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Counter-cyclical asset of the day: Atlas Shrugged
Sales of Ayn Rand’s “Atlas Shrugged” have almost tripled over the first seven weeks of this year compared with sales for the same period in 2008. This continues a strong trend after bookstore sales reached an all-time annual high in 2008 of about 200,000 copies sold.
Hat tip to Newmark's Door.
Posted by Alex Tabarrok on February 27, 2009 at 10:40 AM in Books | Permalink
Comments
It occurs to me that that movie they've been trying to make for years and years may end up being really well timed...
Posted by: Obs at Feb 27, 2009 10:46:33 AM
It would be a mistake to attribute this to a surge in libertarian sympathies in the general population.
My bet is that instead this is already devout libertarians seeking comfort in Scripture on the eve of their perceived Armageddon.
Posted by: Richard at Feb 27, 2009 10:48:33 AM
Does anyone know if this applies to thick books in general?
When the price of leisure is relatively low (i.e. in a recession), it seems reasonable that people might read those thicker books they've been postponing.
Posted by: Scott Wentland at Feb 27, 2009 10:49:47 AM
My cat likes to eat spaghetti.
Posted by: Alex Bray at Feb 27, 2009 10:56:11 AM
how's keynes' sales?
Posted by: babar at Feb 27, 2009 10:58:57 AM
g r e a t... more asshole freshmen.
- former asshole freshman
Posted by: goodnessOfFit at Feb 27, 2009 11:07:11 AM
The problem with Atlas is that many people seem to forget that it is a fictional book. Instead I keep hearing the book cited as empiric evidence to support some particular economic/political policy. Its one women's universe and its not reality.
Posted by: james at Feb 27, 2009 11:13:54 AM
Has any writer done more harm to Libertarians than Ayn Rand? She is exhibit 1 for people who don't take Libertarians seriously.
Posted by: vanya at Feb 27, 2009 11:26:22 AM
The book that every 15 year old should read,
and no adult should take seriously.
Posted by: spencer at Feb 27, 2009 11:42:46 AM
In case you didn't know, Rand hated libertarians.
Posted by: kilroy at Feb 27, 2009 11:47:07 AM
According to Google trends, for Feb 27, the biggest increase has been in searches for "Great depression cooking with Clara".
Posted by: a student of economics at Feb 27, 2009 11:50:31 AM
Rand disliked about everyone except Aristotle, as near as I can make out.
Posted by: Nathan Cook at Feb 27, 2009 11:52:25 AM
I can confirm that Keynes' General Theory is selling exceptionally well, at least in the Social Utopia known as Manhattan.
Posted by: jagorev at Feb 27, 2009 11:54:40 AM
Where's the Amazon link?
Posted by: aaron at Feb 27, 2009 12:04:04 PM
Rand did like a few people enough to lift their ethics. Kant, Nietzsche, those types of dudes.
Posted by: Vernunft at Feb 27, 2009 12:05:36 PM
It's beyond hilarious that libertarian geeks base their creed on this work of econo-porn. This is fodder for British humor, American couldn't do it justice.
Posted by: lark at Feb 27, 2009 12:14:35 PM
The notion that Rand hated libertarians is hilarious. Talk about the vanity of petty differences.
Posted by: Richard at Feb 27, 2009 12:47:41 PM
The irony of Atlas is that in the book, the "master of the universe" is a factory owner who fixes the problems created by bankers. Our current situation was generated by bankers who saw themselves as masters of the universe.. and forgot the rest of her story.
Posted by: Unsympathetic at Feb 27, 2009 12:49:37 PM
GoodnessofFit:
Once again you prove my long-held theory that it only takes 1/2 hour or 10 comments for someone to accuse fans of Atlas Shrugged of thinking like high schoolers.
It's all been said before.
Posted by: Scott at Feb 27, 2009 1:36:40 PM
Plus the movie based on Rand's "We the Living" finally comes out on DVD in April...
Greg
Posted by: Gregory Rehmke at Feb 27, 2009 1:47:03 PM
It seems pretty dubious to blame Rand for obnoxious college freshman. Wouldn't it be more appropriate to look at the *best* minds influenced by her?
Posted by: PMB at Feb 27, 2009 1:49:53 PM
I read The Foundtainhead instead. And Anthem.
There is a mature libertarianism out there, waiting to be found. But Rand isn't it.
Posted by: ila at Feb 27, 2009 1:51:19 PM
Oddly, I noticed the book had a pretty prominent place in Borders when I was there just last night. I've never read it, and would have considered picking it up if it hadn't struck me as prohibitively long for an impulse purchase. I've found that I don't generally like fiction by philosophers, anyway.
Richard, if I've never read the book, does that make me a less-than-devout libertarian?
Actually, what is the big connection between Libertarians and Rand's fiction? Do you have to agree with a book's philosophy to like it?
Posted by: d.cous. at Feb 27, 2009 1:51:23 PM
"Rand did like a few people enough to lift their ethics. Kant, Nietzsche, those types of dudes."
Maybe in practice, but according to her rhetoric Rand HATED Kant. From "Causality versus Duty":
"The widespread fear and/or resentment of morality—the feeling that morality is an enemy, a musty realm of suffering and senseless boredom—is not the product of mystic, ascetic or Christian codes as such, but a monument to the ugliest repository of hatred for life, man and reason: the soul of Immanuel Kant."
Posted by: Robinson at Feb 27, 2009 2:23:20 PM
Ayn Rand herself said that she didn't like the libertarian movement and she didn't consider herself a libertarian (though I don't recall her reasoning).
You do not have to have read her book to be a devout libertarian at all. And, I think the book is still good (though probably more difficult to read), even if you don't agree with her philosophy. However, for many people who don't agree with her philosophy, I think they don't like the message of the book, and therefore criticize its quality. I think the book itself is not of a great quality, but the story that undergirds the book is intriguing and thrilling at times.
Posted by: Jeremt at Feb 27, 2009 2:37:34 PM
