Why is atlas shrugged so popular? : r/books

This is a moderated subreddit. It is our intent and purpose to foster and encourage in-depth discussion about all things related to books, authors, genres, or publishing in a safe, supportive environment. If you're looking for help with a personal book recommendation, consult our Weekly Recommendation Thread, Suggested Reading page, or ask in r/suggestmeabook. When I first read this book, I thought that the characters were supposed to unlikable and will grow through the story and become decent human beings by the end of it. I stopped reading when I couldn't stand the characters anymore. The characters are so annoyingly smug and the writing itself is bad. Why is this book so popular? “There are two novels that can change a bookish fourteen-year old’s life: The Lord of the Rings and Atlas Shrugged. One is a childish fantasy that often engenders a lifelong obsession with its unbelievable heroes, leading to an emotionally stunted, socially crippled adulthood, unable to deal with the real w

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