This book is - just like "Atlas shrugged" - a vehicle to expose Ayn Rand's view on life. She doesn't shun strawman arguments and cardboard characters to do so.

Nevertheless this is an interesting read. I'm not an American and it helped me understand something of the US conservatives train of thought. Why projects helping the weaker in society seem so repulsive to them - every act of selflessness is suspect.

"Now observe the results of a society built on the principle of individualism. This, our country. The noblest country in the history of men. The country of greatest achievement, greatest prosperity, greatest freedom. This country was not based on selfless service, sacrifice, renunciation or any precept of altruism. It was based on a man's right to the pursuit of happiness. His own happiness. Not anyone else's. A private, personal, selfish motive. Look at the results. Look into your own conscience."

The strange thing is that for Rand this encompasses not only socialism but also religion, nationalism and family - while exactly these three seem to be cornerstones for the conservative US.

I gave it four stars because it made me look at my own convictions again - and adjust them. Not as much as Atlas shrugged, though. That book is sort of the same as this one, but Rand's ideas are better developed there (and the story is better).