Biography of Ayn Rand
I was so captivated by Jennifer Burns’ (newer) biography of Milton Friedman that I decided to read her biography of Ayn Rand. Admittedly, Rand’s writing didn’t grab me when I tried a couple of times to read her books years ago. At the same time, I fully realize that her writing has influenced a lot of folks and her books continue to sell all these decades later.
Rand started to get traction writing and speaking in opposition to FDR and The New Deal, which she saw as collectivist and giving excessive power to the state. She believed in the power of the individual and the heroes of her novels were highly individualistic and formidable characters who—-basically—-achieved through the force of their own creativity and will. Rand was an admirer of Frederich Neitzche who greatly influenced her. She was one who emphasized reason and a highly rational approach to the world and she’d recoil when someone lead with emotions and feelings. (The 60s and 70s must have been a challenging time for her.)
Candidly, while interesting (and possessing of no shortage of IQ points,) I don’t find Rand to be a particularly attractive personality. She wasn’t one to tolerate disagreement with her views and could be dismissive and testy with friends and associates. But there’s no getting around her influence. And she managed to achieve a considerable level of success both in terms of money and reputation.
She had no use for the concept of God or religion. She didn’t think altruism is a good thing. (On this one I can appreciate part of what she is getting at having myself witnessed the mixture of motives behind some efforts that purport to be about “doing good.”) Still, living in a world of her design would not be at all appealing. (Not to mention totally unworkable.)
Rand’s frenzied work was in part driven by copious consumption of Benzedrine, a stimulant widely prescribed years ago. This didn’t do anything to temper her characteristic edginess.
Rand’s impact on contemporary thought is, obviously, still in evidence. The timeless debate about whether we look out for ourselves or others (or some combination of both) will continue forever. Burns’ book illuminates the life of this intelligent (and quite eccentric) individual.