Objectivist movement

Ayn Rand was an author whose novels The Fountainhead and Atlas Shrugged inspired many readers with their message. A young Canadian student named Nathaniel Branden who had been greatly inspired by Rand's work became a close confidante, and encouraged her to expand her philosophy into a formal movement. A group of Branden's friends formed the Ayn Rand Collective, and helped establish the Nathaniel Branden Institute to formally promote Rand's ideas, which she had by then dubbed "Objectivism".

Related Topics:
The Fountainhead - Atlas Shrugged - Nathaniel Branden - Ayn Rand Collective

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Rand and Branden eventually had a romantic affair which ended with a difficult breakup. Branden's status as second-in-command to Rand was terminated along with their relationship, and he was exiled from the Objectivist movement. In the late 70's and early '80s the formal movement faltered in popularity, and many other fomer supporters left. Eventually Leonard Peikoff rose as Branden's replacement, and rejuvenated the movement. He formed the Ayn Rand Institute to replace the Branden Institute. When Rand died in 1983 he assumed full control as the new leader of the Objectivist movement.

Related Topics:
Leonard Peikoff - Ayn Rand Institute - 1983

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