Now in a completely revised, updated, and expanded edition, Mimi Gladstein's The New Ayn Rand Companion continues to be a critically important, essential guide to the life and works of author/philosopher Ayn Rand. Gladstein chronicles and summarizes Rand's writings, presents information about her national and global impact (and the response to it) and provides the most comprehensive bibliography published to date. Gladstein is neither an Ayn Rand enthusiast or detractor and therefore takes a scrupulous, scholarly, methodical, and emotionally neutral approach to her meticulous research as she covers the complete Rand corpus. New materials about Rand's posthumous publications, the latest biographical information, and summaries of books and articles about Rand published since her death have been added to make The New Ayn Rand Companion a "must" for all serious students of her writings.

The first edition of this book was published within a couple years of Rand's death, so there is much updating to be done (although that earlier edition did benefit from a preview of Barbara Branden's biography of Rand, then still in progress). In addition to The Passion of Ayn Rand, many of Rand's private journals and letters have now been published, and a number of important secondary sources as well, such as Chris Matthew Sciabarra's full-throttle philosophical and historical study Ayn Rand: The Russian Radical. Almost every work of significance pertaining to Rand is described or at least mentioned, making this volume a reference of first resort for Rand studies.

What's covered here? Let Gladstein answer: "The organization of this Companion follows a logical heuristic: Who? What? and So what? 'Who is Ayn Rand?' is the question answered partly by the brief biographical chapter. The main body of this book, however, responds to the question, 'What has she written?' That is covered in the chapters on her fiction, her nonfiction, and in the compendium of characters. 'So what?' is the question that calls for critical reaction and that is provided in the chapter on criticism."

The author also provides a comprehensive bibliography of works by and about Rand. Even such obscure pieces as David M. Brown's hitherto unheralded survey of "The Critics of Barbara Branden" (published in the May 1988 issue of Liberty magazine) are included.

Gladstein has much that is both positive and on-point to say about Rand's character, her fiction, her nonfiction, and the various critical assessments of her work. She doesn't shy away from negative judgments when such are appropriate, either.

On Rand Herself: "Regardless of what pressures were brought to bear, regardless of how many of those in power told her that she must change her style, regardless of what obstacles she found to 'doing it her way,' Rand remained true to her purposes in writing." "Intellectually, she could best anyone in argument.... Bennett Cerf concurred, 'You can't argue with Ayn Rand. She's so clever at it, she makes a fool out of you.' " Rand's personal shortcomings are mentioned, as well as the troubling circumstances that surrounded the Objectivist Crackup in 1968; but Gladstein does not dwell on such matters. Of course the works cited, the most important of which is The Passion of Ayn Rand, tell the whole story of Ayn Rand's often triumphant, sometimes tragic life.

On Rand's Fiction: "Rand's major literary works follow similar plot patterns. In each, an exceptionally able and individualistic protagonist battles the forces of collectivism and mediocrity that are threatening or have destroyed the nation or the world." "Rand's heroes are tall, straight and strong. As with their feminine counterparts, defiance is a keystone to their characters." "The major theme of Rand's fiction is the primacy of the individual. The unique and precious individual human life is the standard by which good is judged." Mention is also made of such leitmotifs as "recurring whip imagery" and "romanticized rapes" that are "symbolic of the head-on clash of two strong personalities." (Gladstein is quick to add that readers of "raised consciousness about the nature of rape might find this symbolism unpalatable," but neglects to state clearly that the vigorous sexual encounters in Rand's fiction cannot be taken as actual rape-not if the text itself is to be admitted in evidence.) Gladstein's summaries of Rand's stories are uniformly excellent.

