Reception
The book received a number of reviews at the time of its release, although significantly fewer than there were for Rand's novels. In The New York Times Book Review, philosopher Sidney Hook called it a "unique combination of tautology and extravagant absurdity." In a negative review for Esquire, Gore Vidal said Rand "must be read to be believed" and that "Her 'philosophy' is nearly perfect in its immorality".
Rand bibliographer Mimi Reisel Gladstein called Rand's title essay the "major attraction for those who have already read the novels". Historian James T. Baker said the essay "represents Rand's first step from fiction to public philosophy," and called the view of history it presents "intriguing and creative if a bit fantastic".
Read more about this topic: For The New Intellectual
Famous quotes containing the word reception:
“I gave a speech in Omaha. After the speech I went to a reception elsewhere in town. A sweet old lady came up to me, put her gloved hand in mine, and said, “I hear you spoke here tonight.” “Oh, it was nothing,” I replied modestly. “Yes,” the little old lady nodded, “that’s what I heard.””
—Gerald R. Ford (b. 1913)
“Aesthetic emotion puts man in a state favorable to the reception of erotic emotion.... Art is the accomplice of love. Take love away and there is no longer art.”
—Rémy De Gourmont (1858–1915)
“He’s leaving Germany by special request of the Nazi government. First he sends a dispatch about Danzig and how 10,000 German tourists are pouring into the city every day with butterfly nets in their hands and submachine guns in their knapsacks. They warn him right then. What does he do next? Goes to a reception at von Ribbentropf’s and keeps yelling for gefilte fish!”
—Billy Wilder (b. 1906)