Galt's Gulch

Barbara Branden (1929 - 2013)

Posted by $ MikeMarotta 11 years, 11 months ago to Culture
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For me, Barbara Branden's most important contribution to the philosophy of Objectivism was her "Principles of Efficient Thinking." She will be more widely remembered for her biography of Ayn Rand. Her personal website is here: http://www.barbarabranden.com/

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  • Posted by Herb7734 11 years, 11 months ago
    I met Barbara on several occasions. She was always polite and interested in what I had to say. She met my son and expressed interest in the thoughts of a second generation Objectivist.
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  • Posted by Austexk 11 years, 11 months ago
    I worked with Barbara at NBI in NYC mid-60s, designing book covers, brochures and running their film series, The Romantic Screen. When I moved to LA 12 years ago, Barbara and I re-connected and grew very close, often attending theatre, movies and dinner together. Up to the end, her mind was sharp and engaging. She was my favorite date in recent years, a dear lady that I loved profoundly...a class act. Kerry O'Quinn
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  • Posted by Zero 11 years, 11 months ago
    The thing I remember most about "The Passion of Ayn Rand" was a letter from Dr Peikoff saying not to read it.
    Of course I have signed first edition.

    Not taking sides, that's not what I'm about, just sayin' - "Dude!"
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  • Posted by $ Mimi 11 years, 11 months ago
    Perfect timing, Mike! I was just getting a reading list together to start on my project. I’ll start with her biography on AR.
    Have you read it? Could you recommend books on AR?
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    • Posted by $ MikeMarotta 11 years, 11 months ago
      "The Passion of Ayn Rand" is her more famous and accessible biography. It was made into a movie starring Helen Mirren as Ayn Rand, Eric Stoltz as Nathaniel Branden and Julie Delpy as Barbara Branden. It has been many years since I read the book, but I remember it as balanced, insightful, and honest. Given the conflicts in their lives, it was a tribute to Ayn Rand's personality and achievements.

      Barbara and Nathaniel also wrote an earlier biography, "Who is Ayn Rand?" (1962). That is probably easiest to find at a city library or rare book seller such as ABE Books or Amazon. The book analyses Ayn Rand's fiction (Nathaniel) and summarizes her life (Barbara).

      Nathaniel Branden's "Judgment Day" is an autobiographical view of their relationship, less about her life, and more about theirs.

      Earlier this year, I read through the recent works by Anne Heller (Ayn Rand and the World She Made), and others. They are OK for what they are, but Barbara Branden was close to Ayn Rand and while that necessarily brings some subjective perceptions, they are experientially powerful, as opposed to the derivative, academic and less salutary works.
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      • Posted by $ Mimi 11 years, 11 months ago
        I didn’t know Helen Mirren played AR in a movie. I admire her; she is one of my favorite actresses. I’ll have to give the book and the movie a look over. Thanks.
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        • Posted by TheBestWithinUs 11 years, 11 months ago
          Helen Mirren won an Emmy for playing Ayn and Peter Fonda won a Golden Globe for playing Frank. The movie starts with Nathan, Barbara and Ayn meeting (half way through the book) and ends with the breakup (maybe 4/5 through).

          None of her early life is covered, except through brief conversation between the characters; and almost none of the aftermath.

          BTW, Barbara herself has a very noticeable cameo. Free wink if you can tell me where.
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    • Posted by $ winterwind 11 years, 11 months ago
      I think reading Nathaniel Branden's "Judgement Day" and Barbara Branden's "The Passion of Ayn Rand" back-to-back would be an excellent read. There is also a video/book combination called "A Sense of Life" which I have not seen.
      "Who is Ayn Rand?" is available most of the time on eBay.
      I'd love to see your reading list as it coalesces more.
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  • Posted by ratonis 11 years, 11 months ago
    She was one of a number of people who seem to have been helped and harmed through their association with Ayn Rand, surely one of the strangest people in American cultural history.
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