I love Atlas Shrugged. I’ve read it from cover to cover at least four times. I’ve recommended it to a number of people. I’ve listened to the audio book. I have favorite chapters, and my copy of the book is practically falling apart.
Go ahead. Judge me. I’ll give you a minute.
I also love Wuthering Heights. (It’s relevant. Bear with me.) It’s brilliantly written, passionate and so very dark. (Uh…spoiler alert – Wuthering Heights is not a happy book.) I’ve read it more times than I can count. But no matter how many times I get lost in the story of Cathy and Heathcliff, I still don’t believe that love has to turn into hate.
If you have read any of my other blog posts, you know that I am a Liberal. (Yes, with a capital L.) I believe in social programs, corporate taxes, and our inherent human responsibility to care for each other in our darkest times.
I am the anti-Rand.
When I read Atlas Shrugged, I’m not a student of philosophy, I’m a student of literature – and it’s a damn good piece of fiction. I love the character of Dagny Taggert – independent, intelligent, with questionable morals and a soft spot for powerful men. I love lots of fictional characters of questionable morality, but with Taggart, there’s no apologies for her behavior. And that’s cool, because I don’t need my fiction to teach me how to be a good person. I can read a book and separate reality and fiction.
I like to believe that my love of Atlas Shrugged would piss off Ayn Rand. And maybe that adds to the appeal.
chrisbykate 
Well, I knew there had to be at least one of you out there. If there can be Christian egoists, then why not collectivist Atlas Shrugged fans?
I just took a few minutes to check out your blog – and now you have at least one *collectivist follower. I love finding well written and well argued sources that challenge everything I believe. I look forward to digging in to more of your archives.
(* I’m not sure how I feel about the term “collectivist”. It’s accurate, I suppose, but narrow. I also believe strongly in personal responsibility and pride in personal achievement. I will definitely consider this a topic for a future blog post.)
I have hesitated to read this book but I accept your challenge as a fellow Liberal!
I love when folks accept my challenges! 🙂 Keep in mind, though, that the first time I read it, I was a sophomore in high school with absolutely no preconceived ideas about what Rand’s philosophy. I think if I read it for the first time now, it might be hard to keep that from shaping the way I read it.
If you do decide to read it, I’ll be curious to hear your thoughts.
Hello chrisbykate, I am participating in a blogger meme called the One Lovely Blog award. If you would like to participate, you can drop by here and find out what it’s all about (essentially allowing readers of other blogs to get to know you): http://wp.me/p25oSj-K9 I have given you a shout-out because I like your blog!
This is awesome and flattering. Thank you!!! Work has been kicking my behind lately, so I haven’t had time to post anything – but now I feel inspired. 🙂
Hope you do!