A Review of Reconsidering Ayn Rand

Although she has been dead more than two decades, Ayn Rand's philosophy and writings remain influential. In this volume, a former disciple of Rand's philosophy examines her teachings through the lens of Christianity.

Following his introduction, Yang provides a brief synopsis of Rand's two major novels, The Fountainhead and Atlas Shrugged . He notes that she was an excellent writer and these books provided a great outlet for her to explain her philosophy of objectivism.

Rand believed that man's highest purpose in life is achieving happiness and that happiness is determined by one's own reason. She believed happiness is important to an individual's self-worth or self-esteem, and a basic virtue in life is productive work. Such work is defined by man's reason. Its successful accomplishment results in pride. Because productive work is such a virtue in Rand's teaching, it supersedes family relationships or friendship.

The author clearly explains the application of Rand's thought to epistemology, ethics, emotions, rights, civil government and science. Drawing from the apologetic thinking of Gordon Clark, Francis Schaeffer, and others, he deftly deflates this philosophical balloon by showing its internal inconsistencies.

Additionally, he turns to that worldview for which Rand had no use, Christianity, and shows how it lucidly answers philosophical points raised by her. His argumentation shows that only Christianity provides the proper worldview for man to approach life in any and every area.

Having been converted to Christianity by God's grace, this medical doctor writes with a love for truth and a keen desire to see those misled by this philosophy turned from their error. His gifts of logical reasoning and a reader-friendly writing style allow him to set forth the deficiencies of Rand's thinking and the sufficiency of scriptural teaching.

This book can be read with profit by both those familiar with Rand and by those with little knowledge of her philosophy. Yang's work provides a good example of how to expose anti-Christian thinking in terms of God's word. Readers should come away with a new appreciation for the sufficiency of Scripture. Yang's personal testimony, given in the final chapter, reminds one of the emptiness of life outside of Christ. It also teaches us that lives ensnared in false philosophy can be captured by the sovereign God. The reader will be renewed in evangelistic zeal to answer errant thinking with the clear teaching of God's word.