<p>When I was a teenager, I thought Atlas Shrugged and The Fountainhead were pretty awesomely deep. I reread them later and wondered, “what was I thinking?” I now see them as being the written equivalent of a superhero comic book. Stiff, one-dimensional characters, incredible egotism, steel-grey blue hair. I find them anti-community, anti-compassion, anti-realism, anti-love.</p>
<p>garland,
I guess it is different strokes for different folks (although I’m with you on the drowning question). And maybe it’s not as clear as I originally thought for my reading of Atlas Shrugged as a teenager, and the 3-4 other times that I have reread it over the last 35 years, sees the message as anything but anti-community, anti-compassion, anti-realism, anti-love. In fact, that might be the opposite of how I see the book’s message. And it’s certainly not “I got mine.”</p>
<p>Kira it is, StickerShock!</p>
<p>I have read Atlas Shrugged, but I did not have a life-changing experience. Can those of you who admire the book tell me what about the book changed your life? Please tell me why it changed your life? I am curious as to what I missed. Thanks.</p>
<p>Unfettered anarcho-libertarianism or soul-deadening collectivism: number 1,079 in a series of false dichotomies. Collect 'em all, get your latest ones today.</p>
<p>razorsharp - I was an unhappy teen imprisoned in a stereotypical Midwest town. I felt terribly stifled and not able to fit in with the “masses”. The book gave me hope and courage to work hard to achieve my goals, when everyone told me I should be happy to spend my life working in a cubicle at the local mega-corporation.</p>
<p>The ideals I gleaned from her books have inspired me in my career and volunteer work in schools. For example, I worked in a program to help businesses in blighted areas help themselves to become revitalized. I’ve recruited parents to take more responsibility in working with educators to improve their programs to better meet students’ needs. </p>
<p>I don’t consider myself an Objectivist or self-focused, but at the end of the day I don’t want to be constricted by what society says you can and can’t do. I want less government regulation and control over my life.</p>
<p>I guess that’s what I got, that you missed.</p>
<p>I have loved Atlas Shrugged since I first read it over thirty years ago and am thrilled that my son is a believer. I remember how it struck a chord with me the day my grandfather told me the story about working in construction. There was a new guy who started in and was working like crazy. My grandfather and a couple other men came over and told him, hey, slow down. You’re going to make the rest of us look bad. My grandfather laughed when he told that story – he was so proud of himself and how he and is buddies kept the new guy in check. I knew then which side my grandfather was on, and which side I was on.</p>
<p>Actually I prefer “The Fountainhead” over “Atlas Shrugged”. It is a little too preachy for me.</p>
<p>My favorite quotes from Rand are:</p>
<p>“Your life may be metaphysically given, but your survival has never been guaranteed.” and,</p>
<p>" NO amount of praying is going to put food on the table." </p>
<p>Like most people, she is unable to walk the talk. Her affair with her disciple was neither objective nor rational, IMHO.</p>
<p>More commentary on the book and the author from the weekend pages of the WSJ, eg, “Ayn Rand was utterly uncompromising on how government needed to respect the inalienable right of Americans to live their own lives, and of American business to grow, thrive, innovate and improve our lives without niggling interference.” </p>
<p>This article is not nearly as fawning some Rand devotees might like, but it does futher clarify the absolutely vital messages that she put forward fifty years ago.</p>
<p><a href=“http://online.wsj.com/article/SB119223551942158017.html[/url]”>http://online.wsj.com/article/SB119223551942158017.html</a></p>