The movies were good for an intro to Randian/Randish points of view. No you won't get everything out of it that you would get out of reading the novel, but it is a good starting point. In our sound bite culture, that is needed.

In the first novel I ever published, I will admit I borrowed heavily from Atlas Shrugged. Much like the movies, I wanted to target a bit of a different audience. So I focused on being less preachy, yes I know she was discussing important themes, I loved her book, I am here after all, but it's a bit much for someone's first experience.

I updated the theme, no railroads, but Seasteads, 3D manufacturing, cryptocurrencies, augmented reality, and artificial intelligence, to name a few of the key technologies, at first held back by regulation, and then booming when freed of statist control.

It was also all written as seen through the eyes of a young, indoctrinated tech blogger, who was invited out to do a media spot. So you can see her reaction to freedom. Both from her initial view and once she has had little practical experience..

All done in under 200 pages, so no one gets bored. Three book series, so you can explore the ideas deeper if you get hooked on the concept. Even then, you find out that you're only scraping the surface. Nothing is presented as the end all and be all answer to the reader, only a different way of seeing things, in the hopes that curiosity might finally find a place to take hold amid all the social conditioning and propaganda.

How successful will it be in the end? Who can say, but just like the movies, it has been off to a rocky start, but if we are lucky, the end is still a long way off.

There is nothing that can compare with the book, however, it IS a long read. I would say, reading the book first would make the movie so much more enjoyable. The epic story was difficult to tell, even in three parts.

I agree. I loved the film version, but did not like the revolving door of performers portraying the characters. It would have been nice, and contributed to overall cohesion if the same actors & actresses starred in key roles in each film.