No have not had a chance to read any of her non fiction. With me being on the road much of a work day will have to see if they have audio cds.

My experience has been that people want to read/watch mindless entertainment, not anything that might make them think, or realize, or enhance and reevaluate one's perspective of living. It's not "entertaining" to read about (rich) Dagny's struggles (or Hank Rearden's) or to read about a government that is scrambling to make more laws or fair share and dog eat dog directives to most people. When I read the book I felt like every time I turned the page I was hearing "you're not the only one who thinks this way", and believe me I was starting to think so. (My husband and Mother excluded). When my friends would ask me what I'm reading at the moment I would go into this very excited rant about how fabulous Atlas is and I can't get enough of it and it applies to everything happening today etc etc. Not one speck of interest from them to read it (!!!) Disappointing to say the least.
edith, thank you for the parenting compliment, but I'm not the one who has their kids read Atlas before getting their license. (I wish I had thought of it). However, my 16 year is getting his permit next week so I know what's going in his stocking...and my 20 year old's too for that matter. The compliment belongs to XenoxRoy. :)

wow. interesting story and cool pendent. Have you read any of her non fiction?

I find people are either intimidated by the length of the book (reason to get a Kindle) or are avid enthusiasts. Not too much in between. One thing I have noticed is that people are always happy to meet someone who appreciates the Who is John Galt? way of thinking. I met one guy at work and I thought he was going to hug me as I was carrying around my 5 lb book everywhere I go.
By the way Shrug, love the way you parent by insisting your kids read a phenomenal book before they have the privilege of driving a car. I have 4 kids who are a little younger but they are starting to develop their own opinions about the world, our country, economy etc. They think Obama is an incompetent fool. Guess he can't hide it from anyone.

no, interesante. what does Xenok mean?

me either

5 star reply Shrug. I feel as though I'm right there when your mom said that

I've told many and so far no one has read it. I'm still waiting...

Lets Shrug I learned about Atlas Shrug just about two years ago when we were driving from Florida to DC for a political rally against Obama care with my father. On the way my dad saw this huge sign saying WHO IS JOHN GALT? My father says pretty cool! I have no idea what it means and had never heard the expression before. My dad gives me this look like I could just pull over and let you out right here. So he explains the concept behind the meaning and the book. Ive read the book, listened to the audio and have dragged my wife to the movies. Now I wear a pendent that say WHO IS JOHN GALT? With the atlas in the back ground.
http://ssvs04.zenfolio.com/img/s8/v15/p1...
That necklace with the JOHN GALT pendent has started many conversations with people who have never heard of this book. And when I explain the book they become very interested and have many come back and say WOW! That really got me thinking just like it took something I believed in and really helped me shape it for myself.

No other reason for the tie to the drivers license other than it was the motivational force for my first to start reading the book.

I wanted the kids to read it around 15 or 16. They have enough mental maturity (so far) around there to catch basic ideas presented in the book. I also wanted to create the basis for a life long religious, philosophical and political discussion between me and each of my kids. I thought this to be an excellent starting point.

In the case of my oldest, he started the book just cause dad was making him read it, but by the end of the first act he was reading all the time until he finished it.

This was a great side benefit for my oldest, He never read before this unless it was required for a class in school. In the last year he has read several other books (light reading like the Micheal Vey Books, which are very good light reading) and has done so on his own due to interest in doing so.

I will see how it goes with the rest of my kids, but based off the results with the first, I will try it again with the rest.

It is possible that a different motivational force may be used with other kids in the unlikely case that they do not care about the drivers license. My oldest has convinced my second child to read just because its really good and it makes you think. She is starting it just cause she wants to, but I doubt they will all be like that.

Probably TMI on the reason why its tied to the Drivers license. :)

Ummm. No.

I was not raised in the 50's (not THAT old), but I probably picked up the "hope I'm close" mind set from hearing my Mom. A few years ago my son was doing some report about fallout bomb shelters and he asked my Mom if they had one and my Mom went on this schpeel about "are you kidding? I had 5 kids to feed and didn't have time to worry about that stuff. If we were going to get bombed then I just hoped it hit close enough to not know what hit us because believe you me there are worse things than dying." This sent me into a fit of laughter and made my son's jaw drop to the floor with shock, which made me and my Mom laugh even more. Poor kid wasn't expecting that response at all. But anyway, yeah you're right about dusting off the topic and finding out who's worth talking to these days. Losing freedoms little by little are happening right now and people don't even notice. It amazes me.

All good points. Food for thought. Thanks for sharing :)

it's kinda like you were raised in the 50s and think more in terms of bomb shelters. For me, I never think of one moment it all being a disaster. I tend to think liberties removed until there's nothing worth living for. I remember in college having discussions with people about living in USSR. it went along these lines: having few freedoms but you were alive and relatively safe vs. fighting to the death for freedom. I was always on the other side of everyone else. But it became a litmus test in picking a spouse soon after and I find I'm dusting it off again for friends worth talking to

have you bought that freeze dried astronaut food?

This is interesting. I, too, have made friends based on the influence of Atlas Shrugged in their lives.
Is the required reading of Atlas significantly tied to getting a license for any other reason than motivation?

LetsShug,

Have to share this with you after your comments.

First off, Atlas shrugged is required reading in my house. My kids must read it before they can get there drivers license.

ADD Moment: I ask some questions of my kids as they read it, generally challenge the premiss of the book with opposing views from society today as they read. Its a great teaching and conversation piece. I hope they take up the rational from it, but leave that to them. So far its been a great experience. Just starting it with the second kid now.

Back on target, my son was in the library (about a year ago) and someone was checking out atlas shrugged. A cute girl that he hit on and got a phone number from. They dated a bit and turns out her dad also has them read Atlas Shrugged before they can drive.

Needless to say I had to get to know this guy so my wife and I had her parents over for dinner. We now have some new friends and the kids quit dating, said it was to weird to have parents that were friends when your dating each other. They were getting a little to serious for 16 and 17 anyway.

I did not hug, but its nice to find others with similar views who like to think.

We've reached a perma link. I was thinking more along the lines of a nuclear bomb hitting (hoping it's close), not rape and starving (that would be hard to sleep through). My plan? Depends on what, when, and how things were to go down. I would only be worried about protecting my own children, I can tell you that much. Stock up and hunker down is the best I can come up with.

non-huggables aside and understanding jokes in battle-nearest the action in the killing fields of Cambodia? raped, murdered, starving to death? I mean this. where will you go? what will you do? how will you protect your children? how will you protect other children? Are you being caviler? I know you have a plan

If had my druthers I'd always be awake at 3am (I assume you meant am not pm) as I am naturally nocturnal, but since I'm one of those working folks I have to assimilate to my day time working hours. But, no, I don't awaken in the middle of my sleep to be scared of stuff I have no control over or to mull over 'that whole group' of non-huggables I want nothing to do with. If the planet implodes I just hope I'm nearest to the action...get it over quick like and perhaps not even be aware of it at all because of my deep sleeping slumber.

Never. not once awake at 3 oclock, scared the world is imploding...

I sleep like a baby, always.

Ha...I'm not willing to hug ANYone in the thrift store (unless my Mom is with me). It's a wonder I can enjoy myself in there at all. I stay focused on the find...not the others. :)

think of it in terms of thrifting. we're all in the thrift store, enjoying the hell out of it. are we willing to hug everyone in the thrift store? this is a philosophical question...

you are leaving out a whole group of people Shrug. Now you won't be able to sleep at night :)