Ayn Rand was an atheist. I knew that when I read the book.
You don't have to be an atheist to agree with some of her boldly (or somewhat exaggerated [or not]) caricatures of relgulators.
Ayn Rand WAS tyrannical, unbending and DID use Atlas Shrugged to shout her message of materialism, acchievement and anti-bureacrat philosophy. It was written in stark contrasts.
It IS a hard read for some people. But it should be read by everyone.
I've read it twice, and just this Christmas put the book in three stockings for my son, and two sons-in laws to read.
I wanted them to know "who is John Galt?"
I don't care for her style. She is too much of a polemic writer for me.
You just had to go and ruin their lives now didn'tcha. But seriously, good call. They may even thank you for it someday.