Explanation of How You May Benefit From This Brief Reference Guide Appeal to Dr. Peikoff to Let Me Publish The Full Version Though, originally, I wrote a complete Fountainhead Reference Guide that delivered on my introduction’s...
moreExplanation of How You May Benefit From This Brief Reference Guide
Appeal to Dr. Peikoff to Let Me Publish The Full Version
Though, originally, I wrote a complete Fountainhead Reference Guide that delivered on my introduction’s promises, sadly, I cannot share it with you, right now, because I cannot secure copyright permission, presently.
However, I can share with you a condensed version of my study primer, which elucidates The Fountainhead by doing seven things. First, it clarifies the novel by summarizing, in one sentence, the essence of the book’s 154 characters. Second, it explains their beings in 91 analytical sections. Third, it visualizes the book’s buildings by defining 39 architectural words. Fourth, it explains how I learned about Ayn Rand’s philosophy, what I have done to support it, and why I should be trusted. Fifth, it tables Ayn Rand’s fiction-and-non-fiction in a chart, so you understand her intellectual output. Sixth, it illustrates, in a spreadsheet, how objectivist intellectuals have applied Ayn Rand’s philosophy to different fields of thought, so you understand how her viewpoints apply to modernity. Seventh, it enumerates works I have read, highlighted, and studied to understand The Fountainhead, so you comprehend the scholarship I will use to compose my forthcoming Fountainhead Analyzed Essay Book.
Though, this information clarifies The Fountainhead, supports Objectivism, and explains my next book clearly, unfortunately, I cannot cast full-light on The Fountainhead currently, since Dr. Peikoff (the copyright owner) “does not review unsolicited manuscripts.” Nor does he “engage in philosophical work anymore, [since] he is now fully retired.” Ergo, I cannot send him my book, since he will neither look at nor evaluate it.
Clearly, Dr. Peikoff has a right to not view unsolicited manuscripts; for he is a busy man who lacks time to ponder his daily philosophic mail. I understand that. He also has the right to disengage from philosophy altogether, since, at age 85, he has already defended Objectivism ably, by explaining AR’s philosophy for over 65 years. His sustained efforts, as a result, to support Objectivism, by writing books, delivering talks, and teaching classes, has won Dr. Peikoff the right to enjoy his life’s twilight, doing whatever he likes. For, great men, like him, who have fought and won the good fight, by being brave, intelligent, and moral, deserve to enjoy their sunset years.
Even though Dr. Peikoff is right to focus on his own goals – not what I want of him – I think my Reference Guide aligns with his secondary goals by logically codifying a book he loves. As such, maybe Dr. Peikoff can either allow me to publish my full Reference Guide as is, or ask someone to edit it first so it may be published later.
In truth, I’d like Dr. Peikoff to provide feedback, despite his possibly negative comments, because I’d like him to tell me, in his own words, what he thinks about my book, even if he thinks it is hopelessly flawed, beyond repair. If, in other words, Dr. Peikoff engaged with this Fountainhead project in some way, I am confident that we would all benefit. Thus, I’d like him to make himself reachable, so he can help all of us – including himself maybe – understand The Fountainhead better. All he has to do is contact me.
Incidentally, since Dr. Peikoff spent decades of his life studying, analyzing, writing and speaking about The Fountainhead, I think he will like a Reference Guide that illuminates the book clearly. Especially if he wants to create a broader cultural climate that is friendlier to Ayn Rand. In my view, the more people learn of and read my full Fountainhead Reference Guide the more likely they will be to at least engage with Ayn Rand --- maybe, even like her. For my goal in writing this Fountainhead Reference Guide is to generate a certain degree of respect for AR in certain circles – where she has not been liked until now.
To explain, many people condemn Ayn Rand and The Fountainhead because they do not understand her or her book. Rather, they just repeat what they have heard others say. But if they read my full Fountainhead Reference Guide, perhaps this would change. Maybe, my book would help students clear up their own confusions about AR and her book, thereby coming to appreciate and value the novel from an accurate perspective. Especially, since my study guide analyzes the Fountainhead in a neutral manner, by organizing the novel's facts in an easily understandable format that dispels popular myths about the book.
Also, some people may give my Fountainhead Reference Guide a fair hearing once they learn that its’ author -- me -- is a neutral party with no axe to grind. For I am not affiliated with – nor loyal to – any organization, institution, or thought movement, whatsoever, including Objectivism. This sort of intellectual independence renders me a neutral truth-seeker – who is less likely to antagonize certain people who hate Objectivist polemics. Said differently, my mental neutrality renders me a dispassionate truth seeker who is worth being heard, since I do not make arbitrary attacks against people for supporting contrary positions. Rather, I logically clarify my ideas in a non-threatening manner, so people generously receive my thoughts.
Thus, to clear-up widespread misapprehensions about The Fountainhead, I’d like Dr. Peikoff to allow me to self-publish (or formally publish) my entire Reference Guide, since I think it induces clarity in pupils’ minds by enabling scholars to go over-and-over the novel’s facts again-and-again. So that when they write their term-papers they can look-up facts they know exist, without pouring over the book, like I did, for 18 months.
Further, if someone wrote a Reference Guide that conveyed my basic values, I would not care who wrote it, why they wrote it, nor what people said about this person. Just the reverse. I would judge the book by its inherent worth only. Regardless of what others thought.
To elaborate, if Dr. Peikoff uses his own objective judgment (which he does) to judge for himself what to do (which he does) instead of yielding to the subjective opinions of others (which he does not) I am confident that he will either grant me instant permission to publish. To help clarify Ayn Rand’s moral code. Or require me to refine my book, so he can allow later publication. Or deny me permission outright, with solid reasoning why.
Ergo, to help him decide, I’d like Dr. Peikoff to take a brief moment, from his retirement, to read some of my materials, so he can decide what to do. Then, he can return to loving his wife, loving his family, traveling the world, or whatever else he likes. He has earned that.
I know this request is a lot to ask of Dr. Peikoff at this stage in his life. Maybe I am wrong, but I think Dr. Peikoff could just assign someone to help me get my Reference Guide into proper shape, if he wants. After all he has an army of Objectivists who he can delegate the practical work to. All he has to do is to devise a solid strategy for working with me on this book. So that, together, we can bolster the movement, jointly.
Alternatively, if Dr. Peikoff does not want to support my book because he does not know what will come of it yet, he can let me publish it discretely, by telling Penguin to authorize publication, without using his name. That way he can authorize a Reference Guide – that mostly aligns with Objectivist virtues and values – without explicitly sanctioning it.
That said, casting daylight on my Reference Guide does not mean Dr. Peikoff approves of, condones, or vouches for my book completely. What it does mean is that he values my study guide – on some level – insofar as it enables pupils to concertize their understanding of The Fountainhead, succinctly, so they support their Objectivist views ably – with facts, evidence, and logical inference.
In my view, Dr. Peikoff should allow me to support Objectivism by letting me publish my full-book, so his acolytes, “who do still engage in philosophic work” understand the Fountainhead better.
In sum, since my Fountainhead Reference Guide will enable objectivism to shine more directly, sparkle more brightly, and illuminate everything more clearly, it should be published. So that it breathes new life into Objectivism, by casting factual sunlight on The Fountainhead.
Until it is fully published, though—which may never happen—this condensed Fountainhead Reference Guide is all I can offer. Sorry.
