The Art of Nonfiction: A Guide for Writers and Readers

by Ayn Rand, Peter Schwartz (Introduction)

Overview

A remarkable series of lectures on the art of creating effective nonfiction by one of the 20th century's most profound writers and thinkers—now available for the first time in print.

Culled from sixteen informal lectures Ayn Rand delivered to a select audience in the late 1960s, this remarkable work offers indispensable guidance to the aspiring writer of nonfiction while providing readers with a fascinating discourse on art and creation. Based on the concept that the ability to create quality nonfiction is a skill that can be learned like any other, The Art of Nonfiction takes readers through the writing process, step-by-step, providing insightful observations and invaluable techniques along the way.

In these edited transcripts, Rand discusses the psychological aspects of writing, and the different roles played by the conscious and unconscious minds. From choosing a subject to polishing a draft to mastering an individual writing style—for authors of theoretical works or those leaning toward journalistic reporting—this crucial resource introduces the words and ideas of one of our most enduring authors to a new generation.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780452282315
Publisher:	Penguin Publishing Group
Publication date:	02/01/2001
Pages:	208
Product dimensions:	5.23(w) x 7.90(h) x 0.50(d)
Age Range:	18 Years

About the Author

Born February 2, 1905, Ayn Rand published her first novel, We the Living, in 1936. Anthem followed in 1938. It was with the publication of The Fountainhead (1943) and Atlas Shrugged (1957) that she achieved her spectacular success. Rand’s unique philosophy, Objectivism, has gained a worldwide audience. The fundamentals of her philosophy are put forth in three nonfiction books, Introduction to Objectivist Epistemology, The Virtues of Selfishness, and Capitalism: The Unknown Ideal. They are all available in Signet editions, as is the magnificent statement of her artistic credo, The Romantic Manifesto.

Date of Birth:

February 2, 1905

Date of Death:

March 6, 1982

Place of Birth:

St. Petersburg, Russia

Place of Death:

New York, New York

Education:

Graduated with highest honors in history from the University of Petrograd, 1924

Table of Contents

Edited by Robert Mayhew with an Introduction by Peter Schwartz

Introduction by Peter Schwartz
Editor's Preface
1. Preliminary Remarks
2. Choosing a Subject and Theme
3. Judging One's Audience
4. Applying Philosophy without Preaching It
5. Creating an Outline
6. Writing the Draft: The Primacy of the Subconscious
7. Editing
8. Style
9. Book Reviews and Introductions
10. Writing a Book
11. Selecting a Title
12. Acquiring Ideas for Writing
Appendix: Selected Outlines Used by Ayn Rand in Writing Articles
Index

Editorial Reviews

In 1969, Rand gave a series of lectures to followers who wished to write for her Objectivist magazine. Best known for her novels The Fountainhead and Atlas Shrugged, Rand later wrote extensively on the philosophy that underlay her fiction. This is a transcript of her lectures on writing nonfiction, edited by Rand scholar Mayhew, who previously edited Rand's Marginalia. Though frequently sound, Rand's advice is obscured by philosophical jargon and has little to offer to the general reader seeking guidance on how to write. Moreover, readers may be put off by Rand's dogmatic style, her use of examples from her own writing, and her assumption that readers share her political beliefs. One of Rand's more helpful hints is to avoid misleading titles; given her view of writing as a technical process that anyone can learn, the editors clearly ignored her advice. Recommended for libraries where there is strong interest in Rand's life and work. Susan M. Colowick, North Olympic Lib. Syst., Port Angeles, WA Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.

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