the main biographical information we have about Ayn Rand comes from two people who had complex personal relationships with her (in this case, leading to unpleasant breakups), which certainly has the *potential* to distort their account, even if unintentionally. As a parallel, consider the way that Schindler's biography of Beethoven is shown by later scholarship to be very flawed. But sadly, Valliant is no Thayer. I suspect that scattered about in Valliant's vitriol are some nuggets of truth. But it was just way too much effort for me to try to mine them.

What's more, the book isn't even well written. I found it poorly organized, flitting somewhat jarringly between seemingly unrelated harping points. It is certainly tedious, belabouring its points relentlessly and in minute detail.

But the main problem remains the poor logic. The unproven assertions, the drawing of conclusions not warrented from the evidence, the direct contradictions. I truly regret spending my money on this book.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars This book takes aim at Rand's critics but hits her instead, September 24, 2009

By	Anaximander (Texas) - See all my reviews

This book accomplishes the opposite of what it intends. The author is trying correct Rand's public image; the author seems to think that the two Brandens destroyed or damaged it. The first of half of the book reads like a prosecutor's brief against the Brandens, and it is a terrible read. The last part of it has a bunch of Rand's journal entries, analyzing them to prove how rational and brillant she was. I am truly stunned that Rand's estate allowed her previously unreleased journal entries to be used in this book. The entries make her appear to lack any self awareness, among other not so positive traits.

I don't really care about the Brandens, and the great rift happened before I was born. Reading about it now makes all sides look bad, though that was not the author's intent. Any description of a break up of two adulterers makes both parties look bad. I hate to say it, but the book feels like it was written by a "true believer" type. As a result, it unintentionally reinforces many of the negative viewpoints that the author is trying to correct. And it tries so hard to glorify Ayn Rand's actions (and demonize the Brandens' actions) that it is too one-sided to be credible. Objective, it is not. If someone wants to counter the Brandens' portraits of Ayn Rand, then this is the wrong approach. A better approach would be to write a full biography of her, correcting any misconceptions or errors contained in the prior biographies and fully humanize her - place the Brandens in the context of Rand's whole life and achievements. Ayn Rand is the one everyone is interested in - she wrote the books, etc; the Brandens are just a side show. I just can't believe that Rand's estate would let her private papers be used in this trashy book!

Now fun facts I learned from this book:
1. The author speculates that Rand's husband might have enjoyed the fact that she was having an affair. Ewwww. And not believable.
2. Throwing a surprise party for someone is evidence of an evil plan against that person!
3. An affair with a married person 25 years younger than you is rational!
4. The author actually states that Rand was totally open with her followers about the rift (in contrast to the Brandens), except for failing to tell them about the affair. Besides that minor detail, she told them everything!
5. After looking at Rand's journal entries, it appears that she did not do a lot of introspection about herself or her emotions. Sad.

129 of 187 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Now we can put all that rubbish behind us..., May 15, 2005

By	Michael Limber (Carlsbad, CA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Kudos to Mr. Valliant. His new book The Passion of Ayn Rand's Critics has made me proud to call myself an Objectivist once more. This thoroughly researched and readable book reveals the scope of the premeditated and self-serving dishonesty of Nathaniel (and Barbara) Branden against the person and character of Ayn Rand. These lies (made while she was alive and especially after her death) smeared the reputation of Ayn Rand to the point that a mere mention of her name or ideas in certain quarters is met with a chorus of ad hominem attacks.

The book thoroughly exposes the Branden's and their motives, finally laying to rest all of the urban myths surrounding these private affairs, assisted by portions of the unpublished journals of Ayn Rand herself. I care little for the private lives of philosophers, but these matters have become an impediment to the serious discussion of Ayn Rand's ideas. Valliant's deft dispatch of the Branden's should clear the path for more rational consideration.

More interesting, the book reveals the amazing focus and moral clarity of Ayn Rand; remarkable given the painful personal nature of the context. Few who are familiar with the consistency and systematic nature of her values will be surprised that she was able to discover, despite the evasions and misdirection of her psychotherapist business-partner/lover, the true nature of Nathaniel Branden. But her ability for rational introspection during difficult emotional circumstances, while still feeling the emotions, is truly inspiring.

One the greatest contributions and innovations of Ayn Rand is her integration of the fields of Ethics and Metaphysics -morality based on reality, with `life' as the objective standard of value for human beings. In an age dominated by mystics on one side and relativists and skeptics on the other, the philosophical alternative offered by Objectivist ethics is a desperately needed (and much more rational) option.

Thanks to Mr. Valliant's efforts in The Passion of Ayn Rand's Critics, the growing popularity for the ideas of Ayn Rand can enjoy a further renaissance of careful consideration and genuine debate, and we can put all that other rubbish behind us.