gary-weiss.com

: Name: Gary Weiss

I'm a journalist and author. My next book is AYN RAND NATION: The Hidden Struggle for America's Soul (St. Martin's Press: Feb. 28, 2012). I was an investigative reporter at BusinessWeek for many years, and I write weekly columns for TheStreet.com and Salon. My previous books were Wall Street Versus America (Portfolio: 2006) and Born to Steal (Warner Books: 2003). I was a contributing editor at Condé Nast Portfolio and a columnist at Portfolio.com; I've written for the Daily Beast, Parade magazine, The New York Times, the Big Money, the Globe and Mail and other publications. I'm also an adjunct professor at the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism. An archive of my Portfolio.com columns can be found here, and my Forbes.com columns are archived here. A bio is at my website.

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The first chapter can be read at my Macmillan author page.

Here are some early accolades for AYN RAND NATION:

"A scrupulous and sobering investigation, vital for our times." -- Kirkus Reviews

A "riveting and disturbing inquiry into Ayn Rand’s widespread influence on American economics and politics." -- Publishers Weekly

"Think Ayn Rand is marginal? Think again! Gary Weiss's powerful new history inscribes the libertarian firebrand at the very center of the American story of the past three decades." -- David Frum, New York Times bestselling author of The Right Man and Comeback

"A fascinating exploration of one of the fastest growing and most powerful coalitions in the modern conservative movement. With an unerring eye for detail, Gary Weiss embarks on a journey of discovery that examines the emerging influence of the Tea Party and other political groups that proclaim themselves to be the intellectual progeny of Rand, a crotchety, stubborn and proud purveyor of a philosophy of selfishness. Weiss explores this emerging cultural phenomenon with the even-handed and objective techniques of a sociologist. . . If you want to understand the men and women whose vehement voices are reshaping American government, you must read this book.” -- Kurt Eichenwald, New York Times bestselling author of The Informant and Conspiracy of Fools

"The timing of this book couldn’t be better for Americans who are trying to understand where in the hell the far-out right's anti-worker, anti-egalitarian extremism is coming from. AYN RAND NATION introduces us to the Godmother of such tea party craziness as destroying Social Security and elimination Wall Street regulation. Weiss writes with perception and wit."--Jim Hightower, best selling author, newspaper and radio commentator and editor of the Hightower Lowdown

"Gary Weiss brings his skeptical bent and sharp writing to a character who has inspired both fanatical belief and deep derision for decades: Ayn Rand. The book is a compelling journey of discovery about a woman who continues to exert a powerful hold over our society. Weiss shows how Rand is ultimately quite a bit more complicated than either her fans or her detractors would have it."--Bethany McLean, New York Times bestselling author of The Smartest Guys in the Room and All the Devils are Here.

AYN RAND NATION will be published by St. Martin's Press on February 28, 2012. Click here to pre-order the book from Amazon.com, and here to pre-order from Barnes & Noble.

I do, and on a variety of subjects, especially Wall Street's war with America and Ayn Rand's influence on the national political discourse.

I can tailor my presentation for each specific audience, and speak on a wide variety of subjects -- ranging from investment fraud to the perils of poor media relations.

A full listing of topics can be found at the Macmillan Speakers bureau, which can be contacted to make arrangements for my appearance. Or, if you prefer, drop me a line at garyweiss dot email at gmail.com.

Below are some of my articles and columns over the past few years. My most recent Street.com columns can be found here.

"Wall Street's New Sheriff"The Daily Beast, May 11, 20011

"The Raj Trial and Wall Street's South Asian Elite"The Daily Beast, April 20, 20011

"Wall Street Conspiracy Theories" Washington Post (reprinted from The Big Money), Nov. 22, 2009

"Hang 'Em High" Portfolio.com, Sept. 9, 2009

"Sinking Feeling" Portfolio.com, Sept. 4, 2009

"The Reeducation of Tim Geithner" Condé Nast Portfolio, May 2009.

"Preventing the Next Madoff" Condé Nast Portfolio, March 2009.

"The Man Who Made Too Much" Condé Nast Portfolio, February 2009.

"Sin Citi" Portfolio.com, Nov. 24, 2008.

"The Price of Immortality" Condé Nast Portfolio, November 2008.

"Citi Under Siege" Condé Nast Portfolio, September 2008.