“Petrograd smelt of carbolic acid.” The reek of that powerful disinfectant — used to abate the spread of lice-borne diseases — hints at the squalor that defines Petrograd. The city, in the years after the Communist revolution, is a study in filth, poverty, quiet despair. Returning to Petrograd by train is a young woman, whose … Continue reading The Timeless Power of We the Living, Ayn Rand’s First, But Least Known, Novel
Tag: New Ideal
Well before the Islamic State declared itself a “caliphate,” its leaders announced their aim plainly. But few took them seriously. “Our objective,” stated one of its spokesmen, “is the formation of an Islamic state on the prophetic model that acknowledges no boundaries, distinguishes not between Arab and non-Arab, easterner and westerner, but on the basis … Continue reading A Blind Spot Obscuring the Islamist Menace
The issue of compromise comes up all the time, everywhere. To have healthy, meaningful relationships, we’re advised to seek out a middle ground. In the workplace, we hear, it’s vital that we compromise. Even as some people insist that compromise is a guiding principle of social life, it’s clear that not every compromise leads to … Continue reading Does Success in Life Require Compromise?
Ayn Rand held that self-esteem is not simply desirable, but an essential value in human life. It is no less important, no less necessary, than food and physical health. And on her view it is something within your direct control to achieve: each of us can attain it. Yet many people find it difficult. Why? … Continue reading Why So Many People Struggle to Gain Self-Esteem
The movie adaptation of The Fountainhead was first released in theaters in July 1949, and it featured two of the era’s biggest stars, Gary Cooper and Patricia Neal. But the making of that film was itself a dramatic story. It’s a story of “how Ayn Rand sold the screen rights to The Fountainhead — without selling out.” … Continue reading The Dramatic Story of Making “The Fountainhead” Movie
The Islamic State, or ISIS, was a grotesque enigma when it burst on the scene in 2014. After conquering vast tracts of Iraq and Syria, ISIS became notorious for beheadings and crucifixions, and for reinstating the practice of slavery. But to what end? What did ISIS really want? It soon became clear that our political … Continue reading A Conversation with Graeme Wood: What ISIS Really Wants
What is “extremism”? Seems obvious, many people would say: just look at the actions of a white supremacist who shoots up a mosque or synagogue. Or a jihadist’s suicide attack. There are many other vicious acts that we commonly label as “extremism,” which one dictionary defines as “the holding of extreme political or religious views.” … Continue reading Why Ayn Rand Opposed “Extremism”
In 1947, during what some call the “McCarthy Era,” Ayn Rand was asked to testify before the House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC) on the influence of Communism in Hollywood. She appeared as a “friendly witness.” The standard verdict on these hearings, and on Rand’s participation, is unequivocal condemnation: The hearings were an inquisition that destroyed … Continue reading Why Rand Was Right to Testify Against Hollywood Communism
Elan Journo 