Although Rand can be quite rigid in her analysis she offers a solution that allows the reader to extract useful information. Her advice isn’t to be taken literally, or as she says “concretely”, but to be seen from its most abstract viewing. Her advice, when abstracted effectively, is very useful and applicable to both fiction and non-fiction. Perhaps she did this intently as she writes multiple times that concrete-mimicry is the sign of a “hack”- bad writer.

I accidentally bought this book, but I began reading it anyway and ended up loving it. Ayn Rand is fascinating to me; yes, she is super radical, but hey, a girl's gotta get things done.

The book is not actually written by Ayn, but is actually transcribed from a course she taught on writing nonfiction. It is extremely interesting because she is so frank in her conversations/lectures. The first half of the book is just verbatim what she spoke about in class; the second half if dialogue between her and her students, in kind of a q and a format.

All in all, I'd recommend this to a fledgling writer--she really preaches about the need for confidence and a rejection of self-doubt/fear, so I think it's great for newbies.

good advice to help you enliven your writing

It took me a long time to get through this book mostly because, and I didn't know this before, Ayn Rand is kind of a dick.

In one breath, she advises writers to not use pejorative language and to be polite with their words if they are writing a review of a work with which they disagree. In the next breath, she accuses liberal writers of using confusing language in order to hide their evil beliefs that support dictatorship. She belittles individuals who use marijuana. She gives examples of other writers' work and then says why it isn't good writing, in very impolite ways.

This book was put together after Rand's death from notes from workshops and classes she organized. Based on the examples used, and the way the book is structured, it does not appear that Rand wanted to help anyone. It appears she wanted to further inflate her own ego. It was difficult for me to get past her self-indulgence to find helpful tidbits that are found in practically every other writing guide I've ever read.

Lastly, she wrote that you shouldn't attempt to write on a subject that you do not know about, but she clearly did not understand poetry since she wrote "Poems without rhymes are neither prose nor poetry. They are nothing." No, Ayn Rand. Just, no.

Concise and informative. Reading this reassured me of my own writing abilities.

From a series of informal lectures Rand gave in 1969. Someone recorded the lectures- Robert Mayhew organized them into this book. Rand was one self-confident person! She comes across as cocky at times- and intellectual snob. Good advice about the writing process in this book though.

This was an informative, invaluable, fascinating informal private discussion in 1969, and it is an informative, invaluable, fascinating, meticulously transcribed and edited book now. I should have read it years ago (and, while I have some questions and different approaches, I was pleased to find I was already using some of the methods and guidelines the author advises using).

“The first absolute is: be clear. Drama, jazziness, color—which can be added later—are never as important as clarity.”, p. 3

Yesterday I had received a book I had ordered from Amazon called, The Art of Nonfiction, by Ayn Rand. The Subtitle Is “a Guide for Writers and Readers.”

I finished the introduction which was written by Peter Schwartz back in 1999. Back then Peter Schwartz was chairman of the Board of Directors of the Ayn Rand Institute, as well as the instructor of an advance writing course at the Institute’s Objectivist Graduate Center.

Here are my random notes from reading the introduction: (maybe some of these will help you)

Writing is a skill just like jewelry making or engineering.
It requires practice and knowledge.
It has nothing to do with self-esteem.
There are “identifiable principles.”
Writing is the act of communicating your thoughts clearly.
Writing is not mystical.
*Nonfiction needs an orderly method of thinking!
Consciousness is to grasp (not create).
Writing is an objective science.
Do not look inside yourself for a solution – look outside.
Ask, “What is the nature of the _________________ you want to do?”
Writing is about DOING!
Ms. Rand provides principles about the psychology process of writing (roles of your conscious and subconscious mind (along with methodical advice through the process of writing.
Writing nonfiction is problem-solving. Writing is problem-solvable.

The next chapter, chapter 1, is called Preliminary Remarks. After I finish with this chapter I will share my notes.

Thus far, I found this book to be enlightening. At this point, I can say I highly recommend purchasing and reading; especially if you are having any self-doubt about your writing. Or maybe if you are struggling with a blank page. In fact, a lot of the tips above were about how to subconsciously rewrite the meaning of writing in order to never have a blank page again.