On Rand's Nonfiction: "Montaigne, author of the book Essais which created the genre of the essay, defined the essay as 'an attempt,' a brief discussion as opposed to a thesis or dissertation. [The essays of The Virtue of Selfishness] are just that-compressed discussions, forays into their subjects. As such, they are appealing to interested nonacademic or nonspecialist readers as well as to the more serious student of Objectivism." "Rand says capitalism is the only moral politico-economic system in history, a system that has been a great boon to humankind [TDO thinks Gladstein means "mankind" here].... Her purpose [in Capitalism: the Unknown Ideal] is to clearly identify the benefits of capitalism while also exposing the nature of its arch enemy, altruism." "One of Rand's greatest gifts is her ability to cut to the heart of a contemporary event or issue and analyze its philosophical implications." "The specific referencts of [The Objectivist Newsletter] were events of the early sixties. What makes them intellectually satisfying today is that the basic premises Rand uses to criticize government, education, or literature apply now as they did then."

The chapter on "Criticism of Rand's Works" includes a summary of every work about Rand that has been published, and mentions a great many of the critical articles. As you can imagine, the criticism is a very mixed bag, as assessments of Rand run the gamut in tone and objectivity. To her great credit, Gladstein's sensibility in criticizing the criticism is almost infallible. Any palpable blunders in The New Ayn Rand Companion? One or two. In the introduction the author states that Rand "presented herself as representative of her fictional ideal: rational, objective, uncompromising, unswerving. Her followers can find no imperfections. This tends to create a situation in which all who are not fully in accord with Rand are seen as part of the opposition." The gist of the observation is correct, but some qualification should have been made. Elsewhere in the book Gladstein herself documents the growth of more tolerant wings of the Objectivist movement, including the birth of The Institute for Objectivist Studies (now The Objectivist Center) and the publication of David Kelley's Truth and Toleration. (Alas, the Companion went to press just around the time The Daily Objectivist was being founded, so TDO's rapid ascendancy as the premier arbiter of non-orthodox Objectivist thought, displacing Kelley's organization, is not mentioned at all. Hopefully this omission will be rectified in the third edition.)

Another little glitch we could mention appears in the description of Hank Rearden. "Although [Rearden's] feelings for Francisco d'Anconia are strained by Francisco's superficial public image, their friendship grows until Rearden finds out that Francisco had been Dagny's lover." But in fact the great breach in the friendship occurs earlier in the novel, when Rearden realizes that Francisco had had the means to prevent a disaster from befalling Rearden Steel but chose not to prevent it. The discovery of Francisco and Dagny's past romance only increases but does not inaugurate the tension between the two men when they finally next encounter each other in Dagny's apartment. Anyone who has read Atlas Shrugged a million times cover to cover would be familiar with this sequence of events.

However, these points are trivia. Ninety nine point nine nine percent of the time Gladstein is completely accurate, not to mention astonishingly concise given the wealth of information she presents. She acknowledges the assistance of a number of major figures in the Objectivist movement, including Chris Matthew Sciabarra, Nathaniel Branden and Barbara Branden, Peter Saint Andre, Michelle Marder Kamhi and Lou Torres. Anyone with any serious interest in the work of Ayn Rand and its growing influence on our culture should own a copy of The New Ayn Rand Companion.--David M. Brown, Editor, The Daily Objectivist (www.dailyobjectivist.com)

Ignore reviewers who nit-pick irrelevant details in Atlas Shrugged and the other novels of Ayn Rand. Far from promoting a a persecution, victimization attitude, Rand's books promote individualism, independent thinking and reason. Unfortunately, her philosophy contradicts centuries of flawed philosophy taught by and to our "intellectuals." For this reason, Rand's philosophy must be studied. It cannot be spoon-fed, like baby food, to those who "wish" that her book was written differently.

Go to http://www.aynrandbookstore.com for books and tapes by authors and teacher who really understand the precise literary and philosophic integrations contained in her novels. You will find that Rand wasn't 100% accurate, but she formulated a philosophy that answers some of the most profoundly perplexing problems of our time. Her philosophy was formed by induction-that is, from the facts of reality, not wishful thinking or faith.

