The other side of the coin!. Review on Virtue of Selfishness - Ayn Rand

Did you ever thought about it that selfishness could be a virtue,I never gave a thought to it,but after reading this book ,I realise that there is other side of the coin too about which we never think that we are selfish in some or other way in our day today lives,but Ayn ,an extremely intelligent woman,drives us to think about it and convinces us very logically that selfishness is every where,the only difference being, we never looked at it in a way she has looked and explored...She doesn't look at it in a negative way nor portrays it as villain,but shows us the reality in her own way to which we are surprised and convinced about the title of this book,THE VIRTUE OF SELFISHNESS.

This book is a collection of essays written by Ayn and her associate Nathaniel Branden published in a monthly journal published in 1960s.To me it seems an endless tirade and crusade against Altruism,collectivism,racism,goverment policies,socialism and what not ,everything under the sun she disliked..

She looks like very against Altruism(supporting self sacrifice)and writes scathing remarks about them.In the initial chapters,this book looks very heavy and depressing as we are used to comforting things,but as the book progresses logically,the reader(at least I)takes a U-turn and gets very interested in knowing what she is trying to explain,I even thought of quitting reading this book initially,but thought I must read it to the end ,may be I get something interesting and I did not regret the decision to complete the book.

Some essays written by Nathaniel Branden are very good especially on The Divine Right of Stagnation .Ayn had an affair with him during her association with him although married to Frank O Connor,a Hollywood actor.Later on they left each other.

She has also written some chapters on racism,racial quotas,capitalism etc. which drives us to think that problems are still the same 40 years later and every country has same type of problems everywhere.She stresses the importance of action and rejects racism.

But I did not buy many of her thoughts like she says there should be no value system,no self sacrifice by saying "When no alternative exists,no values or goals are possible" so there should be no value system...I think if we go according to her,there would be total chaos and whole world would become a jungle where everyone is doing whatever he/she wants...she very interestingly reflects human beings as a moron in an essay…she looks like a strict matron and sometimes uses very harsh words for human beings as if she was some kind of alien visiting earth! But for sure ,some of her thoughts are very well written and worth reading,but she contradicts herself many a times.

Another controversial thing she has written is 'Faith is a malignancy" this means we all are suffering from a 'grave' disease from which these two 'angels' will cure us:)

She keeps on talking about a book called ATLAS SHRUGGED and writes portions from this book.This is one of her fiction book.

She was born in USSR,but migrated to USA and criticises many of the government policies of Russia such as their Space Mission saying 'all public projects are mausoleums,not always in shape,but always in cost".She praises USA initially,but then gets disillusioned with them and criticises their racial policies.Also is against use of physical force in mankind saying'if men have to deal with one another,they may do so only by means of reason,by discussion,persuasion and voluntary ,uncoerced agreement".This is really needed nowadays.

Another chapter by Nathaniel is very good called "The psychology of pleasure". One of the line I liked very much in this was 'A man falls in love with and sexually desires a person who reflects his own deepest values",I think this is the absolute truth.

She puts up pertinent questions many times in this book and drives us to think otherwise..

I think some of her views are her personal views and may not be taken kindly by people,but still on the whole,this book is a head-churning book which drives us to think on many subjects...we live in a free society fortunately and must think about as ...I quote one of her line from this book..."In a nonfree society,no pursuit of any interests is possible to anyone,nothing is possible but gradual and general destruction"...

Thanks for reading my review.