Synopses & Reviews
Thirty years after her death in March 1982, Ayn Rands ideas have never been more important. Unfettered capitalism, unregulated business, bare-bones government providing no social services, glorification of selfishness, disdain for Judeo-Christian morality—these are the tenets of Rands harsh philosophy.
In Ayn Rand Nation, Gary Weiss explores the people and institutions that remain under the spell of the Russian-born novelist. He provides new insights into Rands inner circle in the last years of her life, with revelations of never-before-publicized predictions by Rand that still resonate today. Weiss charts Rands infiltration of the Tea Party and Libertarian movements, and provides an inside look at the radical belief system that has exerted a powerful influence on the Republican Party and its presidential candidates. Its a fascinating cast of characters that ranges from Glenn Beck to Oliver Stone, and includes Rands most influential disciple, Alan Greenspan. Weiss describes in penetrating detail how Greenspan became a stalking horse for Rand—slashing and burning regulations with ideological zeal, and then seeking to conceal her influence on his life and thinking. Lastly, Weiss provides a strategy for a renewed national dialogue, an embrace of the nations core values that is needed to deal with Rands pervasive grip on society.
From The Fountainhead and Atlas Shrugged to Rands lesser-known and misunderstood nonfiction books, Gary Weiss examines the impact of Rand's thinking across our society.
Review
"Think Ayn Rand is marginal? Think again! Gary Weiss's powerful new history inscribes the libertarian firebrand at the very center of the American story of the past three decades. "--David Frum, NY Times bestselling author of The Right Man and Comeback
Review
"Meticulously eye-opening... A scrupulous and sobering investigation, vital for our times." —Kirkus Reviews
"[A] riveting and disturbing inquiry into Ayn Rand's widespread influence on Amerocan economics and politics." —Publishers Weekly
“Gary Weiss brings his skeptical bent and sharp writing to a character who has inspired both fanatical belief and deep derision for decades: Ayn Rand. The book is a compelling journey of discovery about a woman who continues to exert a powerful hold over our society. Weiss shows how Rand is ultimately quite a bit more complicated than either her fans or her detractors would have it.” —Bethany McLean, New York Times bestselling author of The Smartest Guys in the Room and All the Devils Are Here
“Ayn Rand Nation is a fascinating exploration of one of the fastest-growing and most powerful coalitions in American politics. With an unerring eye for detail, Gary Weiss embarks on a journey of discovery that examines the emerging influence of the Tea Party and other political groups that proclaim themselves to be Rands intellectual progeny. Weiss explores this phenomenon with the evenhanded and objective techniques of a sociologist. If you want to understand the men and women whose vehement voices are reshaping American government, you must read this book.” —Kurt Eichenwald, New York Times bestselling author of The Informant and Conspiracy of Fools
“The timing of this book couldnt be better for Americans who are trying to understand where in the hell the far-out rights anti-worker, anti-egalitarian extremism is coming from. Ayn Rand Nation introduces us to the godmother of such Tea Party craziness as destroying Social Security and eliminating Wall Street regulation. Weiss writes with perception and wit.” —Jim Hightower, New York Times bestselling author of Thieves in High Places
“Think Ayn Rand is marginal? Think again! Gary Weisss powerful new history inscribes the libertarian firebrand at the very center of the American story of the past three decades.” —David Frum, New York Times bestselling author of The Right Man and Comeback
Synopsis
A provocative examination of Ayn Rand's ideas and her enormous impact on American culture and politics—from Alan Greenspan to the Tea Party. Thirty years after her death in March 1982, Ayn Rand's ideas have never been more important. In Ayn Rand Nation, Gary Weiss explores the people and institutions that continue to be heavily influenced by Rand's work, particularly in the current political and economic climate. He covers a wide range of subjects, including veterans of Rands famed “Collective” of the 1950s; her intellectual heir, Leonard Peikoff, and his adversaries; Rand's permeation of the Tea Party and Libertarian movements; the celebrities who have become her fans and media personalities who promote her views, among them Glenn Beck, John Stossel and Rush Limbaugh; the Rand standard-bearer Congressman Ron Paul and his son Senator Rand Paul; and most importantly, Alan Greenspan and Rand's crucial affect on the man who counseled deregulation of financial markets--with lasting consequences for America today. From The Fountainhead and Atlas Shrugged to Rand's lesser-known and misunderstood nonfiction books, Gary Weiss examines the impact of Rand's thinking across our culture.
Synopsis
Thirty years after her death, Ayn Rands ideas have never been more important. Unfettered capitalism, unregulated business, bare-bones government providing no social services, glorification of selfishness, disdain for Judeo-Christian morality—these are the tenets of Rands harsh philosophy.
Now with a new afterword on Rand, Paul Ryan, and the 2012 presidential election, Ayn Rand Nation explores the people and institutions that remain under the spell of the Russian-born novelist. Gary Weiss provides new insights into Rands inner circle in the last years of her life, with revelations of never-before-publicized predictions by Rand that still resonate today. Lastly, Weiss provides a strategy for a renewed national dialogue, an embrace of the nations core values that is needed to deal with Rands pervasive grip on society.
From The Fountainhead and Atlas Shrugged to Rands lesser-known and misunderstood nonfiction books, Gary Weiss examines the impact of Rand's thinking across our society.
Synopsis
Thirty years after her death, Ayn Rands ideas have never been more important. Unfettered capitalism, unregulated business, bare-bones government providing no social services, glorification of selfishness, disdain for Judeo-Christian morality—these are the tenets of Rands harsh philosophy.
Now with a new afterword on Rand, Paul Ryan, and the 2012 presidential election, Ayn Rand Nation explores the people and institutions that remain under the spell of the Russian-born novelist. Gary Weiss provides new insights into Rands inner circle in the last years of her life, with revelations of never-before-publicized predictions by Rand that still resonate today. Lastly, Weiss provides a strategy for a renewed national dialogue, an embrace of the nations core values that is needed to deal with Rands pervasive grip on society.
From The Fountainhead and Atlas Shrugged to Rands lesser-known and misunderstood nonfiction books, Gary Weiss examines the impact of Rand's thinking across our society.
About the Author
Gary Weiss is a journalist and the author of two books probing the underside of finance, Wall Street Versus America and Born to Steal. He was an award-winning investigative reporter for BusinessWeek, and his articles have appeared in Condé Nast Portfolio, Parade magazine, Salon, and The New York Times, among other publications. He lives in New York City.