>If you had read his books you wouldn't have been surprised.
Is that condescending tone improving the discussion quality, what do you think?
I have read at least Tai-Pan, Shogun and Gai-Jin. In Shogun it's harder to point out, but in the others sure. But they describe Western trade houses operating in Asia, so the themes you mention fit them quite well.
It's been a while since I read the books, and I might feel differently if I read them now with the randian perspective in mind.
I enjoyed Clavell's books quite a bit when I read them, so I consider him a good writer. What I know about Rand tho is that she was quite the dummy (starting from naming her very subjective "philosophy" objectivism). Her books have typically been described as hollow (haven't read any and don't intend to). So it's somewhat disappointing to see Clavell admiring her.
By randian perspective I mean reading the books while particularly focusing on themes of liberalism, individualism and the like. Of which there is certainly plenty, but not limited to.
Atlas Shrugged was her objectivist/philosophy of selfishness novel and it's a terribly wooden and poorly written work of literature. The Fountainhead and Anthem were both written before the formalizing of objectivism and are much more philosophical novels of individualism. While Anthem does lean a little towards her philosophy of selfishness called "objectivism", The Fountainhead is almost completely absent of this. It is the most similar to Clavell's novels, in the way of it's individualist protagonist. Running themes in it include shirking of orthodoxy and cultural norms, and finding success against the odds to achieve lofty unorthodox individual goals, despite much easier orthodox life paths existing. I find it somewhat bewildering that it is sometimes referred to as a conservative novel when a running theme of the novel is to cast away conservative tradition in pursuit of the new progress, as is done by the iconoclastic protagonist.
Is that condescending tone improving the discussion quality, what do you think?
I have read at least Tai-Pan, Shogun and Gai-Jin. In Shogun it's harder to point out, but in the others sure. But they describe Western trade houses operating in Asia, so the themes you mention fit them quite well.
It's been a while since I read the books, and I might feel differently if I read them now with the randian perspective in mind.