Nathaniel Branden

Nathaniel Branden is a Canadian psychotherapist and author of self-help books and multiple articles on ethical and political philosophy. In addition to his work on the psychology of self-esteem, Branden has also played a prominent role in developing and promoting Ayn Rand's philosophic system, which is known as Objectivism.

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Canadian - Psychotherapist - Author - Self-help - Philosophy - Self-esteem - Ayn Rand - Objectivism

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Branden was born in 1930 with the name Nathan Blumenthal in Brampton, Ontario, Canada. He received a BA in psychology from the University of California Los Angeles. He received a Ph.D. in psychology from California Coast University.

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1930 - Brampton, Ontario - Canada - University of California Los Angeles - Ph.D.

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In 1950, after having exchanged letters and phone calls, Branden met novelist-philosopher Ayn Rand. The pair went on to develop a eighteen-year personal and professional relationship. Eventually, Rand and the much younger Branden had a romantic affair, despite both being married (they first sought the consent of their spouses).

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1950 - Ayn Rand

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For many years Branden was considered to be the leading figure in the Objectivist movement, second only to Rand herself. He was the leader of a group of Rand's closest associates known as the "Collective", which also included his wife Barbara Branden. Rand considered him to be her soul mate and designated him her "intellectual heir". In the late 50's Branden founded the Nathaniel Branden Institute to promote Objectivism through guest lectures and educational seminars around the United States. The NBI became enormously successful, and soon expanded to offices all over the US and around the world.

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Collective - Barbara Branden - Nathaniel Branden Institute

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In 1968, the close relationship between Rand and Branden came to an abrupt end when Rand discovered that Branden was having a sexual relationship with a third woman, actress Patrecia Scott. Rand then expelled Branden from the Objectivist movement. In a public announcement, she did not mention the relationship as such, but cited his alleged misuse of funds among other factors in the decision. Branden subsequently admitted to behaving "irrationally" http://www.noblesoul.com/orc/bio/biofaq.html#Q4.4 though in his memoirs he would later admit that he considered Rand's move a hysterical over-reaction. The two never reconciled, and Branden remained a persona non grata in the Objectivist movement. Shortly thereafter Branden moved from New York to California and married Patrecia Scott (a divorce with Barbara having occurred before his break with Ayn). Scott died in a freak accident in 1977, and Branden married a third time in 1978, wedding businesswoman Devers Israel.

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1968 - Persona non grata - New York - California - 1977 - 1978

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