As a writer and film graduate, I spend a lot of time sampling the tastes of others’ work. I enjoyed reading this book, although I could see some parts were slow and painful, because the author spent a long time only putting in dialogue when it expanded on a salient point. The tone was clear and dry, if a little overstated for my own tastes. Let us be frank: Ayn Rand is a pretentious twat, a capitalist in only the most rosy and idealistic sense. She also doesn’t have a whole lot of sympathy or mercy for those who cannot do for themselves. BUT. There are things of worth and consideration in her ideas, and if taken on their own, in the spirit they espouse, those ideals are good and sound. Living unaffected by the opinions of others is a very valuable ideal. She understands it is the most difficult thing to do as a human being living in any society. I won’t expound on every single thing she said of worth; I leave that to you to ascertain in your own way. But give it its chance, and think on the ideal of being true to the form and substance that you are, apart from what the World wants.

This book is worth at least attempting to read.