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Summary:
An exploration of the eternal human struggle between the human individual and the state offers the first installment of Rand's philosophy of Objectivism and features an introduction by the author's heir, Leonard Peikoff. Reissue.
Customer Reviews:
Average Customer Rating:
When I was very young...
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I read this book when i was so very young (19), and after reading The Fountainhead, Atlas Shrugged and Anthem, which i loved. i was astounded by this book and moved beyond belief. I found the writing much different than her other books, and much more fictionalized. amazing considering that english was not her first language and this was one of her earliest works. the story is highly romanticized, yet even with that, i found my heart beating strongly and my anxiety level so high as i lived through that hideous life in communist russia. and the scene when Irina is sentenced to (as i recall) siberia, and leaves on a train while her husbands struggles to keep her in sight, to keep a piece of her clothing in his sight as long as he can --- how can anyone read that and not practically fall to their knees in grief and anguish for this young couple who are so cruelly separated? i will not do a spoiler here about the end, but there were times when i wanted to slap kira and wake her up to the truth of her two lovers. yet, it plays out as it must. and it is a beautiful novel. many reviewers here refer to it as bleak; i do not find it so. i found it romantic, terrifying, tragic, and beautiful. i loved fountainhead and atlas in a different way. this book was so steeped in romantic language and story that one could swoon from it. there is not a page that i found superfluous and to this day i can remember savoring every word of that book (and that was 50 years ago!). whether or not you are a fan of ayn rand, this is a story and a book worth your time. it broke my heart. (and i find it offensive that the book is listed by Ayn Rand AND Leonard Peikoff who had nothing whatsoever to do with this book and didn't even know her when it was written. shame on him for sticking his name on everything published by her, even if he is the trustee for her estate. he knows only too well, that it is only because he was the only one left in the group that she felt she could trust. had Nathanial or Barbara Brandon still been in her good graces when she died, it certainly would have been them to whom she left her estate. but aside from that, how can he sleep at night, having slapped his name on everything she has written! shame! shame! shame!)
A must read to avoid this in the future
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This is the first Ayn Rand book I have ever read. Its length wasn't nearly as intimidating as ATALS SHRUGGED, however once I started reading it the subject matter made me re-think whether or not I wanted to read through this. The depth of political and philosophical issues made me wonder if I had the energy to withstand something of this magnitude. As it was I did have to take a break from reading it half-way through the book. Rand, herself, admits that this is closely autobiographical, yet it is written so that you keep rooting for the good guy hoping that they come out on top in the end, but as Communism kept a firm grasp on the USSR for decades we know that there is little chance that the oppressed citizens are going to find themselves living comfortably in the end. After reading this though, one can understand why Rand promoted the philosophy that she did and championed THE VIRTUE OF SELFISHNESS. Once forced to think about everyone but ones self, a person eventually begins to think only of herself. Politically, socially, psychologically or otherwise people cannot live without balance and by forcing its citizens to live for the collective the Communist party eventually forced them to live for themselves, even unto death.
The writing was descriptive making the realness of Communism more than just history and illuminates just how twisted their campaign became. The revolt that led to the Communist inception was noble indeed, but as the years past it can be seen how fear led them to the same lengths of control that they had previously accused the Czar of perpetrating. Having read 1984 and ANIMAL FARM by George Orwell I found this to be much scarier as not only did this narration depict parts of the Orwellian books that had already played out in Communist Russia it also foreshadowed ideas that are seemingly materializing in the United States; the idea that people were afraid to have their own thoughts, among them.
There were parts of the story that I bristled at. Particularly, Kira's continued devotion to Leo even in the wake of his disrespectful treatment of her. I don't understand how she had the courage to not get married, yet didn't have a problem with his shabby treatment of her. This personal dynamic detracted from her initial desire to be an individual. She wanted to be an engineer, but when that possibility was taken from her she lived for Leo rather than for herself. Victor was, also, a considerable thorn. Part of a classified bourgeois family who find difficulty in acclimating to the new political environment Victor threw his self heart and soul into being accepted by the proletariat to the point of betraying his family. Devotion to one's political convictions should not preclude the protection of one's relatives.
Though it took me a couple of months to read, as it forces the reader to think, I would encourage people to read it. We live in a society that largely over-estimates the abilities of the government and this book shows what can happen when the government is completely in control.
Theme Begins, A Window into Sweeping Reform
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This novel is written at a very different age of fictional writing... in a tumultuous timeframe. Remember the fear and intensity of the climate as you turn the pages. Star Wars, Cuba, Berlin...
This is a freshman work on her themes that later evolve into a political party and almost cult. In her later works, she can be accused of belaboring points ad nausea... (John Gault's speech). This work seemed lighter to me. Yet, still thought provoking.
But if you return to the story itself... there is symbolism weaving its way throughout. Reform, incentives, human nature, corruption, education...
The fundamental flaws of communism and socialism are brought to life... MOVING, GRIPPING...
Her later works touch on a free market economy and the joys of capitalism.
Rand's Warm Up
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I admit I read Atlas Shrugged years before reading We the Living even they were written in the opposite order. I recommend reading WTL first as Atlas Shrugged is far superior. They are similar in that both feature a heroine involved with two heroes, eventually choosing one in the end.
Rand is not shy in promoting her objectivism of the self. She presents her philosophy masterfully in rich narration and thoughtful dialog.
I found myself bored in the first half of the book. The second half read faster. I did not quickly connect emotionally with the characters; I kept reading because I enjoyed Atlas Shrugged so much.
I did learn about life inside the U.S.S.R. and the dirty politics therein. I wonder if Rand was as familiar with similar dirty politics in democracy and capitalism.
Brutal, Sincere, and Maybe Rand's Best
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Sometimes, after finishing a book, I feel deep within me that it is important that other people read it, too.
I'm sure you feel the same way.
We The Living is such a book. I can't say whether it is Rand's best fiction or not... certainly a better read than Atlas Shrugged or Anthem, but The Fountainhead looms large in my memory, and might still claim the throne. However, I wouldn't feel it as important to have others read The Fountainhead as I might this one -- We The Living is somehow more personal, and more affecting.
Ayn Rand is a divisive author, especially for those who haven't really bothered to study her and are just going off of what they've heard from others. If even a detractor reads We The Living, however, I think they'll see a person passionately devoted to the best things about humanity, and about life. Who could witness the plight of Kira and not be moved? Not be profoundly angered at the society that would put her through such ordeal? Not be convicted to ensure that no such thing could take place again, anywhere on earth?
We The Living is a labor of love, and its plain to see in the writing. It sparkles with honesty, and draws from its readers the true pain that only honest writing can. A person may or may not agree with the Objectivist stand on laissez-faire, or inductive reasoning, but a solid common ground can still be reached by looking into this slice of Soviet life and being properly and profoundly horrified. From the resultant senses of pain, sorrow, and anger, our common philosophical conversation can continue...
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