Great book! I recommend it for writers and those learning to write. Another great one is The Art of Fiction, by the same author.

This book complements Writing and Thinking, by Steadman and Foerster and The Elements of Style, by Strunk and White, as it teaches a rational approach to writing and style. Many of Rand’s statements on style echo those of these other authors; her assertion is that a writer should be clear and precise, and that style should never be forced, but instead will come naturally as a manner of expressing one’s self. Also, like these other authors, Rand emphasizes the importance of thinking clearly in order to produce clear writing, an in making an outline. Organization. Clarity.


What sets Rand apart from these other authors, though, is her understanding of philosophy. She teaches similar concepts, but also explains their underlying premise. With style, for instance, she writes: “Style is the result of subconscious integration” (p. 105). On page 107 she explains: “You cannot develop a style consciously. But you can give your subconscious the standing order that you like stylistic color and want it to occur when possible… Style comes from lightening-like integrations which your subconscious can make when it is free to do so. That is why you must write your first draft as spontaneously as possible.” She encourages writers to make a mental note of preferred style while reading, then says it will come to you naturally when needed. It isn’t magical, nor is she saying that you’ll get what you need whenever you need it; she’s merely explaining the process of style.

The process of writing nonfiction, according to Rand, is to first think out and understand the what you will be writing, then write an outline, then write a rough draft, without stopping to edit, referencing the outline periodically, then try to forget what you wrote for at least a day, then go back and edit, now with the objectivity of an editor. (The subconscious mind writes the rough draft, while the conscious mind writes the outline and edits.) Then wait a day or two, edit again, repeat until satisfied. She gives helpful advice for what to do and what not to do along the way, but the above is her basic take on the process of writing nonfiction. I found it very helpful. Important advice she offers, for example, is: “Do not try to do your thinking and your writing at the same time” (p. 62). I do this often and it’s a nightmare because you have to stop repeatedly to consider what you’re writing, only to get halfway through and find that you’re headed to a new conclusion, thus having to re-work your opening.


I read this book seen years ago, four years ago, and again more recently. It was interesting to see which passages I underlined as important. The book was an easier read the last two times around, as I’d since internalized some of the concepts.

This book, which is actually an edited version of live lectures Rand gave in her apartment, is wonderful.

Rand goes through all the major elements of writing nonfiction and gives helpful advice about how to write clearly, how to organize your thoughts before writing, tips for editing drafts and much more! I’m definitely going to use a lot of the tips she provides in my future assignments for work—truly, if you’re working somewhere where writing articles is a portion of your job this book will be tremendously valuable. She doesn’t give rules—in fact, she acknowledges that anyone who attempts to give just a list of rules doesn’t understand the writing process—rather, she gives advice on how to handle the process of writing more effectively.

One caveat to the general reader, however, is that throughout the book (originally lectures) Rand was speaking to close associates and friends who shared her philosophical perspective. So she regularly uses examples from her own writing and philosophy. If you aren’t familiar with, or if you are opposed to, her philosophy you might find such examples less helpful than a more familiar reader. But these examples do not detract from the effectiveness of her presentation or the validity of her advice.

Regardless of whether you believe Ayn Rand to be the greatest of devils or foremost among geniuses, it's hard to deny that the woman knew how to write. Personally, I believe she was a better essayist than novelist, but I would still say this volume's companion, The Art of Fiction: A Guide for Writers and Readers, is still essential to fully understanding what's on offer here.

By itself, this little book would go a long way for college students both in the humanities and sciences. If Rand herself weren't so controversial in the intellectual scene, I could very well see this book being required reading for students at the university level. I say this because I can't tell you how much writing I've read from engineers, mathematicians, and others in the sciences who couldn't cohesively put their thoughts to paper to save their life. For those in the humanities, Rand serves up several reminders that your writing should be a reflection of yourself first and foremost, and is the only way to achieve your own original style. Don't emulate Stephen King, George R.R. Martin, or whoever or whatever else is en vogue, says Rand. Put your thoughts to paper, regardless of quality, and go back and touch it up/flesh it out later.

Those are just a few of the many principles Rand presents here, and they're hard to argue. Again, regardless of what you think of Rand, you will find in this book valuable insights into one of the most difficult tasks you can set your mind to.