Rand is decidedly anti-cult. If some of her followers have lapsed into cultism, then they, too, miss the entire point. The cultishness of some devotees does not detract from the fundamental soundness of her philosophy.

Mimi Reisel Gladstein concludes from the whole cult phenomenon surrounding Ayn Rand's _Atlas Shrugged_ that the novel must have some deep literary merit. But that is not necessarily the case. The cultish enthusiasm says more about the frustrations and repressed desires of adolescent and young adult Americans, of both sexes, than it does about Rand's particular abilities. I recall reading in Jeff Walker's book, _The Ayn Rand Cult_, that Rand figured out how to project into her novels the common adolescent feeling that you are being misappreciated and exploited by your "objective" inferiors, and meant for better things. _Atlas Shrugged_, frankly, isn't all that good as literature, though it does hold its own when compared with other productions of popular culture with cult followings among the young, like the novels of Robert A. Heinlein, for example. Rand's magnum opus acts more as a kind of literary Rorschach Test than anything else.

Gladstein is on target when she discusses the genre-crossing aspects of _Atlas Shrugged_. Is it dystopian fiction, science fiction, a detective novel, a feminist-flavored romance? All of the above, it seems, though Gladstein doesn't persuade me that Rand consciously borrowed from Arthurian romance as well. The feminist and female-romantic elements of the novel were never emphasized all that much by Rand's "orthodox" followers, but Gladstein does make the case that Rand pioneered a new kind of strong, independent female character -- Dagny Taggart -- who holds her own in a man's world and doesn't need a man to make her life complete, though finding her ideal lover in John Galt certainly helps. In the 1950's such an idea was radical, but because many fictional female characters these days are "Xenafied," Dagny Taggart's prototypical role has been obscured. Perhaps the miniseries version of _Atlas Shrugged_ due out sometime next year will give Rand the credit in this one area she deserves.

Still, I found some flaws in Gladstein's exposition of Rand's make-believe world. Gladstein fails to explore _Atlas Shrugged's_ unsubtle family-hating subtext: All of the major characters are alienated from immediate relatives as if that were a good thing. Even after Dagny makes an emotional connection with her hapless sister-in-law Cherryl, she displays no emotional response to Cherryl's suicide. The question of Hank Rearden's paternity never comes up, nor whether he and his wastrel brother Philip even share the same father. (If not, that could in itself explain the hostility between the two!) At the end of the novel, the strikers plan to leave their Rocky Mountain stronghold and rebuild an America where young people can look towards the future with hope -- but because the heroes don't have children, and apparently don't plan to, given the shortage of worthy females for them, you have to wonder where these youngsters are going to come from. (Because Dagny never seems to need contraception, despite having sex with three of the novel's heroes, she must be infertile.)

Perhaps the creepiest aspect of all in the novel, which Gladstein seems oblivious to despite her feminist sensibilities, is how John Galt's behavior towards Dagny throughout most of the story resembles love-obsessional stalking. In the real world, a guy in his late 30's who is still a virgin, abandons a well-paying technological career so he can hold a menial job on a railroad, and obsesses over and surveils the railroad's attractive female Vice President (even going so far as to sabotage her business deals), would be considered potentially threatening. (Call Gavin de Becker!) I don't know if many women fantasize about falling in love with their stalkers, but this is an aspect of _Atlas Shrugged_ I don't quite understand.

Nonetheless, Gladstein has written yet another contribution to Rand studies that I found worth the money, despite its limitations and brevity.

Nathaniel Branden writes in his review: "...this book, criticisms of Rand and all, will do more to advance the cause of Rand's work than all their (actual Objectivists) true-believer praise and idiotic adulation."

Branden should review some of his own writings about making groundless, arbitrary assertions. Just exactly why or how is such a book superior in "advancing the cause"? As AR would have said: "No answer is given".

Secondly - anyone familiar with the 'personal history' of AR and Branden should find his use of the term "idiotic adulation" to be layered with irony. You couldn't find a more idiotic way to express 'adulation' for someone who is in the role of your mentor then ...well ... you know.

