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More oxford books @ www.OxfordeBook.comFore more urdu books visit www.4Urdu.com92THE EDUCATION OF AYN RAND, 1905–1943shortly after the book’s release she told him, “It’s time we realize—asthe Reds do—that spreading our ideas in the form of fiction is a greatweapon, because it arouses the public to an emotional, as well as intellectualresponse to our cause.” Sales of The Fountainhead confirmed Rand’sunderstanding. Rather than tapering off after reviews and commentaryhad faded from public memory, the book’s sales increased steadily yearafter year. Readers were discovering the book, experiencing its powers,and pressing copies on all their friends. 45Among the most dedicated fans were many who used Rand’s charactersas templates for self-assessment and self-improvement. Worriedby Rand’s condemnation of “second-handers,” they wondered if theyfell into this category. An army lieutenant confessed to Rand, “However,admire him and agree with Roark as I do, I haven’t the personal guts,if you call it that, to emulate him. . . . Perhaps I am, after all, closer toGail Wynand, because I have no reason to believe I could hold out longerthan he did.” Others credited The Fountainhead with rescuing themfrom conformity or surrender. After finishing the book one reader toldRand, “I was profoundly challenged and frightened. The challenge hasoutlived the fright. . . . Thank you.” A young woman compared herself toeach of the book’s characters in turn, finally concluding, “I am myself—believe in that, living by what I really want.” By compelling readers toaccept or reject parallels between themselves and her characters, Randinspired many readers to reflect on their own choices and motivationsin life. 46For others the book was a more intellectual experience. Rand’s rejectionof traditional morality and her counterintuitive theory of selfishnessprovoked many readers to thought, debate, and discussion. Herbook was particularly popular among soldiers, who found in Rand’senormous tome both relief from boredom and a welcome meditationon the reasons for U.S. involvement in the war. As a serviceman stationedin Texas put it, “Though I do not entirely agree with hypothesesestablished in this book, I must admit that this material warrants muchserious consideration. Indeed, superficially it appears to offer a logicalrecapitulation of the forces behind present-day global turmoil.” Severalletter writers told Rand that her novel was a hot commodity amongtheir military units, eagerly passed from reader to reader. An army privatewrote, “[The Fountainhead was] giving my brain some well needed