Hey, Ryan, I thought you might enjoy reading this: sales of your favorite book have spiked.

Reviled in some circles and mocked in others, Rand's 1957 novel of embattled capitalism is a favorite of libertarians and college students. Lately, though, its appeal has been growing.

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The reason is explained by the name of a recently formed group on Facebook, the world's biggest social-networking site: "Read the news today? It's like 'Atlas Shrugged' is happening in real life." The group, and an expanding chorus of fretful bloggers, reckon that life is imitating art.

And Jordan, it's interesting: Ryan's been trying to convince me to read Atlas Shrugged. I went so far as to buy the book a few weeks ago, but I haven't been able to bring myself to read it. Still, my experience with the book is nothing like yours:

When I was eighteen, I broke up with Billy. (I know, I already told this story, bear with me.) That was the hardest breakup of my life so far. I was old enough to be blissfully expectant and passionate, but young enough to have almost zero real relationship experience behind me. When we broke up, it destroyed me. I cried day and night for two weeks. At eighteen, I thought my life was over--no kidding. Billy was the one to request that I read Atlas Shrugged. When we broke up, I didn't touch it again for over a year. In fact, I had to hide it from myself so I wouldn't have to look at it every day.

I don't blame you, really. I told Ryan I wasn't going to read it. Yet. We'll see if she can charm me into it.