The Virtue of Selfishness
Nov 1964 · Penguin
4.6star
52 reviewsreport
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176
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About this eBook
A collection of essays that sets forth the moral principles of Objectivism, Ayn Rand's controversial, groundbreaking philosophy.
Since their initial publication, Rand's fictional works—Anthem, The Fountainhead, and Atlas Shrugged—have had a major impact on the intellectual scene. The underlying theme of her famous novels is her philosophy, a new morality—the ethics of rational self-interest—that offers a robust challenge to altruist-collectivist thought.
Known as Objectivism, her divisive philosophy holds human life—the life proper to a rational being—as the standard of moral values and regards altruism as incompatible with man's nature. In this series of essays, Rand asks why man needs morality in the first place, and arrives at an answer that redefines a new code of ethics based on the virtue of selfishness.
More Than 1 Million Copies Sold!
Since their initial publication, Rand's fictional works—Anthem, The Fountainhead, and Atlas Shrugged—have had a major impact on the intellectual scene. The underlying theme of her famous novels is her philosophy, a new morality—the ethics of rational self-interest—that offers a robust challenge to altruist-collectivist thought.
Known as Objectivism, her divisive philosophy holds human life—the life proper to a rational being—as the standard of moral values and regards altruism as incompatible with man's nature. In this series of essays, Rand asks why man needs morality in the first place, and arrives at an answer that redefines a new code of ethics based on the virtue of selfishness.
More Than 1 Million Copies Sold!
Ratings and reviews
4.6
52 reviews
Torri Pierre
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25 September 2014
I love her works. Yet you must be able to grasp large concepts through analysis of alliteration while understanding the objective view point
1 person found this review helpful
Jeremy Rodriguez
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30 October 2023
After reading this a second time, I now understand the importance of individualism and rationality in our daily lives more than I did the first time I read it. While I won't treat this book as my Bible, it will definitely be a guide to living a more fruitful and fulfilling life.
Keith Reed
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31 May 2017
Great book. Groundbreaking approximately to rational selfishness explained in this set of essays. A great starting point to Rand's unique ethics.
6 people found this review helpful
About the author
Born February 2, 1905, Ayn Rand published her first novel, We the Living, in 1936. Anthem followed in 1938. It was with the publication of The Fountainhead (1943) and Atlas Shrugged (1957) that she achieved her spectacular success. Rand’s unique philosophy, Objectivism, has gained a worldwide audience. The fundamentals of her philosophy are put forth in three nonfiction books, Introduction to Objectivist Epistemology, The Virtues of Selfishness, and Capitalism: The Unknown Ideal. They are all available in Signet editions, as is the magnificent statement of her artistic credo, The Romantic Manifesto.
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