Philosophy

Who Needs It

By: Ayn Rand

Narrated by: Lloyd James

Who needs philosophy? Ayn Rand's answer: Everyone.

This collection of essays was the last work planned by Ayn Rand before her death in 1982. In it, she summarizes her view of philosophy and deals with a broad spectrum of topics. According to Ayn Rand, the choice we make is not whether to have a philosophy, but which one to have: a rational, conscious, and therefore practical one, or a contradictory, unidentified, and ultimately lethal one.

Written with all the clarity and eloquence that have placed Ayn Rand's objectivist philosophy in the mainstream of American thought, these essays range over such basic issues as education, morality, censorship, and inflation to prove that philosophy is the fundamental force in all our lives.

©1982 Leonard Peikoff, Executor, Estate of Ayn Rand (P)2006 Blackstone Audio Inc.

Critic reviews

"For those who want to understand the philosophic implications of our era, this collection by Ayn Rand is an excellent place to begin." (News-Leader)
"Although this omnibus volume...is written for an audience of believers, readers unfamiliar with [Rand's] novels might find it a useful starting point." (Publishers Weekly)

the truth

Works for present time just as well and still is true today. She was a great mind I wish more people would listen to her books.

Nice overall book!

It was an interesting book to listen if you're in to philosophy. It really explain how modern society use it and how modern people think and act.

Magnífico. Absolutamente recomendable.

Interesantísimo de principio a fin. A destacar el capítulo sobre el detective filosófico, el de causalidad vs deber o las refutaciones de John Rawls y B.F.Skinner.
Maravillosa lectura de Lloyd James. Se entiende francamente bien, aunque tu nivel de inglés no sea precisamente nativo.
En resumen, absolutamente recomendable.

Excellent text, awfully sloppy narration

It's clear from the numerous out-of-place pauses, badly pronounced words and expressions and in some cases words changed (!) that the narrator has not taken the time to read and understand the material first. Compared to the (few) other books I've listened to this narration is barely acceptable.
Still, this is a book everyone should read or listen to, given how many great and important ideas it contains.

I have

What a prophet!

What a prophet! As relevant today as it was in the mid 1970's. We observe that the march of state control has continued, but these essays tell us why and offer unique suggestions on how to combat it. We must know what we want, and why, and work to spread the best ideas (not just bitch about current conditions). May her ideas and legacy stoke our minds today, and live far into the future. Then we will have a chance.