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Rand's greatness as a philosopher and a novelist is too obvious to require argumentation (and I speak as a professional philosopher). Apparently, some people can't separate "I disagree" from "This is well argued and well expressed."

But to answer the question about her favorite *popular* novel, it was Calumet K, by Merwin & Webster. (Her favorite novel of serious literature was Victor Hugo's Man Who Laughs).

Does anybody know the name of the book the author mentioned as Rand's favorite? Kalamut Kay or some such?

Mid-century middle-brow. How this tripe ever got lumped in with great literature is a mystery. Like the ideology it espouses, it's populist ideology wrapped in an attractive cover, giving people license to be as greed and selfish as they want to be. Fabio was sadly too young to appear on the cover.

Like most things in rand's work, she idealized her heroes. I think she took the "mythology" surrounding Wright's career and designs and created a character she felt better fit her needs.

I read a bit of Rand when I was much younger--I hated her immediately. I can't stand anyone who doesn't suffer fools.

Cardboard characters and simplistic philosophy. This is for the young and then you grow out of it.

You don't determine you're own fate, most of life is about luck and chance.

Dave

When I was in school for architecture, a collegue insisted that I read the Fountainhead. I never finished the book it was too lame.

Howard Roark based on Frank Lloyd Wright?

I don't think so.

Wright: Diminutive, mousy, dreamer. Who made building that defied reason and fell apart.

Roark: Sweaty, muscular, rapist. Who's building were pure reason, made to stand forever.

All of Rand's heroes (John Galt, Howard Roark, Hank Reardon, Ellis Wyatt) all created something to make their fortune.

Would that Rand (not as she became later in life as a worship-loving grand dame) have approved of the current mindset in business that making money is an end in itself, not creating something and earning the money?

Also, Rand has had characters speak of the legitimacy of unions (Dominique Francon wans Gail Wynand that workers have a right to unionize for better wages, but Ellsworth Toohey's unions serve no purpose). Why is she seen as anti-union?

Also, Rand's corporate giants (Reardon and Wynand) pay their employees top dollar to attract and keep the best people. How does this reconcile with today's thinking of getting minimally qualified people for the lowest wages and expecting success?