Capitalism, the unknown ideal
by Ayn Rand · first published 1966
65% recommend30% neutral5% critical
Why HN recommends it
Collection of early-1960s essays giving a moral case for laissez-faire capitalism, and a concise entry point to Rand's philosophy for readers who want her nonfiction rather than her novels.
Summarised by Claude from recommending comments
"Most of the essays ... appeared originally in the Objectivist." Bibliography: p. [304]-305.
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…accessible manner. Not a textbook per-se, but not completely non-technical either. Read this if you're interested in how statistical analysis can be used to truly establish cause/effect relationships. Capitalism: The Unknown Ideal by Ayn Rand. Do you think you hate Capitalism? Do you not understand why so many people love Capitalism? Have you based your opinion of Ayn Rand on second-hand commentary instead of actually reading her…
on “Ask HN: Favorite nonfiction books of 2018?” ↗"The Virtue of Selfishness" "Capitalism: The Unknown Ideal" "Philosophy: Who Needs It" "Introduction to Objectivist Epistemology" All by Ayn Rand. Whether you end up agreeing with her or not, she will definitely will make you think.
on “Ask HN: Best Philosophical Books?” ↗…and they existed in Germany before the rise of the Nazis, laying the intellectual ground work. Fortunately there is real intellectual opposition to this fate in Ayn Rand's philosophy. You should read "Capitalism: The Unknown Ideal" and more importantly her intro on ethics "The Virtue of Selfishness". She identified what is wrong with the Left and the Right and proposes an alternative ethical and political theory to support Capitalism…
on “Ask HN: What are your recommended reads that are available for free?” ↗…of Market Leaders - Michael Treacy and Fred Wiersema Marketing Warfare - Jack Trout and Al Ries Naked Statistics - Charles Wheelan Wiki Management - Rod Collins Antifragile - Nassim Nicholas Taleb Capitalism: The Unknown Ideal - Ayn Rand Fiction: NOS4A2 - Joe Hill The first four books in the Sandman series by Neil Gaiman Innocence - Dean Koontz Deeply Odd - Dean Koontz Doctor Sleep - Stephen King The Black List - Brad…
on “Ask HN: Best books you read in 2013” ↗…of imposing another Socialist failure in America. I hope we can avoid this fate but I am not optimistic. If you are sincerely interested in these issues then I urge you to read two books by Ayn Rand; Capitalism: The Unknown Ideal and The Virtue of Selfishness.
on “David Simon: 'There are now two Americas. My country is a horror show'” ↗…important! Highly recommend reading at least Atlas Shrugged, The Fountainhead, and Objectivism: The Philosophy of Ayn Rand. Then pick up Introduction to Objectivist Epistemology, Virtue of Selfishness, Capitalism: The Unknown Ideal, and the recently released Understanding Objectivism . UO is very good (it's useful/personal, down to earth), but requires familiarity with Objectivism.
on “The Criminalization of Everyday Life” ↗…system that servers well a collective. As a result they make no attempts to justify it morally. This country should be based on laissez-fair Capitalism, which is justified morally by Ayn Rand in her book "Capitalism: The Unknown Ideal".
on “About Liberland” ↗…worthwhile discussion and I'm sure we could keep going, but I really have to take a break from hacker news for a while. So let's call it a day. If you want to read about free markets, check out the book Capitalism: The Unknown Ideal by Ayn Rand if you haven't already.
on “The Portuguese Bank Note Crisis of 1925” ↗1. How an Economy Grows and Why it Crashes (2010) by Peter Schiff and Andrew Schiff 2. A Template For Understanding Big Debt Crises (2018) by Ray Dalio 3. Capitalism: The Unknown Ideal by Ayn Rand 4. Basic Economics: A Citizen's Guide to the Economy by Thomas Sowell
on “Ask HN: What are you reading to make sense of the economy?” ↗Sholzenitzen's Gulag. Twains Pudd'head Wilson and "The Corruption of Hadleyburg" Ayn Rand et al "Capitalism, The Unknown Ideal" Peter Kropotkin "Mutual Aid: A Factor in Evolution" Tannehill, Morse "The Market for Liberty" Albert J. Nock "Our Enemy the State" Stephan Wolfram "A New Kind of Science"
on “Ask HN: Mind bending books to read and never be the same as before?” ↗…popular opinion and have to find a way to exonerate themselves. I urge all HN readers who have read the article carefully and understand that there is something wrong about it, to also read Ayn Rand's "Capitalism: The Unknown Ideal" (http://www.amazon.com/Capitalism-Ideal-Ayn-Rand/dp/045114795...) and judge for themselves dispassionately. Just because I happened to be reading the book today, I quote a couple of paragraphs, with…
on “How to Fix Capitalism” ↗…better argument; not that I won't accept any. I used to think a mixed economy was the best economic system (the best of socialism and capitalism). Then I read Wealth of Nations and a bunch of essays from Capitalism: The Unknown Ideal. As I said, since reading those I haven't heard a better argument. Maybe I should point out that at this point, I think your an asshole. But I digress... I am sure the people of developing countries…
on “David Harvey: Crises of Capitalism (RSA Animate)” ↗…important and essential to the human experience but they are not primaries nor means to knowledge. If you are interested in what Rand was all about you should also read her books Philosophy Who Needs It and Capitalism: The Unknown Ideal.
on “The Fountainhead and it's effect on our head” ↗To understand what is going on here please read Rand's article "Anatomy of Comprise" in her anthology "Capitalism: The Unknown Ideal" and her article "The Establishing of an Establishment" in her anthology "Philosophy: Who Needs It." Rand wrote; "It is precisely those ends ([sacrifice]-collectivism-statism) that ought to be rejected.…
on “Like Peter Thiel, Tech Workers Feel Alienated by Silicon Valley ‘Echo Chamber’” ↗Her book, "Capitalism: The Unknown Ideal" is a series of essays written in the early 60's. Reading it today, I would say she hasn't had enough influence over the world. I think Rand would be horrified at the current popularity of socialism.…
on “Ask HN: What influence do you think Ayn Rand had on the modern world?” ↗