Thread: Ayn Rand’s Revenge

Quote: Originally Posted by Broken Sword I've always wondered what was so cliche-ish about this name. I can't think of any definite reason that it's silly, but there are such obvious bad-guy vibes around it that I feel like I'm forgetting a cultural reference that's just on the tip of my brain. Nicolae is like the stand-by Eastern European villian name. Also, there's this guy. Carpathia is forever linked in the...

Quote: Originally Posted by Broken Sword I wonder how many people who think that Rand is an admirable genius are also religious extremists? I imagine there has to be a decent bit of overlap...which is rather amusing. There was a guest on The Colbert Report who just came out with a new book about Rand's rather cyclical popularity. She pointed out that the resurgence of Rand is this time happening even in religious conservatives, which is...

Quote: Originally Posted by fitz1980 Isn't that exactly what Silas Sparkhammer just said? No. He said everybody has at least some leadership ability. I disagree, as there are some people who possess zero leadership ability. Quote: Nowhere did I get anything about just anyone being able to lead. Try this part edited by me: Quote: Leadership capability is [...] not an "either-or" quality [...] I do think it is an either-or...

Quote: Originally Posted by Hyper Squirrel I've tried to read The Fountainhead several times now. Every time has ended with me tossing the book aside and rambling about how much I hate it. This is not a book to be tossed aside lightly, it should be thrown with great force.

Quote: Originally Posted by Silas Sparkhammer I'd never claim Atlas Shrugged was "great." I'm not really even sure I'd say "good." But it's fun. It's readable. Clearly, you and I define those adjectives differently.

Quote: Originally Posted by Mama Duck Which, oddly enough, was also written to demonstrate the author's personal philosophy. Which, I profoundly hope, is limited to him (or them). Bit of Tribulation Force , the second book, as Chaim Rozensweig discusses the potential of his magical formula to feed the world: ( emphasis mine) "It's too early to tell, of course, but if the formula works as well as it has in Israel, Botswana will...

Quote: Originally Posted by Winged Monkey You've clearly given this some thought. Personally I can't get past the hateful trecale. I suppose that's my failing, I do after all find the Red Baron's autobiography interesting (though his junker patriotism rests lighter on the text then Rand's crazy). No failings involved, just different tastes. I remember back when Stephen R. Donaldson ("Lord Foul's Bane"...

Quote: Originally Posted by Errata It is also reminiscent of Vigo the Carpathian from Ghostbusters II. "He is Vigo! You are like the buzzing of flies to him!" I almost never get to use that quote - thanks. -Winged Monkey

Quote: Originally Posted by Mama Duck Nicolae is like the stand-by Eastern European villian name. Also, there's this guy. Carpathia is forever linked in the minds of many Westerners to the Carpathian mountain range made (in)famous by Bram Stoker. It's right up there with naming your villian Snidely Whiplash. Very cartoonish. Ah, yes, I think it was the reference to the Carpathian mountains mixed with the subtle Nicolae/Dracula...

Quote: Originally Posted by Hyper Squirrel I've tried to read The Fountainhead several times now. Every time has ended with me tossing the book aside and rambling about how much I hate it. I like parts of The Fountainhead. But, again, Rand's earlier works are much more readable, IMO. My personal opinion is that Rand's work declined due to depression and other mental issues. The feelings in Anthem are ones of, "I've...