I gave away a copy of Atlas Shrugged today.

Posted by LetsShrug 13 years, 2 months ago to Books
19 comments | Share | Best of... | Flag

I have a friend who I have tried to get to read Atlas Shrugged for a while now. She reads a lot so I'm confused as to why she hasn't, or won't...but anyway she has an 18 year old son and she is forever saying things to me like, "You'll appreciate what ____ said last night.. He said...." And she tell me how he was complaining about liberals doing this or saying that stupid thing etc etc Today she told me some things he was saying last night which, to me, clearly showed that he was making a connection to the lack of logic in so many liberal arguments. So I said, "That's it. I'm bringing you a copy of Atlas today and I want you to give it to him. I think he will gobble it up." I ended up putting a copy of Atlas AND a copy of The Fountainhead in her cubby at work. She emailed me a bit ago and asked when I needed the books back because her son has finals and won't be able to get to them soon, and I said, "They are his to keep. He won't want to give them back after he reads them anyway."
Have you ever given away a copy of Atlas? What was the reaction? Did they read it? Curious about all stories concerning these types of situations.
Proceed..... :)

All Comments

  • Posted by mayancamerany 13 years ago
    Can't recall that I have given one away but, this is for sure, I would never give mine up BUT I did leave them behind in New York when I relocated to Puerto Rico.... That was not supposed to happen but it did so I'm hoping to replace the Fountainhead, Atlas Shrugged and We The Living and others I've read ....Love Ayn Rand....this isnt her real name u know
    Reply | Permalink  
  • Posted by $ winterwind 13 years, 1 month ago in reply to this comment.
    no, with oooooh, now it all comes together and makes sense for me! also if he goes the wrong way, we can DROP a tree...
    Reply | Permalink  
  • Posted by $ winterwind 13 years, 1 month ago
    I haven't given away a copy is too long a time, and I have a prime candidate...he, he, he...bet he falls over like a tree!
    Reply | Permalink  
  • Posted by BenjaminGrimm 13 years, 2 months ago
    I recently bought a copy of Atlas Shrugged for my mother's 50th birthday because she expressed interest in it.
    Reply | Permalink  
  • Posted by $ Susanne 13 years, 2 months ago
    I've given away a few, but made them promise either to read it or to personally give it to someone else. Most have read it... and but for one (naive moocher wannabe socialistic occupier type) all have been appreciative of it. The naive one - talked serious derogatory both about Ayn and Atlas... but when asked if he read it, told me he would never buy a copy of it because it was "wrong". I again asked if he read it, and he asked in return "Why would I want to read a book like that?" When I gave him a copy he looked at me like I gave him a nice cup of Hemlock Juice...

    Then again, to his mind, it probably was. ;)
    Reply | Permalink  
  • Posted by LauriJon 13 years, 2 months ago
    I've never given one but it's a great idea. I read Atlas at 20, so yes, her 18 year old son will eat it up. It will stay with him his entire life. Thanks for doing this... I think I will too.
    Reply | Permalink  
  • Posted by khalling 13 years, 2 months ago in reply to this comment.
    sorry net. one would have thought the audio version would work. I think it's strategy. like save your best post for the day the newsletter goes out here in the gulch. hand out the audio when you know someone is committed to a long trip by car. that's the only way I would do John Adams. that's not true. I did watch the miniseries and the sex scene between Giamatti and Linney is now burned onto my brain. I tried to concentrate on the important stuff
    Reply | Permalink  
  • Posted by net5000 13 years, 2 months ago
    I give away Audible versions and I can't even get them to just listen. Oh well
    Reply | Permalink  
  • Posted by LetsShrug 13 years, 2 months ago
    Update:
    I was invited over to my friends house tonight (the one I mentioned in the post). I couldn't make it to her house, but she called me later and we talked for 2 and half hours. Long story short I think we have a glimmer of hope here. THIS is what I've been waiting for. To be approached about what is on my mind. Her perception of my "frustration" was misinterpreted so I gave her the full platter of freedom vittles to munch on mentally and explained my frustration lies with those who don't care enough to notice where we are headed. And I think she's getting it. :) The conversation ended with her saying, "So I guess I should take the fact that you talk to me about this as a compliment...because you must think I'm worthy or else you wouldn't try." I said "Exactly!"
    That felt good. :) Like seeing a flame in the dead of night. All because I gave a book to someone who might be worthy. She said she will read Atlas Shrugged. YES! :)
    Reply | Permalink  
  • Posted by khalling 13 years, 2 months ago
    you give the hard copy to friends you cannot part with and you inscribe something on the title page.
    and a copy to all the kids you care about, when they graduate high school, unless they ask questions earlier.
    Reply | Permalink  
  • Posted by $ kathywiso 13 years, 2 months ago
    That is so exciting... besides my son, who wasn't quite ready to read it, until last year, when he couldn't put it down, I have given a friend the book and know she hasn't read it because she would be talking about it with me. My father on the other hand, has spent his life giving the book out and has many friends that have read it and loved it. One of his friends called me last night and is on his 5th reading. I put the question out, " I thought in the book, Francisco saved Rearden," not like in the movie AS II where Reardon saves Francisco..." so he informed me that, yes, I was correct with the book. Once people have read the book, they want to explore more of Ayn's work, so The Fountainhead was also a good choice.. :) You will have influenced a young admirer and he will probably be your friend forever.....
    Reply | Permalink  
  • Posted by mowhaveerat 13 years, 2 months ago
    I gave a copy to all of my family members in 2006 who had not yet read it. Of course, the weak (those who will show you a picture of their puppy when you talk about hard things, as mentioned before) said, "I could never read a book that long." Others read it and reported, "that's too far fetched." My parents were giving up hope and moving further toward progressivism at the time. My Mom read it and has since read We The Living, The Fountainhead and Capitalism. My Dad didn't read it, but their conversations saved him as well.
    Reply | Permalink  
  • Posted by $ rockymountainpirate 13 years, 2 months ago
    I haven't given one away. I loaned a copy to a friend until she her own copy arrived. I have mine back and my brother is reading it now.
    Reply | Permalink  
  • Posted by overmanwarrior 13 years, 2 months ago
    Yes, I do that quite a bit, and people are always overwhelmed by the size of the book. But they always come around. Some people who I gave the book to over a year ago are still reading, since they have fallen out of practice. But the impact has been powerful, and hard on them. Atlas shatters many of their concepts, so unlearning what they have learned is a difficult process.
    Reply | Permalink  

  • Comment hidden. Undo