I would be surprised if most here hadn't read it, whether they agree with it or not, simply because it is so famous in tech circles.

I'm going to shock you lot and tell you I haven't read it although I've heard mentions of it from hackers that seem to live by it and quote it. What's so good about it?

EDIT: Just recalled that it's a book by Ayn Rand which to me came across as a total looney at the time.

She was kind of looney (if you take what she writes at face value) but she does have some interesting ideas, which can changes your outlook on your life.

But no you don't shock me by not having read it - I specifically said that most people would have read it, which means that it may not make as good a suggestion as, something that is less well known.

The idea that natural intelligence will succeed on its own merit in a capitalistic society

In USSR where I grew up Rand was completely unknown, unlike many other American authors

I've discovered her recently on Quora and was really surprised. It was like discovering antimatter, composed of antiparticles each of which annihilates some familiar idea

The strange thing is it came so late

Complementary reading from the late Erik Naggum: http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=1041751