I studied Architecture in college.  In my classes another student recommended that I read a book called, “The Fountainhead” by Ayn Rand.  I was not really interested but if that is the book architects have to read I will do it.  In Junior High and in High School all the classics that were assigned reading put me in a coma.  None resonated with me.  My 25 page rule applied.  If I was still in a coma after 25 pages I would buy the cliff notes so I could do the required assignments.  I bought the book, tiny words, 600 pages, no way.  I put it aside.  Later, I decided to give it a try.  Oh my! This book makes sense.  The characters are great.  The story has meaning.  I would not believe 600 pages would be this easy to read.

Then I read, “Philosophy: Who needs it?”  Wow, what a book.  It got me asking questions of myself I had no clue about.  What is the difference between thinking objectively or subjectively.  What does it mean to live for myself or others.  What is Mysticism, Altruism, and Collectivism? Then I bought a 20 album set by Nathaniel Branden about Objectivism.  Listened to everyone and took notes.  I was still confused regarding my place in the world.  The world seemed so confusing with all this activity going on did not make sense to me.

Soon I read “Atlas Shrugged” and that opened up my eyes to how the world works.  Philosophy was giving me a lot of answers but I needed to learn about Psychology to better know myself.  I spent a year in a group therapy session with Nathaniel Branden.  I learned a lot about myself and others.  Going back to put Philosophy and Psychology together I answered more question.

Then I started to learn about Capitalism and Socialism.  These are not easily defined.  They are multi-level, highly integrated concepts.  On my way to understanding these political concepts they could not be fully understood until I began studying economics.  I began reading Ludwig Von Mises, “Human Action” and “Socialism.”  Everything started tying together and making sense.

What a challenge.  I look back at all I had to unlearn from my parents and school to get up to speed by the time I became 40.  I probably wasted 30 years of my life being confused where if I learned these ideas as a child I could have been far more accomplished.

I have created this web page and soon will release my book which I have structurally integrated in a framework that easily makes sense.  The book is aimed toward young people at about the age of 16 so they do not have to waste all the years I did.