• The Virtue of Selfishness

  • By: Ayn Rand
  • Narrated by: C. M. Hernert
  • Length: 6 hrs and 15 mins
  • 4.4 out of 5 stars (1,311 ratings)

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The Virtue of Selfishness

By: Ayn Rand
Narrated by: C. M. Hernert
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Publisher's summary

Ayn Rand here sets forth the moral principles of Objectivism, the philosophy that holds human life - the life proper to a rational being - as the standard of moral values and regards altruism as incompatible with human nature, with the creative requirement of survival, and with a free society.

Ms. Rand's unique philosophy, Objectivism, has gained a worldwide audience. The fundamentals of her philosophy are set forth in this insightful piece of nonfiction.

©1961 Ayn Rand; 1961 by the Objectivist Newsletter Incorporated (P)2000 Blackstone Audiobooks
  • Unabridged Audiobook
  • Categories: History

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what a great study in the way america is supposed

loved to listen. this study is better understood by listening than by reading. great voice by the reader

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Brilliant perspective that is sorely missed today.

Brilliantly read! Refreshing to hear perspectives that were widely spoken years ago but seem to be incredibly rare today. Really makes you look at things differently. Great read!

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Don't Blank-Out

What did you love best about The Virtue of Selfishness?

This is a well put together chain of reason and logic. I believe that Socrates would have been won over by Ayn Rand with this one work. Ayn is very patient and very systematic in this presentation. I have spent time studying several popular philosophies, and traditional beliefs. There is so much built-in contradiction in so many philosophies that are explained with impenetrable mysteries that end in unreasonable statements. The clarity of Ayn Rand presents a startling contrast to all those philosophies. She asks only for clear reasoning, not for a leap of faith.

It is a frustrating experience to speak with someone who chooses not to think beyond a point. Art Markman points out in "Smart Thinking" that thinking uses a lot of energy and that the human brain is designed to conserve energy. This may explain the abdication of thinking and reasoning that so many choose when faced with the challenge of thinking all the way through a philosophical presentation.

Please listen to this several times before you decide Ayn Rand, Objectivist philosophy is just wrong. If you are a libertarian, but you have no philosophical underpinning for your beliefs, listen closely to Ayn Rand's challenging essays on Objectivism. If you get tired of thinking, take a break and come back to it, don't give up. Don't decide that your brain is not qualified to reason it out. To allow others to think for you to stop thinking things through and understand clearly what you believe is to throw yourself on the pyre of another's unreasoning sacrifice. It is blanking out. Make yourself valuable to yourself. Work for yourself. You get what you want by providing what others seek or need.

Whether you call it enlightened self interest or selfishness, you are attaining what you seek in a society of peers who reward others who produce what they want. Ayn Rand uses the term selfish to get your attention. To act selfishly, she indicates, it to make your own decisions based on your own resources, perspectives, goals. Helping others is an act of goodwill, not of duty. A charity is only a charity if contribution is voluntary. To give with another's money is taking, not giving.

Is it abusing others to give them a task or job and pay them what at the level they request? As soon as one is rewarded based on need versus based on what they earn, that entire society will parish. Reward for accomplishment is reasonable. One way to look at it is to say that the only thing worth more than gold is trust. I offer my pay (gold) to someone I trust to deliver something I want (plumbing or food, etc.). This is exactly what I offer to those who pay me, trust that I will deliver what I promise. My reputation and demonstrated skills result in the value of what I offer. The value is different to others based on their need or desire.

Ayn Rand lays these simple, reasonable principles end to end in a very logical presentation.

You may ask who will protect me or others from people or organizations who do not deliver what they promise. The role of a government is simple. It is to review the promise as presented (contract) and help enforce this promise for the weaker participant in the contract. Simpler contracts and straight forward trades make it easier for contract participants to understand what to deliver and when. Complex agreements will require help to define the agreement. As it stands now, all the rules, laws, subtleties to commitments makes it impossible for anyone to know where a commitment begins and ends without professional assistance. By complicating the contract with interfering laws and inferences, all parties enter into unknown risks, The one with more influence and professional assistance gains advantages in this system. Reducing government interference benefits the ones with limited means and influence.

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Well Read and Presneted

This recording was excellently read and presented. I have been reading Rand of late and to her these views presented against the times Rand lived in were insightful and enlightening. Short but well worth a monthly point to listen to.

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self Idolatry

I couldn't get through the first chapter. It was as if a demon wrote the book. Human self worship. Pride is listed as a virtue.

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Situations and examples from this time period are identically relevant today.

This verbalizes and defines a lot of things that think and believe but have a hard time eloquently explaining to others.

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Robust Metaethics

Ayn Rand’s analysis of capitalist and socialist societies is liable to generate projects that would address the inhuman sides of both systems and reinforce their respective benefits for individuals and societies.

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Compelling case for individualsm

I now understand the hype behind Ayn Rand. Any hardworking successful person listening to this book will recognize the fundamental truths behind Rand’s ideas. The narrator is excellent.

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Inimitable Philosophy

A superbly written book on arguably one of the most important components a person must address. Becoming proud of your individualism

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Thinking, explained right.

Anyone and everyone should be exposed to the words that are so honestly spoken in this piece.

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