Is Ayn Rand worth reading if I already focus on myself and my family?

[HatchetHarry]

i understand Rand’s importance among the working population but I am not sure If I could benefit from her writing. I’ve already believed in taking care of oneself and ones family rather than supporting other peoples poor lifestyle choices. I look at Atlas Shrugged and want to read it but I have heard horror stories about John Galt’s 50 page rants. Right now my extra reading is all pleasure because I am so busy with school. I’m on a huge Stephen King kick right now and on 11/22/63(amazing btw) but I’m still trying to better myself and Rand keeps appearing.

 

[Tycho- Taylor's Version]

If you're already a self-centered prick then reading Rand might help you become a pretentious self-centered prick.

 

[HHJ]

I read the Fountainhead and loved it. I didnt have to agree with her philosophy to enjoy it. Atlas Shrugged is a much more difficult read. I had a hard time with the lumbering slow pace. Apparently at some point there is a 22 page monologue. Not trying to tackle that any time soon,but she has my respect.

 

[TheGZA]

Here's the tl;dr:

Metaphysics: The universe exists objectively,
independent of consciousness. Its fundamental law is
the law of identity, A is A.

Epistemology: Reason is man’s only means of
knowledge, both of facts and of values. “Reason” is
the faculty of identifying and integrating, in conceptual
form, the material provided by man’s senses.

Ethics: The only scientific ethics is the ethics of
rational self-interest, which holds that Man’s Life is the
standard of moral value and that rationality is the
primary virtue. Each man, therefore, should live by his
own mind and for his own sake, neither sacrificing
himself to others nor others to himself.

Politics: The only social system consistent with the
requirements of Man’s Life is laissez-faire capitalism,
the complete separation of state and economics. The
proper function of government is to protect each
individual’s inalienable rights to life, liberty, property,
and the pursuit of happiness.

Esthetics: “Art” is the re-creation of reality
according to an artist’s metaphysical valuejudgments-
and the greatest school in art history is
Romanticism, whose art presents things not as they
are, but as they might be and ought to be.

 

[skysolo]

i understand Rand’s importance among the working population but I am not sure If I could benefit from her writing. I’ve already believed in taking care of oneself and ones family rather than supporting other peoples poor lifestyle choices. I look at Atlas Shrugged and want to read it but I have heard horror stories about John Galt’s 50 page rants. Right now my extra reading is all pleasure because I am so busy with school. I’m on a huge Stephen King kick right now and on 11/22/63(amazing btw) but I’m still trying to better myself and Rand keeps appearing.

Don't read it to agree or accept the ideals. You read it to learn. See other perspectives.

The same reason you would read the Mein Kampf or 9 circles of hell.

 

[HHJ]

Don't read it to agree or accept the ideals. You read it to learn. See other perspectives.

The same reason you would read the Mein Kampf or 9 circles of hell.

Exact!

I would reccomend the fountainhead over atlas shrugged . Atlas Shrugged is not even close to casual reading.

 

[Kirin]

No one should read ayn rand for anything more than entertainment, and even that is questionable. I read "we the living" and thought it was ok.

Her entire mindset is based around extreme right-wing economic ideology. Nothing particularly noteworthy or intellectually rigorous.

 

[MadSquabbles500]

What genre is Ayn Rand primarily? Is she Sci Fi?

 

[Johnson]

Give it a go. If you agree with her philosophy, you’ll probably think she’s some great genius and love it. If you see her ideas as delusional nonsense, then you’ll give up and say eff this.


Her writing is long-winded, repetitive trash regardless. But confirmation bias tricks people into thinking it’s somehow not.

 

[HatchetHarry]

Give it a go. If you agree with her philosophy, you’ll probably think she’s some great genius and love it. If you see her ideas as delusional nonsense, then you’ll give up and say eff this.


Her writing is long-winded, repetitive trash regardless. But confirmation bias tricks people into thinking it’s somehow not.

Why is it trash? I have heard good things about The Fountainhead and Anthem even from people who hate her philosophy.

 

[Johnson]

Why is it trash? I have heard good things about The Fountainhead and Anthem even from people who hate her philosophy.

I wasn’t feeling the writing style. It’s just my opinion, that's why I said give it a go. You may like it.

Also, I only ever tried reading Atlas Shrugged of hers, so maybe her other books are better. But I didn’t like nor finish it so I saw no point in reading her other ones. Authors tend to write the same way regardless of the subject matter.

 

[heyguy]

No.

 

[Hog-train]

Ayn Rand is the biggest hypocrite there is - she railed against public assistance her whole life, yet received it when she needed it.