I liked this book. It's not a book about Objectivism so much as about Objectivists. The author is an old New York Objectivist and knows a lot of details that haven't been published before. He takes (very general) ideas seriously and thinks about them for himself.
This has a rare quality in Objectivist books, hundreds of new ideas. Only a few are very good ideas, but that's not so important. Finding new ideas is the hardest part of intellectual growth. And this book has another quality sorely missed among Objectivists: a complete absence of malice. When criticism is just, he doesn't shy from it: Ayn Rand swore her closest companions to secrecy so they could deceive the rest of the world. But there's no glee, no "gotcha," no need to rub our noses in it. Nor is there malice toward the anti-Rand camp. I never thought I'd see it: a benevolent book about Objectivists.

Ayn Rand and Objectivism have inspired a substantial and growing number of written works. Most of them deal with either biographical matters or analyses of her philosophy.

This book is different.

The Age of Rand assumes at least a working knowledge of Rand's works on the reader's part; to quote from the introduction, "Relating, integrating, finding the connections--between Rand's past, present and future, her place in the long perspective of history--that is the purpose of this book." The author takes Rand's vision and runs with it -- in a number of different directions, speculating on how a future world in which Rand's ideas have been widely or universally adopted might look.

But wait -- there's more. This "speculation" about such a future isn't simply fanciful fantasizing based on utopian dreams, but is grounded in a broad and thorough knowledge of history, and is well supported with examples from past events and long-term trends. The book also includes excellent arguments in support of Objectivism, and provides a great deal of practical advice on how to get to the "Age of Rand".

Some of the treats in store for the reader: a superb analysis of the true nature of altruism; and a fascinating synthesis of the minarchist position and the anarchist position guaranteed to generate intense discussion.

The book is beautifully written, with a richness, depth, and clarity that make the reading a pleasure. The author doesn't hesitate to criticize Rand where criticism is called for, and certainly doesn't hesitate to improve on the master's work. But such criticisms and improvements are in the details, not in the essentials. Running through every chapter is Cookinham's quiet, steady passion for Rand's vision for life as it might be and ought to be.

Highly recommended.