By: Trevor Loudon
New Zeal

When I first encountered Ayn Rand’s “Atlas Shrugged” as a teen back in the ’70s, it was like being hit across the forehead with a cricket bat.

It was pretty hard going for a “bleeding heart” leftie Kiwi boy, brought up on free milk, family benefits and eternal gratitude for our “benevolent” welfare state.

Now “Atlas Shrugged,” first released the year before I was born, is a feature film, with a Kiwi actor Grant Bowler, playing the leading role!

Millions have now read the book, second only in influence to the Bible. I never woulda dreamed this possible, back in the day.

“Atlas Shrugged” premiered on March 23 at the Heritage Foundation in Washington DC.

Here’s what some of the lucky attendees had to say.