Sorry about that - but it had to be said.

Sciabarra is pretty obviously not too bright, and no comparison can be made between such a so-called 'scholar' and the truly educated and intelligent "poor souls at ARI".

Just another non-intellectual book on Ayn Rand that will be forgotten by the time Objectivism really takes hold.

I'm a contributor to this anthology. This book covers a lot of new ground, bringing together people and perspectives all over the map, from different disciplines and backgrounds, and even three continents. Few things provide a more fruitful and explosive combination than Ayn Rand and feminism. While most contributors to the book are feminists, at least one, maybe two are anti-feminist (depending on how one would classify Camille Paglia). Most contributors are positive to Rand, in the sense that they/we feel that Rand contributed a lot of value (and that more value can be gained by engaging Rand and feminism with each other), but not in the sense of uncritical idolatry. Rand provokes a lot of polarized response: idolatry or condemnation. What Rand needs is a more balanced and scholarly treatment, and engagement with other thinkers and traditions in intellectual history, and this volume does provide that. Feminism has individualist and collectivist wings, and the collectivist wings have been too dominating recently; engaging with Rand can lead to a revival of individualist feminism. In my own contribution, entitled _The Female Hero: A Randian-Feminist Synthesis_, (ifi.uio.no/~thomas/po/female-hero.html) I apply and extend Rand's conception of heroism to women, leading towards a new radical individualist feminism which is interestingly also an ancient vision of female strength and power. Thus I compare and combine Rand with myths of Amazons, and writers who explore these ancient images of power, writers like Merlin Stone, Barbara Walker and Riane Eisler and scholarly accounts of ancient goddesses and heroines. I also discuss androgyny and postandrogyny, and non-patriarchal sexualities. My article is available on my web site. I would also recommend the web site of Chris Sciabarra (co-editor of the book), where you can find a subsite about the book, which includes highlights from reviews and discussions of the book, including the archives of a structured online seminar going through all the articles of the entire book.

This anthology includes a marvelous variety of perspectives on Rand's philosophy as well as her fiction; to criticize this work based on the all-or-nothing behavior of the ARI or on (mis)perceptions of Rand's "egoism" is to fail to engage the actual subjects of the articles themselves. To address some of the arguments leveled in previous reviews:

This book does not claim to "promote" Rand, nor are its articles written from the perspective of the true believer. To disagree with Rand's Objectivism does nothing to address the contents of the anthology. As a matter of fact, several of the contributors themselves strongly disagree with and/or disapprove of Rand, for various reasons.

The editors do not claim Rand was herself a feminist, although the essays provide a framework for interpreting Rand from a feminist perspective. Further, Rand's self-identification as NOT a feminist does not mean that there is nothing in her work that can be applied to feminism, or from which feminism might benefit.

And to claim that the volume is trying to "cash in" on Rand's name is to ignore the entire scope of literary, philosophical, cultural, psychoanalytic, and feminist criticism. The work of the literary critic, for example, involves interpreting a text from a new perspective in order to suggest meanings or structures, to uncover parallels or contradictions, and to struggle with conceptual knots found in the text. One reading will differ from another, opening up different aspects of the text that may or may not have anything to do with the author; once a book has been written, anyone who reads it is free to interpret it as he or she sees fit. For the most part, the contributors here provide in-depth scholarly analyses and plenty of documentation to support their theses. By placing Rand in a sealed box, refusing to allow her work to be interpreted and discovered, and refusing to allow new minds to draw new conclusions from her stated premises, her devoted followers only guarrantee the death of Rand's ideas.

For those interested in current Rand scholarship rather than the repitition of Objectivist mantras, this anthology is superb. If you can't bear to hear any new thoughts on Rand, re-read Atlas Shrugged. If you hate Ayn Rand and think her philosophy is the root of all self-serving capitalist American evil, why the heck are you reading this anthology??? Save your cult-baiting for the Down With Objectivism website.