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The Virtue of Selfishness: Fiftieth Anniversary Edition Mass Market Paperback – CLV, November 1, 1964

by Ayn Rand (Author), Nathaniel Branden (Contributor)

2,293 customer reviews

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A collection of essays that sets forth the moral principles of Objectivism, Ayn Rand's controversial, groundbreaking philosophy.

Since their initial publication, Rand's fictional works—Anthem, The Fountainhead, and Atlas Shrugged—have had a major impact on the intellectual scene. The underlying theme of her famous novels is her philosophy, a new morality—the ethics of rational self-interest—that offers a robust challenge to altruist-collectivist thought.

Known as Objectivism, her divisive philosophy holds human life—the life proper to a rational being—as the standard of moral values and regards altruism as incompatible with man's nature. In this series of essays, Rand asks why man needs morality in the first place, and arrives at an answer that redefines a new code of ethics based on the virtue of selfishness.

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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.

Product details

Mass Market Paperback: 173 pages
Publisher: Signet; Mass Paperback Edition edition (November 1, 1964)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 9780451163936
ISBN-13: 978-0451163936
ASIN: 0451163931
Product Dimensions: 4.2 x 0.5 x 6.9 inches
Shipping Weight: 2.9 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
Average Customer Review: 2,293 customer reviews
Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #38,174 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #32 in Books > Politics & Social Sciences > Philosophy > Epistemology
- #162 in Books > Politics & Social Sciences > Philosophy > Ethics & Morality
- #306 in Books > Literature & Fiction > United States > Classics

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A must read for all who do not lfoolishly go along with society's ever changing ideas of Truth.

June 4, 2016

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

First read this in college (40+ years ago) and found it an amazing read. Makes a strong statement on individualism, integrity, and principaled living. May lead you to new insights on livinging free and uncompromised. Downloaded it again to read it and remind myself what a real "superman" is. If you like to run with the herd you might not like it. On the other hand it may remind you why it is intellectual death to submit to society's ever changing principals and mores. A must read for all independent thinkers

24 people found this helpful

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March 10, 2018

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

Startling, in that this work, combined with Atlas Shrugged, shines a beacon on the life of men in such a way that causes a sincere and thorough examination of that which drives me, in my search for excellence and productivity as a man. I had not previously been presented with such a reasonable and clearly spoken verbal picture of the choice all men must make, every day of their lives, often many times a day, between the parasitic versus the creative mindset, and the resulting actions that naturally follow that demonstrate the truth of the decisions we make in each moment. My chosen daily occupation as a builder grants me endless opportunity to make these choices and observe the results of each one, in the viewing of the finished product I have created, and the reception of it by those who are to use what I've built. I can say, resoundingly and without hesitation, that the ideology Ayn Rand has elucidated upon in Fountainhead and Atlas Shrugged are without doubt the recipe to living a hero's life of accomplishment and confident honesty. Her description of the tactics and motives of the parasite class connected lots of dots for me that I had previously wondered about (what's wrong with that guy that he would allow himself to build such wretched garbage? What's wrong with the telecom company that it uses intentionally dishonest marketing tactics to squeeze a few extra cents a month from their customers? How can "government officials" wink and turn a blind eye on horrifyingly immoral conduct by huge lending institutions who make it their policy to use predatory and openly fraudulent methods to confiscate property that the owners of depend upon for their shelter and livelihood?) but hadn't taken the time and energy to seriously research and think through. My gratitude to Ayn Rand for helping me along the path to the beginnings of wisdom, and a clearer path forward as a creative force on the planet called earth.

8 people found this helpful

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This book will make you think

September 21, 2016

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

This book reads like a novel, but it was intended to be more than that--to present an idea in an engaging way. When I rate the characters as "one-dimensional," that is not a negative. This was done deliberately by the author because each character is an archetype of something. I love this book. I read in my youth and I've re-read it recently. A lot happened after Rand wrote this book. She wrote more on the philosophical front and became quite well known, if not recognized. I won't get into that here. I enjoy this book for what it is. My life was made richer by it, and it will always remain one of my favorite reads of all time.

9 people found this helpful

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Brilliant piece of work which will be misunderstood, as Ayn Rand usually is ...

August 23, 2014

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

I've read "Atlas Shrugged" years ago. It was a novel that changed my life. While I never subscribed 100% to objectivism, it opened my eyes, especially to philosophy. I won't go into a pro / against debate against the philosophy in this book because it is highly misunderstood. It is like going against religion.

The book itself deserves five stars. I've noticed patterns and even complete lines that were later found in Atlas Shrugged but it is an amazing worship to the human individualism and might. If someone asked me what this book is about, I might answer "why, you and I, the humans, are great".

Howard Roark is an amazing character, far better than Francisco D'Anconia, John Galt or Henry Rearden. It feels like someone you can identify with and it is impossible not to love. On the other side, Toohey was the best defined villan in the industry of literature. By the end of the book you hate his guts and you want him to die a slow and painful death.

The only "problem" with this book is that there is no real completion. There is no real happy ending. There is only a bitter sweet conclusion. You wish it could go 200 pages more so the fate of one character in special would change. Compared to Atlas Shrugged where these is a finality to everything as everyone either dies, goes insane or simply loses, here it feels like it is missing an act.

The most representative example is Wynand. The good guy gone bad gone good who in some way you feel pity for. In the movie he committed suicide. In the book he doesn't. And by the end of the book, my only concern was with him.

You know how in some books one person sacrifices himself all for the right reason?
You know how in others one person betrays for all the right reasons?

Now combine these two and you will have a tragic character, one that you love and want to hate but you can't.

In any case, that's beside the point of this review. If you consider the human animal is insignificant in front of a god or nature, if you consider that people are equal because of their existence and not competence, if you consider that need comes before competence and that ego is a bad thing, that pride is evil, then DO NOT read this book.

It will just annoy you. This is a book for those who love themselves, who love the best in human nature and who want to celebrate this. It is the American Dream.

25 people found this helpful

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