Ayn Rand & Sam Harris

So my friend David Peppers (who is absolutely fantastic. sweetest, most intelligent and funny man you will ever meet. a total doll.) suggested I read The Virtue of Selfishness by Ayn Rand. He gave me a small description of what Rand proposes in the book and it sounded really interesting so I asked and received it for Christmas. I have only been able to digest a couple pages at a time. It is one THICK book to take down. And by thick I don’t mean the size of the book, I mean the content and way it is delivered is just…rough. It’s been awhile since I have really read any philosophy so to say the least I dont feel I am quite at the level I need to be to take it in properly. I am only twenty some pages in right now but I think I will put it down and read some of her other work first. I intend on starting with Anthem and then reading Atlas Shrugged before attacking The Virtue of Selfishness again. It is some DEEP stuff and I would like to read it the way it was meant to be read and understood and I am not going to try and fool myself into thinking I can read stuff higher than the level I’m at right now. That’s not to say I’m stupid or I couldn’t comprehend it if I tried. But I guess I just want to read it with more ease and fluidity than what I’ve experienced so far. You know there is something slightly uplifting about admitting your flaws or weaknesses, knowing I dont think so highly of myself to not admit I struggle from time to time. ha. Anyway, I’m REALLY excited to read Anthem and Atlas Shrugged, I’ve meant to read both for years now and just haven’t gotten around to it. I’ve always heard great things about Rands works.

Before getting to Rand’s books though I am in the middle of The End of Faith by Sam Harris. Wow, what a great writer. I have watched his TED talks and youtube videos for awhile now and it’s so great to finally be reading one of his books. Charles is currently reading his most recent book The Moral Landscape (which I cant wait to get to myself, it touches on how people have morals outside of religion and blazay-blah). Anyway, really great author. He writes the way he talks which makes it that much easier to understand and relate to. Great notes at the end if you want to get further understanding of the things he talks about (you guessed it, he’s an atheist and talks about why and his theories on…everything.) I highly suggest his book if you are interested in that sort of thing, atheism or religion alike. Even if you are religious it is always good to get another’s opinions, even if they differ from your own.

SO many books I want to read next and so little time. I’m always in the middle of two or three books at any given point in time. I just fucking love reading! It’s funny because ever since I quit college (until I have a reason to go back) I have been reading non-stop. I hardly read the books I wanted to read when I was in college, and I read in high school (I’ve always loved to read) but not nearly as much as I have been lately. It just feels so fucking good. AH! I love knowledge! and being challenged! and made to THINK!
word up.