100 Voices

Book Review of 100 Voices – An Oral History of Ayn Rand

by Scott McConnell

By Robert Villegas

This was one of the most enjoyable reading experiences of my life. I was mesmerized by the descriptions of Ayn Rand throughout her life. This book provides a series of interviews of people who had known Ayn Rand throughout her life. It gives many delightful perspectives on one of the rarest and most interesting individuals to have lived. That she was born a Russian, educated in Russia and escaped to America is not the least of it. Her dedication to values, the various impressions she made on people and the sheer consistency of her actions, ideas and relationships is impressive and inspiring.

As someone who has been studying and “living” her philosophy since my teens, I was amazed by the many new insights I received on her life. Indeed, I was fortunate to have known some of the people interviewed and this provided additional pleasure to me because I had not known they had met her. I was intrigued by many of the famous actors, authors and celebrities who also knew her. Indeed, I gained a new respect for some of them by learning of their reaction to Ayn Rand. I especially loved the descriptions of her personality and the first-hand experiences by people who saw her on a regular basis.

I had never met Ayn Rand as a youth. I had only seen her once at the Ford Hall Forum in Boston after her lung operation. That vision is something I will never forget. This book filled the gap for me and gave me a sense of what she would have thought of me had I been fortunate enough to have met her. This book helped me envision how she felt as she lived the various events of her life. She was indeed monumental.

I am glad that I read this book.