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  After reading "The Fountainhead" in November 1982, I knew that this book represented something that I had never seen portrayed - people who had beliefs and lived by them - literally.  I then went on to read "Atlas Shrugged" and continued with "Anthem" and the rest.  Simply stated, my life changed.

Here are four of the basic tenets of Objectivism:

So, by and large, I consider myself to be an Objectivist...with some qualifications.  The single largest "hole" in Objectivism (IMHO) is what appears to be a serious lack of humor.  I revel in humor...puns, jokes, gags, magazines, sitcoms, etc...and while I understand that some Objectivists believe humor to be anti-rational, I disagree.  Apparently, Rand believed that the "punch line" of a joke was nothing more (or less) than a cruel and unnecessary twist, leaving the "rational" listener with no firm footing.  I believe that aspect to be one of humor's best qualities.  Besides, humor can do so much to not only entertain, but to relieve tension, explain things, and make life interesting.  Having aired my chief complaint about Objectivism (or, more accurately, Rand-ism), I believe principally in the fundamental tenets of Objectivism, which hold that reason is absolute, faith & mysticism are sub-human, man is (should be) a heroic being, and productivity, achievement, and trade are ideals to be aspired to.

Now...on to some further nit-picking...

While I don't hold Ayn Rand (the author; first name rhymes with "pine") on as high a pedestal as some of her more...uh...devoted followers, there is no doubt that what she brought forth, with force & passion unequaled, was a philosophy for LIVING - literally.  Here is how I distinguish between the two camps of people who by and large believe the same way:  "Objectivists" and "Randites"  

Objectivists are those who adhere to the fundamental principles of the philosophy but who account for emotion and other "frailties" of human existence; in other words, those who fuse emotion and reason into an integrated, rational approach to life.  The Randites, on the other hand, adhere primarily to Ayn Rand; they do believe in Objectivism, but never at the expense of doubting Rand or contradicting her word.  By way of example, a true Randite would likely condemn me for the previous sentence, and my utterance (or typing) of it proves, to them, that I am NOT an Objectivist at all.  I disagree.  To put it another way, Objectivists are people who live life with a firm grasp of reality and a belief in reason, rationalism, freedom, and capitalism.  Randites, on the other hand, believe in Ayn Rand first and Objectivism second.