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Ayn Rand

Alan Greenspan

Capitalism: The Unknown Ideal Mass Market Paperback – July 15, 1986

by Ayn Rand (Author), Nathaniel Branden (Author), Alan Greenspan (Author),

515 ratings

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In this series of essays, Ayn Rand presents her stand on the persecution of big business, the causes of war, the default of conservatism, and the evils of altruism.

The foundations of capitalism are being battered by a flood of altruism, which is the cause of the modern world's collapse. This is the view of Ayn Rand, a view so radically opposed to prevailing attitudes that it constitutes a major philosophic revolution. Here is a challenging new look at modern society by one of the most provocative intellectuals on the American scene.

This edition includes two articles by Ayn Rand that did not appear in the hardcover edition: “The Wreckage of the Consensus,” which presents the Objectivists’ views on Vietnam and the draft; and “Requiem for Man,” an answer to the Papal encyclical Progresso Populorum.

Print length

416 pages
Language

English
Publisher

Signet
Publication date

July 15, 1986
Dimensions

4.13 x 0.91 x 6.75 inches
ISBN-10

0451147952
ISBN-13

978-0451147950
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Editorial Reviews

Review

“One of the most revolutionary and powerful works on capitalism—and on politics—that has ever been published.”—Professor Leonard Peikoff, Barron’s magazine

About the Author

Born February 2, 1905, Ayn Rand published her first novel, We the Living, in 1936. Anthem followed in 1938. It was with the publication of The Fountainhead (1943) and Atlas Shrugged (1957) that she achieved her spectacular success. Rand’s unique philosophy, Objectivism, has gained a worldwide audience. The fundamentals of her philosophy are put forth in three nonfiction books, Introduction to Objectivist Epistemology, The Virtues of Selfishness, and Capitalism: The Unknown Ideal. They are all available in Signet editions, as is the magnificent statement of her artistic credo, The Romantic Manifesto.

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Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Signet; Reissue edition (July 15, 1986)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Mass Market Paperback ‏ : ‎ 416 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0451147952
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0451147950
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 7 ounces
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 4.13 x 0.91 x 6.75 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #123,661 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #74 in Political Reference
- #109 in Free Enterprise & Capitalism
- #371 in Political Philosophy (Books)

Customer Reviews:
515 ratings

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5 star		84%
4 star		9%
3 star		2%
2 star		1%
1 star		4%

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Top reviews from the United States

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Lead-foot

Breaking through the all too common misconceptions about what capitalism actually is

Reviewed in the United States on October 31, 2016

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A few years ago, after living through the worst presidency I've witnessed, that of Bush 43, I began to pay more attention to econo-political ideas. I was a moderate leftist, believing that conservatives and their Wall St partners had bankrupted the world economy. I was very receptive to liberal criticisms of so-called capitalism and the profit motive as the conduit for the greed that led to the aforesaid bankruptcy. It really seemed to me that the only solution was a more stringent regulatory environment. Looking back on it, I can still understand why I believed as I did.
Somewhere along the line, I began to start questioning my beliefs. I went back to school to earn an MBA and learned more about finance and economics. I hypothesized my own views about all this as though I were a business owner or CEO, facing turbulent market conditions. Then I noticed something. No business owed me a job, no gov't agency owed me survival, no one else owed me anything. In simple terms, my needs place no justifiable moral obligation on anyone else.

Although I was familiar with this book, I felt for a long time that I wasn't ready for it. Should all those liberal beliefs I'd adopted turn out to be wrong? In some ways, no. I was still sure that bigotry and nationalism weren't defensible. In basically every other way, yes. Liberal economic ideas are, once you're honest about policy ideas, fully indefensible.

Conservative or liberal leaning, I definitely recommend one take the ideas advanced in this book seriously. Consider them and be honest with yourself. The most extraordinary idea for me is that the cause of most of the problems of which we lament is the same regulatory power we hope will fix them. After this I'll be studying economic history of this regulatory environment to determine if/how it led to market imbalances and distorted incentives. So long as gov't has legal power over commerce, crony capitalism (NOT REAL CAPITALISM) will never end. Yet I'm curious to see how the regulatory machinery may create more problems than it solves. For now, I'd consider myself tentatively in favor of laissez faire capitalism.

I can also fully recommend the blog talk radio podcast of Dr Yaron Brook. It's a very thought provoking show for those tired of being locked into the outdated liberal-conservative buckets.

79 people found this helpful

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PatrickWinn

A Must Read

Reviewed in the United States on November 9, 2019

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Ayn Rand was a genius of our time. No individual that I know of has spelled out (not even in her native language) so perfectly, the underlying structure of the philosophy of a system of trade that is truly just and vital for mankind to live productively and peacefully. This small book is extremely rich and I had to consume it in small bites as each sentence seems so concise and relevant. This should be a must read in every high school in the world but many of you know why it isn't. If it were, what might the world look like?

16 people found this helpful

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Rico

Discusses the rational and moral basis of capitalism

Reviewed in the United States on December 16, 2016

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Published 60 years ago this year, this book is still relevant not only because of Ayn Rand's deep insight, but despite all the social and technological changes the world has seen, much of the same machinery is in place.

Ayn explains the flaws with critiques of capitalism and how they often aren't rational, why the 'capitalism' of today isn't the capitalism she advocates, why aiming to profit by taking advantage of others isn't congruent with capitalism, and why the laissez faire capitalism she *does* advocate is based on goodwill and justice, not deceit and plunder.

As such, she presents capitalism as an economic system almost as an aside: she focuses on it as a moral system, and tells you why it's superior to its predecessors and various alternatives.

