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Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand. I was overly social, choosing others over myself. I thought it was the way, possibly due to my Christian upbringing. But I learned t

Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand. I was overly social, choosing others over myself. I thought it was the way, possibly due to my Christian upbringing. But I learned that to say “I love you”, one must first be able to say “I”. Rational self interest is a good ethical basis for a non-sociopathic human. If you’re a sociopath, it’s horrible, which brings me to my next recommendation: Humandkind by Rutger Bregman (in Dutch: “Most people are good”).

teekert 5y ago
Haha, Mention Ayn Rand on HN, get some downvotes, sadly never any good questions or remarks. I wonder if the downvoters really read it. I feel like just like the Selfish Gene, you can misread Atlas Shrugged. I think a core point is that it makes you ponder if doing something for someone you love is selfishness. Or if true self-sacrifice is doing something you hate for something you don’t believe in. What’s good, what’s evil? It changed me, I believe for the better.
- unmole 5y ago
  I don't dislike Atlas Shrugged because of its politics, although I would say The Road to Serfdom presents a far better case and does it more concisely. I dislike Atlas Shrugged because it's a terrible novel with paper thin characters and cringeworthy dialogue. I'd argue that A Song of Ice and Fire, with its magic and dragons and undead armies still makes for a more realistic exploration of the human condition than the claptrap of Atlas Shrugged. Life is too short to read Ayn Rand.
  - teekert 5y ago
    OP asked for novels that changed people. I give examples and support them. I knew I’d get downvotes because Ayn Rand on HN = downvotes. I’d say if a novel elicits so much consistent response it’s already worth reading. I didn’t find it cringy I couldn’t put it down. Especially during John Galts speech. Just brilliant if you ask me. There are cetainly things I don’t agree with but OP asked for novels that changed me. Were taking opinions here btw, keep that mind.
    - unmole 5y ago
      > knew I’d get downvotes because Ayn Rand on HN = downvotes. There are comments on this very thread that recommend Atlas Shrugged that haven't been downvoted. The best way to get downvoted on HN is to complain about being downvoted. > I’d say if a novel elicits so much consistent response it’s already worth reading. That is a bizzare take. I'm pretty sure Mein Kapf would elicit a more consistently negative response. > Were taking opinions here btw, keep that mind. The people downvoting you are also expressing their opinion.
      - teekert 5y ago
        Ah, didn’t realize we downvote opinions we don’t agree with here, I was always voting based on how constructive a post was.

teekert 5y ago

Haha, Mention Ayn Rand on HN, get some downvotes, sadly never any good questions or remarks. I wonder if the downvoters really read it. I feel like just like the Selfish Gene, you can misread Atlas Shrugged. I think a core point is that it makes you ponder if doing something for someone you love is selfishness. Or if true self-sacrifice is doing something you hate for something you don’t believe in. What’s good, what’s evil? It changed me, I believe for the better.

unmole 5y ago
I don't dislike Atlas Shrugged because of its politics, although I would say The Road to Serfdom presents a far better case and does it more concisely. I dislike Atlas Shrugged because it's a terrible novel with paper thin characters and cringeworthy dialogue. I'd argue that A Song of Ice and Fire, with its magic and dragons and undead armies still makes for a more realistic exploration of the human condition than the claptrap of Atlas Shrugged. Life is too short to read Ayn Rand.
- teekert 5y ago
  OP asked for novels that changed people. I give examples and support them. I knew I’d get downvotes because Ayn Rand on HN = downvotes. I’d say if a novel elicits so much consistent response it’s already worth reading. I didn’t find it cringy I couldn’t put it down. Especially during John Galts speech. Just brilliant if you ask me. There are cetainly things I don’t agree with but OP asked for novels that changed me. Were taking opinions here btw, keep that mind.
  - unmole 5y ago
    > knew I’d get downvotes because Ayn Rand on HN = downvotes. There are comments on this very thread that recommend Atlas Shrugged that haven't been downvoted. The best way to get downvoted on HN is to complain about being downvoted. > I’d say if a novel elicits so much consistent response it’s already worth reading. That is a bizzare take. I'm pretty sure Mein Kapf would elicit a more consistently negative response. > Were taking opinions here btw, keep that mind. The people downvoting you are also expressing their opinion.
    - teekert 5y ago
      Ah, didn’t realize we downvote opinions we don’t agree with here, I was always voting based on how constructive a post was.