Editing The Fountainhead (section)

===Cultural influence===
''The Fountainhead'' has continued to have strong sales throughout the last century into the current one. By 2023, it had sold over 10&nbsp;million copies.{{sfn|Eilenberger|2023|p=348 n26}} It has been referred to in a variety of popular entertainments, including movies, television series, and other novels.<ref>{{harvnb|Sciabarra|2004|pp=3–5}}</ref><ref>{{harvnb|Burns|2009|pp=282–283}}</ref> The year 1943 also saw the publication of ''[[The God of the Machine]]'' by [[Isabel Paterson]] and ''[[Rose Wilder Lane#The Discovery of Freedom|The Discovery of Freedom]]'' by [[Rose Wilder Lane]]. Rand, Lane, and Paterson have been referred to as the founding mothers of the [[American libertarian movement]] with the publication of these works.<ref>{{harvnb|Powell|1996|p=322}}</ref> For example, journalist [[John Chamberlain (journalist)|John Chamberlain]] credited these works with converting him from socialism to what he called "an older American philosophy" of libertarian and conservative ideas.<ref>{{harvnb|Chamberlain|1982|p=136}}</ref> Literature professor Philip R. Yannella said the novel is "a central text of [[American conservative]] and libertarian political culture".<ref name="Yannella17" /> In the United Kingdom, [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative Party]] politician [[Sajid Javid]] has spoken of the novel's influence on him and how he regularly rereads the courtroom scene from Roark's criminal trial.<ref>{{harvnb|Sylvester|2019}}</ref>

The book has a particular appeal to young people, an appeal that led historian James Baker to describe it as "more important than its detractors think, although not as important as Rand fans imagine".<ref name="baker57" /> Philosopher [[Allan Bloom]] said the novel is "hardly literature" but that when he asked his students which books mattered to them, someone always was influenced by ''The Fountainhead''.<ref>{{harvnb|Bloom|1987|p=62}}</ref> Journalist [[Nora Ephron]] wrote that she had loved the novel when she was 18, but admitted that she "missed the point", which she suggested is largely subliminal sexual metaphor. Ephron wrote that she decided upon rereading that "it is better read when one is young enough to miss the point. Otherwise, one cannot help thinking it is a very silly book."<ref>{{harvnb|Ephron|1970|p=47}}</ref>

Multiple architects have cited ''The Fountainhead'' as an inspiration for their work. Architect Fred Stitt, founder of the San Francisco Institute of Architecture, dedicated a book to his "first architectural mentor, Howard Roark".<ref>{{harvnb|Branden|1986|p=420}}</ref> According to architectural photographer [[Julius Shulman]], Rand's work "brought architecture into the public's focus for the first time". He said ''The Fountainhead'' was not only influential among 20th century architects, but moreover "was one, first, front and center in the life of every architect who was a modern architect".<ref>{{harvnb|McConnell|2010|pp=84–85}}</ref> The novel also had a significant impact on the public perception of architecture.<ref>{{harvnb|Flowers|2009|p=92}}</ref><ref>{{harvnb|Lewis|2007}}</ref><ref>{{harvnb|Hosey|2013}}</ref> During his [[Donald Trump presidential campaign, 2016|2016 presidential campaign]], real estate developer [[Donald Trump]] praised the novel, saying he identified with Roark.<ref>{{harvnb|Powers|2016}}</ref> [[Roark Capital Group]], a private equity firm, is named for the character Howard Roark.<ref>{{Harvnb|Bitter|2024}}.</ref>