Where Did You Meet Ayn Rand

Posted by theodoremccoy 11 years, 6 months ago to Books
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Wonder when everyone met Ayn Rand. I met her in the early 70's. we met through a talk radio show in Detroit hosted by Mark Scott. When I first heard him my mind exploded. I could not believe someone was speaking what I had thought for years. Mark introduced me to Objectivism, and rational thinking. Through him I met Ayn Rand and her books.

Over the years I have passed copies of various books she has written. Both of my daughters had a copy of Anthem before they were 13. They are now very independent thinkers and I am proud that they stand strong on their convictions.

In the next few days I will be passing off another copy of Atlas Shrugged. Planting a seed for rational thought and creating a fighter against the irrational and moochers.

All Comments

  • Posted by INOV8TN 11 years ago
    I studied with Ms Rand at NBI at the Atlantic Hotel in NYC and later in the Empire State Building. My new boss at Grumman and I were getting along famously when I mentioned that I was reading this great book. I promised to bring it in the next day and we left in separate directions. He nearly fell over when I showed him AS. He was a "day or two" away from introducing me to it. After many trips into the City I attended the Basic Series he hosted at his house in Commack, LI. I later assisted inner circle member and TV Guide Editor Edith Efron with her book 'The News Twisters'.
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  • Posted by Mark 11 years ago
    I first encountered Ayn Rand through my stepfather when I was 11 (probably earlier, but I don't remember). I learned a lot about her philosophy before I ever read her books because we spoke about philosophy, economics, culture, and capitalism at the kitchen table. "The Soul of Atlas: Ayn Rand, Christianity, a Quest for Common Ground" talks about what it was like growing up with Ayn Rand as such a central figure. I learned how to reason and ask critical questions. I learned how to "check my premises" (and it drove some people nuts!). I started reading Rand's fiction in my teens and continued into my twenties. In the last twenty years (I'm 49), I have read everything I could get my hands on.
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  • Posted by Dragon616 11 years, 6 months ago
    I went to an economics course at George Mason University 2 summers ago. There we learned about free-market economics which is something they no longer teach in great detail nowadays. At the end of the course we were handed a bunch of books on the free market and a copy of Atlas Shrugged. So far to my extent and knowledge I am the only member of my group that has read it.
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  • Posted by theodoremccoy 11 years, 6 months ago in reply to this comment.
    My thought was not actual physical contact. I believe Ayn poured herself into her work. Watching video of her and reading her books gives me a sense of our actual meeting. If I were born earlier, I would have ran to her to wash her car and listen to her talk. Can you imagine the benefit of that relationship. Exchanging value for value. The essence of Rand.
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  • Posted by theodoremccoy 11 years, 6 months ago
    Terrycan I agree the book is better the second time around. Wait for the fifth or sixth.

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  • Posted by terrycan 11 years, 6 months ago
    A freind suggested Atlas to me around 1992. Reread it before seeing Part I. It was better the second time.
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  • Posted by $ bigjim 11 years, 6 months ago in reply to this comment.
    SOTD - That's cool that you got to meet him at his house.

    I probably would've just been horrified that he'd ask me to play "The Black Page."
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  • Posted by Signofthedollar 11 years, 6 months ago in reply to this comment.
    bigjim, I think you would have gotten along. Met Zappa at his wonderful, weird home. Opinionated yes, friendly and open defiantly. Rand I only met in books.
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  • Posted by $ bigjim 11 years, 6 months ago in reply to this comment.
    I was always of the same thought about myself. I'm pretty sure Ms Rand and I would not get along all that well.

    I thought the same thing about Frank Zappa, if I ever would have had the chance to meet him. That kind of made me sad too.
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  • Posted by CatieM 11 years, 6 months ago
    I actually read Atlas Shrugged, when looking to pay for school Fast Web directed me to the scholarship ARC funds. I excel at written so I thought it would be easy for the amount they offered. I started reading it and was hooked, never did get to doing the scholarship though, I never thought I was well versed enough in objectivism to write an objective analysis of Atlas Shrugged.
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  • Posted by $ jmlesniewski 11 years, 6 months ago
    I am far too young to have met Ayn Rand. She died a year before I was born. However, I'm not sure I would have liked to meet her, as I don't think we would have gotten along.
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  • Posted by overmanwarrior 11 years, 6 months ago
    That's a good story. I met her while reading the book 'Dutch' by Edmund Morris, which was only a few years ago. I was shocked that I had not heard of her prior to that. So I never came close to meeting her in real life. The closest I have come is I did a TV interview a few weeks ago in the same studio that Phil Donahue occupied before he moved to Chicago to do the famous interview with Rand there. LOL
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