Ayn Rand, altruism and other vague thoughts

I was reading this last week, and it took me back to 10th standard, when I first read Atlas Shrugged and was completely swept away by Ayn Rand's philosophy. I remembered thinking even then, that it was incredibly difficult, if not downright impossible to live by that philosophy, only, at that time, I blamed my own weaknesses and the weakness of the world as a whole rather than her philosophy. Looking back, I realize that the failure was hers, in not accounting for social needs as well as economic ones.

Atlas Shrugged was the book I read first, and it is still the one I love best. It had such an epic feel to it. The Fountainhead, not so much. I particularly disliked the ending, with Roark blowing up the new building. More than anything else, it annoyed me that he saw only his own work in the building, his design, not the work of the engineers, the masons, electricians, plumbers, all those people, who gave, if not their genius, but their sweat, that he so easily destroyed.

What annoyed me even further was- it was not his to destroy. Even if he objected to his design being mutilated thus... consider if I bought a Versace gown (the chances are slim, but lets not go there...) and then decided it would look better as a mini-dress (me in a mini?!!!), and ripped it up. Versace may not approve... but hallo, my dress, my choice. Not like I'm creating a ripoff to sell at Forever 21.... After all, don't people repurpose clothing all the time? Then why not buildings? And they've always done additions and subtractions to buildings.... any reason an architect's vision be held beyond mortal touch?

Though, to be fair, there are cases where buldings are, for example, designated as heritage sites and exempt from improvements (except for the sort that keep the roof from collapsing).

Lots of things are reminding me of Ayn Rand these days.... for example...Am reading Sharon Kay Penham's "Falls the Shadow" now, about Henry III and Simon de Montfort and Llewellyn of Wales... Considering that the cover flap talks about two men, one weak and one strong etc - referring to Henry and Simon, the book has dwelt mostly on the Welsh. For which I am grateful. While she deals with most characters pretty even-handedly, Simon's all tall, dark, handsome, brave hero, loving husband, and altogether too virtuous for my liking. I hate it when authors fall in love with their characters. Its even worse when the characters are historical - which means that they were real, flawed people in their own time. Anyway, to the point: There's a line there when Gruffyd is taken captive by Henry and remarks that he'd sooner trust Henry's self interest that Daffyd's altruism... which was very Ayn Rand like...

Speaking of altruism... I've been scouring the web all over for the article that said that apparently altruistic actions are not necessarily so... it was totally fascinating... especially the ones that simulated earning money and giving it away....