This book is an absolute must read that will bore you to death.  Chapters 1, 2, 4 and 10 crystallize a concept, a way of life that many of us follow but few can articulate with Rand’s precision.  The other 15 chapters just ramble about how objectivism applies logically in to emergencies, politics, racism and making anyone who disagrees feel stupid.  Virtually all of these chapters are logical extensions of the core concept, and require little thought.  Of these chapters only 15 is very interesting, then only because it does actually contain a new concept (how best to tax people in an objectivist socio-political system).

The overwhelming thing to me is the crystal clear explanation and defense of a truly free state of being.  Not one where we take advantage of other people, but one where each person provides value and is compensated for that value.  A world where the best man for the job always gets it.  Where he’s paid what he’s worth and his employer still makes her money, because the value she provides is big enough to justify an employee.  If you’re not a fan of overwhelmingly large novels (Atlas Shrugged and The Fountain Head), but still feel drawn to this kind of a philosophy, than this book is for you (at least the chapters outlined above).