Thanks. Nice catch. Ayn Rand in general and Atlas Shrugged in particular are deep within our common culture. Here is a link to a "Sighting" that I posted on Rebirth of Reason: http://rebirthofreason.com/Spirit/Sig...
I found it significant that the author does not explain Rand or Atlas. Like Harry Potter or other common "memes" Rand and Atlas are widely recognized.

My tallies here are almost four years old
http://necessaryfacts.blogspot.com/20...
but in round numbers, about 40 million copies of her works have been purchased. Of those, about 7 to 8 million each count for The Fountainhead and Atlas Shrugged. And that's just the books. You have to count The Simpsons. It is hardly an intellectual examination of the ideas, but millions of people watched the first runs and now the syndicated re-runs.

My perspective here is that it is common in the Gulch for us to want to be lonely and persecuted, but the facts speak otherwise. Not everyone who enjoyed The Renaissance built their personal values on Aristotle's metaphysics. It was not necessary that they all did. Similarly, by one tally, the author most often cited by the Signer of the Declaration and Constitution was Saint Paul. The American republic, however, was not built on the idea that we should all obey the authorities because God put them here to rule over us.

Just sayin'... The broad trends of a civilization's culture are expressions of its deeper roots. We have had a lot of blossoming and blooming since 1957.

Those same posters are displayed in nearby cities, Asheville, NC and Greenville, SC. I once offered to buy one from the store manager, but he politely declined.

This is exactly the reaction my friends and I have experienced as we have compared notes throughout the decades. It did read like a newspaper article three years ago during the dark days of the Obama inquisition. My oldest son is on his second reading and thinks Ayn Rand is much more accurate (and presceint) than Nostradomus!

...or maybe by the original publishers as a promotion.
I noticed the other 2 posters in the photo were both novels from similar era. Sadly, it lead me to thinking some interior designer just picked posters from a catalog and never actually read the book. (I hope I'm wrong!)

Excellent!

Yeah, sounds like a typical "tolerant" response from a progressive. They are very tolerant as long as you agree with them. :)

Well, they did have a choice and made the right one in my opinion. :)

The closest B&N has several framed covers of Atlas Shrugged on their walls. It is not the only one as there are other well known covers that also grace their walls. I must admit to coveting them and have asked if they are for sale. They are not, but the employee said that they get requests to buy them all the time.

My car proudly wears a bumper sticker: Who is John Galt? One time, a woman noticed it and asked whose car had the bumper sticker. When I spoke up, she basically blasted me for it. I asked, "Have you read it? It's my favorite book." She admitted she had never read it, but she had heard enough about it to suggest she wouldn't like it. I suggested she read it first before condemning it, and yes, she is a liberal and claims to be tolerant.
On the other hand, she loved The Goldfinch and I have to say having read that one, I wasn't impressed.

Of course, they know what's best for them & you and me too. :)

They recognize the similarities but dismiss the book as just a novel and not worthy of recognition. Besides they know that what they are doing is the right thing to do.

I wouldn't put too much significance in the fact that an AS poster was displayed. I once saw them putting up a bunch of posters by a kid they probably hired to do scut work. On the other hand, someone might have carefully selected it. But, I doubt it.

Re: "I wonder if a liberal person reading Atlas Shrugged gets the same message that a conservative gets?" Judging by typical liberal reactions to the novel, I doubt it. Maybe because none of Ayn Rand's heroes belong to the approved list of liberal "victim groups".

The only time I read it was during the Obama era and I cannot begin to count how many times I said to myself, "this is happening right now" as I read it. I wish I'd learned of and read it earlier in life. But for me it is much deeper than politics, it's a philosophy to live by.

I don't get out much so I couldn't say if this is strictly a B&N thing and have no idea who is behind them. I was just happy to see it displayed in a place of prominence.

The book far out did the movie. Having read it (at least) three times in my lifetime I've gotten different things out of it each time, the first in the early 60's. The last time (Obama era) it read like a newspaper, I couldn't believe how it paralleled the politics of the day.

I wonder if a liberal person reading Atlas Shrugged gets the same message that a conservative gets? And I wonder if the irony of it just goes way over their heads? I really doubt most liberals could even draw a similarity of AS to todays politics. And now I'm wondering about the posters again, who or what is behind them again? Is it strictly B&N?

I've noticed the same at my local Barnes & Noble. It made me happy to see it!

Hello edweaver,
That is fantastic. I have an account and spend quite a bit at B&N. It is good to have fair exchange with businesses that are not afraid to be capitalists and support capitalism.
Respectfully,
O.A.

True and I'm glad it is selling. Now, if only the message can get through.

barnes and nobel is a business and they recognize what sells. they are capitalists.

Yes, and that's the original dust-jacket painting, is it not?

BTW: did you know that Barnes and Noble now have a college bookstore division, and have taken over a lot of college bookstores? Including the Yale University Bookstore. Which I discovered when I visited there a month ago.

Good question. I assume it was created by B&N for promoting the book.

That same sign was posted in the B&N in Nashville. It warms my heart to see it.

Wonder if that poster is available somewhere?

The B&N in Brookfield Wi has that poster up too!