In this beautifully written and brilliantly reasoned collection of essays, Ayn Rand throws new light on the nature of art and its purpose in human life. Once again, Rand demonstrates her bold originality and her refusal to let popular catchphrases and conventional ideas define her sense of the truth.
In her ethics AynRand extolled the virtue of selfishness—and in her theory of art she was no less radical. Piercing the fog of mysticism and sentimentality that engulfs art, the essays in The Romantic Manifesto explain why, since time immemorial, man has created and consumed works of art.Rand eloquently asserts that one cannot create art without infusing it with one's own value judgments and personal philosophy—even an attempt to withhold moral overtones only results in a deterministic or naturalistic message. Because the moral influence of art is inescapable, she argues, art should always strive to elevate the human spirit.
The Romantic Manifestotakes its place besideThe FountainheadandAtlas Shruggedas one of the most important achievements of our time.
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"Definitely thought provoking; provides a very interesting perspective on art. This is a must read for anyone with an interest in philosophy and/or art. A radical piece indeed. " — Cameron (4 out of 5 stars)
"Definitely thought provoking; provides a very interesting perspective on art. This is a must read for anyone with an interest in philosophy and/or art. A radical piece indeed. "
“Bernadette Dunne is a good match for Rand’s voice, delivering the novelist’s passionate convictions with a metered cadence. Dunne’s clear conveyance of Rand’s essays is important because her ideas are quite controversial. Dunne’s voice has an empirical and authoritative tone that demands a full and concise hearing…a thought-provoking listen.”
" Not deserving of the word "philosopher," but the advice she has for writers is concrete and useful. "
" I am dedicated to the extrapolation and dissemination of the ideas in this book. "
" I'm too much of a naturalist. "
" Another mind whirl. Took me a bit because I mostly read it in the morning to wake up. Forced my brain to focus. "
" Great read. Compelling case for what art is, it's purpose, what constitutes good & bad art. Mainly covers literature, visual arts & music. "
" Look, just because you're an objectivist doesn't mean you have to hate postmodern or conceptual art. I'm sure Damien Hirst qualifies as a selfish asshole. "
" Great ideas about art, philosophy. Not easy reading, but good. "
" An interesting look into Rand's thoughts on how her philosophy is expressed in the arts. It was up and down for me. I saw a lot of sense in her ideas surrounding the literary arts. I'm glad I read the book. The short story in the last chapter was a great way to finish. "
" May 19, 2008 May 29, 2008 "
Ayn Rand (1905–1982) was born in Russia, graduated from the University of Leningrad, and came to the United States in 1926. She published her first novel in 1936. With the publication of The Fountainhead in 1943, she achieved a spectacular and enduring success, and her unique philosophy, Objectivism, gained a worldwide following.
Bernadette Dunne is the winner of numerous AudioFile Earphones Awards and has twice been nominated for the prestigious Audie Award. She studied at the Royal National Theatre in London and the Studio Theater in Washington, DC, and has appeared at the Kennedy Center and off Broadway.
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