Reconsidering Ayn Rand

Ayn Rand is one of the most influential writers of the twentieth century. As the author of two best-selling novels, The Fountainhead and Atlas Shrugged, and numerous nonfiction works, Rand has influenced a generation of readers with her controversial ideas about reason, atheism, egoism, and capitalism. Rand's ideas have penetrated every level of society, and her influence has not diminished since her death in 1982. She continues to have an impact on contemporary culture, and her ideas are now experiencing a second renaissance.

Like many of Rand's admirers, Michael B. Yang was influenced by Rand's writings as a teenager and adopted her philosophy of Objectivism. However, as Yang completed his undergraduate work at The Johns Hopkins University and embarked upon his studies at Harvard Medical School, he discovered a number of inconsistencies in Rand's writings. These problems prompted him to reexamine her philosophy and ultimately led him to discover a different source of truth.

Reconsidering Ayn Rand tells the story of how an ordinary person who once believed in the philosophy of Ayn Rand ultimately came to understand differently. It considers Rand's fiction from a critical point of view exploring the themes of self-esteem, human worth, productive work, and romantic love that permeate much of her writings. Finally, Reconsidering Ayn Rand is a comprehensive analysis of Objectivism. It covers the entire spectrum of Rand's philosophy from reason and reality to morality, government, science, and theology.

Reconsidering Ayn Rand is self-contained. It includes a valuable synopsis of Rand's two major novels and a brief survey of her philosophy. The book accommodates the beginning as well as the seasoned reader of Rand.

With the recent resurgence of interest in her ideas, it becomes clear that Reconsidering Ayn Rand is a vitally important contribution to the growing body of works on the fiction and philosophy of Ayn Rand.