While there are a few things out of place, and the overall philosophy isn't perfect, this book presents a powerful case for why laissez faire capitalism should be the bedrock of a peaceful, rational society.

20 people found this helpful

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Bill

but his book is better to understand the foundations of the system

Reviewed in the United States on January 25, 2016

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This is a 5 star book to understand the philosophy of Capitalism and the horrors of other systems. It does not endeavor to explain capitalism nor should it. I'm not sure Adam Smith felt the same way as Ayn Rand about "why" capitalism is so virtuous, but his book is better to understand the foundations of the system. Rand helps understand why it is better than any other. I believe that she also understood the need for government and implicit in that is "a mixed economy." Once you have government protecting any right of free man, it will infringe on what someone else feels is his/her right. If you have no basis in philosophy, this book can be cumbersome, full of "-isms" and "-ibilities." It is fun and educational whether you believe in capitalism or not.

7 people found this helpful

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G. Morin

Current systems of government explained

Reviewed in the United States on October 9, 2015

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This book is where Ayn Rand compares Capitalism to the current systems of government.

In it she explains quite well the working of everything from Capitalism to every system of Interventionism to Communism.

I was raised to believe that the "middle ground" (Interventionism) was good and moral although (as a French Canadian living in Quebec) I could see how government Health Care was burning through doctors and never made the connection why it was/(still is) getting worse.

This book is like 50 years old and it is still describing very well the working of what I seen as a Canadian inside our system. Like corporate favors that disadvantage the customer (air canada, bell, etc) this book help me notice how everyone of our major political parties are just a representative of pressure groups (out to get advantages at the benefit of everyone else).

A damn good read.

10 people found this helpful

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Top reviews from other countries

park3r

Capitalism, the only moral system.

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 14, 2017

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This is undoubtedly one of my favourite books. It is full of essays, with clear and concise defence of Capitalism. It's a brilliant book for picking up when you have 5 minutes and time to read a quick essay.

I found myself enjoying Alan Greenspan's essays more than I thought. He really could be Dr Stadler. How can a proponent of a Gold Standard then become the head of the immoral, Federal Reserve and then inadvertently help cause the 2008 crises, with the help of Bill Clinton. It truly is Atlas Shrugged coming to life. (Check out John Allison lectures on the financial crises on YouTube. His explanation is truly remarkable and brilliantly explained).

Capitalism is truly the only moral political and economic system. I honestly think, if this book was more widely read, it would change the world.

8 people found this helpful

Damis

A good book

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 28, 2011

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The book is a good collection of essays on various points which relate to the main theme of Capitalism. Rand offers a defense of Capitalism and why it is the only system that we know of that yields a great amount of material and civil development whilst retaining and promoting the liberty of the individual. The defense is however offered in the context of her own philosophy and her argument therefore relies upon the premises of her system of morality and rationality. Throughout the work she introduced the concepts of moral 'principle' and 'ideology' and builds a case for why these are important by making examples of various events, citing article extracts and so on in order to analyze and produce her evidence.

The promotion of Capitalism on moral ideals and practical examples are often contrasted against the purported effects of altruistic/Socialist consequences and actions of a controlling government. Rand introduced the term 'Statist' to describe systems and those who ascribe control and planning as means to achieve their goals, in this context the control is mainly economic. I believe Rand and her associates offer a compelling case against political control of the market by examining the direct and indirect negative effects whilst offering in turn the benefits of a free market. In the true Libertarian inspired tradition of concern for the rights of the individual, the ultimate effects of Statist control are portrayed as devastating to the rights and freedom of the individual.

A number of essays included are by Nathaniel Branden and Alan Greenspan. Greenspan provides the backbone of the book through his analysis of the technicalities of a free market system and how it is superior to those who receive government aid, he also provides a potent portrayal of how a mixed economy can be abused through government bureaucratic controls, e.g lobbyists by those who under a free system would be unable to exploit such structures that government interference creates.

Branden himself covers the practical effects on institutions such as education, however I feel that in his arguments he is a little vague as to the ultimate effect that such measures of reform would have. He also covers the topic of 'Alienation' rebutting the Hegelian/Marxist mystic concept of the term and proposing in favour a case for people as being alienated through the lack of self-esteem and happiness due to lack of rational decision and personal freedom. However I feel this is a point so abstract as to perhaps question the concept of 'Alienation' itself.

The whole book therefore rests on the premise that historically Capitalism in it's semi-enabled forms during the 19th century and early twentieth were not exploitative systems of class struggle or disproportionate wealth but rather a revolutionary system of development for all through the ability of rational individuals.

The only weak points that I feel this book has, at least from the view of an acceptance of a majority of Objectivist premises or arguments is that Rand herself begins to repeat the same points frequently in the later chapters, perhaps however it is a means to show the depth of the issues, however I felt that it did impact negatively on the fluidity of the read itself. And also Branden's vagueness as I already mentioned, I feel let the book down, had he been more concise with his conclusions, I could well have rated this book with five stars.

Overall a good book for someone seeking a defense of Capitalism on practical and philosophical grounds.

6 people found this helpful

Karen

A philosophical understanding of Capitalism

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 8, 2019

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I found Rand's explanation for the capitalism system very well build and tied up with philosophical principals. I thoroughly recommend it to anyone who'd like to go deeper in the basis for the capitalist system.

One person found this helpful

Mr. Vincent Waterfall

This is a fascinating book. Although you might not ...

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 10, 2015

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This is a fascinating book. Although you might not agree entirely with Ayn Rands views it brings home how governments and organisations manipulate and distort.

2 people found this helpful

José

Five Stars

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 23, 2017

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O.K.

2 people found this helpful

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