Educational curriculum - a study guide covering the introductory chapters of Gary Weiss' 2012 book, "Ayn Rand Nation." Recommended book to read in conjunction with the Adam Curtis documentary: "All Watched Over by Machines of Loving Grace" - episode 1, "Love and Power" - http://archive.org/details/AdamCurtis-AllWatchedOverByMachinesOfLovingGrace - or with Spanish subtitles - http://vimeo.com/27393748

1. AYN RAND NATION:
The Hidden Struggle for
America's Soul
Author: Gary Weiss (2012)
Study Guide by Zoe E. Masongsong, M.S.

2. Who Was Ayn Rand?
 Born Alisa Zinov'yevna Rosenbaum in 1905
 Russian Jewish bourgeoisie
 Bolsheviks stole her father’s pharmacy
 Emigrated in 1926:
 Outstayed her student visa
 Wealthy relatives in Chicago
 Died in 1982
Gary Weiss: Ayn Rand Nation: The Struggle for America’s Soul

3. Ayn Rand’s Philosophy
 Government = Force
 Evil:
 Generosity
 Altruism
 Collectivism:
 Chaos of Post-Revolution Russia
Gary Weiss: Ayn Rand Nation: The Struggle for America’s Soul

4. Ayn Rand’s Philosophy
 Self-described “radical for capitalism”:
 Capitalism = Freedom
 Selfishness:
 Only true ethical way of life
 No need for government
 Leads to a new and better nation
Gary Weiss: Ayn Rand Nation: The Struggle for America’s Soul

5. Why Take Ayn Rand Seriously?
 Many people don’t consider her important.
 Ignored by academia & media:
 Books widely condemned & ridiculed.
 Dismissed as a nut & extremist.
Gary Weiss: Ayn Rand Nation: The Struggle for America’s Soul

6. Why Ayn Rand Matters
 Today she is no longer on the fringe.
 She is winning the soul of America.
Gary Weiss: Ayn Rand Nation: The Struggle for America’s Soul

7. Why Ayn Rand Matters
 Her followers believe she is:
 The greatest philosopher who ever lived.
 The greatest writer who ever lived.
 Atlas Shrugged is greatest novel ever written.
 Acolytes:
 Alan Greenspan, chairman of Federal Reserve
 Malcolm Fraser, prime minister of Australia
 Fox News:
 Glenn Beck
 John Stossel
Gary Weiss: Ayn Rand Nation: The Struggle for America’s Soul

8. Why Ayn Rand Matters
 Ayn Rand Institute:
 Co-chairperson: associate general counsel for
Goldman Sachs
 Sending free books to high school & colleges:
 347,000 copies of Atlas Shrugged in 2009
Gary Weiss: Ayn Rand Nation: The Struggle for America’s Soul

9. Why Ayn Rand Matters
 Surge in popularity since 2008:
 Blogs
 Newsletters
 Message boards
 Dating service
 GQ magazine: 2009’s most influential author
Gary Weiss: Ayn Rand Nation: The Struggle for America’s Soul

10. Why Ayn Rand Matters
 Atlas Shrugged
 1991 survey: 2nd most influential (after Bible)
 600,000 copies sold in 2009
 Amazon bestseller in ‘ethics & morality’
category
 Random house: best novel since 1900
 2010 Zogby poll: 29% of adults had read it, half
were influenced by it
 2011 movie
 Book hit #4 in Amazon ranking
Gary Weiss: Ayn Rand Nation: The Struggle for America’s Soul

11. Why Ayn Rand Matters
 The Virtue of Selfishness
 Random House #1 best nonfiction books
since 1900
 #3: Objectivism: The Philosophy of Ayn Rand
(Leonard Peikoff)
 One of the most popular philosophy books
in the English language!
Gary Weiss: Ayn Rand Nation: The Struggle for America’s Soul

12. Why Ayn Rand Matters
 Directly inspired the Tea Party:
 ‘Ayn Rander’ Rick Santelli
 Protestors’ slogans from Atlas Shrugged
Gary Weiss: Ayn Rand Nation: The Struggle for America’s Soul

13. Why Ayn Rand Matters
 Lack of reform after financial crisis:
 Markets are supreme.
 Regulation is not the answer.
 Assault on Social Security & Medicare
Gary Weiss: Ayn Rand Nation: The Struggle for America’s Soul

14. Why Ayn Rand Matters
 Capitalism is a heroic force to be defended
from President Obama.
 Voters since 2010:
 Voting against their own interests.
 Electing politicians who openly favor big business.
 A weapon to advance pre-existing agendas.
Gary Weiss: Ayn Rand Nation: The Struggle for America’s Soul