A quick google search for Ayn Rand shows the enormity of her influence in popular culture. The texts that have commented on her in the past month, for instance, include personal posts on radical blogs, articles in nationally distributed newspapers, cable comedy news shows, and dozens of memes.

Paul Ryan’s response to this video, which specifically mentions his statements supporting her:

“This is why I’m not an objectivist,” Ryan said, reacting to Oliver’s piece. “This is why I disagree with her philosophy. But I think her novels are great. I loved her novels when I was a kid. They triggered my interest in economics.” (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/09/30/paul-ryan-disagrees-with-ayn-rand_n_5909172.html)

 

Ayn Rand’s objectivist philosophy, modelled throughout her fictional works, have been central in the shaping of contemporary popular conservative politics and has held held the interest of the American populace. Unlike other notable literary figures, Rand is less lauded for her prose and artistic prowess than her philosophical and moral stands and status as a public intellectual. Though she is not considered one of the founder’s of the American literature tradition— and was in fact not an American by birth— her lasting influence earns her a place on the list of pivotal literary figures. Rand’s personal life is the subject of much speculation, and her public statements, ironic or not, have been controversial to say the least.

Her two most famous novels, The Fountainhead and Atlas Shrugged are on the lists of most-banned books in America. As a 9th grader in an Honor’s English class, however, we did read her novella Anthem, which avoids all of the lengthy romantic plot features and controversial sex scenes and focuses more exclusively on presenting an argument against collectivism.

 

More links on Ayn Rand:

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2013/02/08/make-them-read-rand-a-scheme-in-idaho-to-put-objectivism-in-schools.html