| | Phil Coates wrote: "When most Americans are presented with her formal philosophy (as opposed to a few out of context or diluted ideas), they either don't get it or find it alien or horrible. It is her *novels* which are popular after half a century of dissemination and availability."
An interesting personal note: in 1966 when I was a senior in high school, my lady band director noticed my level of intelligence (such as it was; I am no genius) and decided to give me the issue of The Objectivist Newsletter with Nathaniel Branden's essay "Altruism vs. Benevolence." She apparently thought I would "get it," but I didn't. <sigh> A month or two later, as a graduation gift, she gave me Atlas Shrugged, and that time the message "took." :-)
Another personal note: after reading several AR novels and then launching into The Virtue of Selfishness, my mother finally noticed what I was getting into and expressed some concern about all that "selfishness," and why did I need that, since I seemed to be self-centered enough, already. (This, from a woman who was trying to pressure me into pursuing the college major and career she wanted me to have!) I told her, "Mom, I'm just trying to get clear on what are my values and to have the integrity to pursue them and not give up." And she scornfully replied (I'll never forget this), "Values? Values are what you get at Sears!"
Many years later, she admitted that she was just pulling my leg (seeming to not understand the philosophical meaning of "values"), and that she was just baiting me, because she was upset about the direction I was going. She was worried about my ending up the gutter, broke and homeless, if I pursued a career as a professional musician. After 35 non-poverty-stricken years of being a musician, I think I have convinced her that my choice was not that bad of a one, after all. :-)
Best holiday wishes to all,
especially my Christian friends, :-)
REB
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