First is what he calls "pseudo-self-esteem," which he describes as "an irrational pretense at self-value," and "a nonrational, self-protective device to diminish anxiety and to provide a spurious sense of security".

The last problem he discusses is one he calls "social metaphysics", which he describes as "the psychological syndrome that characterizes a person who holds the minds of other men, not objective reality, as his ultimate psycho-epistemological frame of reference.

The thirty-second anniversary edition adds a preface in which Branden explains that although his views have changed in some ways, he has chosen not to alter the original text.

In his memoirs, Branden recalled that important parts of the book were written during the "agonizing chaos" of the collapse of their relationship.

[6][7] When their relationship ended, she pressured the publisher to cancel his contract, which they did after he missed a deadline for delivering the completed manuscript.

[8] Despite Rand's effort's to prevent the book's publication, the newly founded Nash Publishing released it in the fall of 1969.

[10][11][12] Self-help expert Tom Butler-Bowdon warned that "readers find this book tough going", particularly in the earlier chapters, but described it as "one of the earliest classics of the popular psychology genre".

[11] Critics such as sociologist Frank Furedi[13] and neuropsychologist Paul Pearsall[14] cited the book as an example of what they see as a cultural trend of over-emphasizing the significance of self-esteem.

"[16] In contrast, author Alfie Kohn supported the idea that self-esteem was important, but criticized Branden for founding his work "in Ayn Rand's glorification of selfishness.