For readers interested in Ayn Rand’s classic book, “The Fountainhead,” Andrew Bernstein, author of the “Teacher’s Guide to The Fountainhead,” is offering his perspective of the novel in a lecture titled “Rational Egoism in Ayn Rand’s ‘The Fountainhead.'”

Bernstein, who is an adjunct associate professor at Pace University in New York, will present his discussion tonight at 8 in the Sun Room of the Memorial Union.

According to a press release, Bernstein has extensive teaching experience in both philosophy and literature.

His experience includes establishing the philosophy and literature curriculum at the American Renaissance School, a private high school for gifted students.

“He’s a very engaging speaker; he’s got a lot of enthusiasm,” said David Bombardier, director of programs for high school and college students at the Ayn Rand Institute.

Bombardier joked that with his Brooklyn accent, some members of the audience typically find it humorous that Bernstein is lecturing on philosophy and literature.

“He’s got a lot of passion for the ‘The Fountainhead,'” Bombardier said. “He’s one of the world’s leading authorities on the novel.”

Bombardier said Bernstein has been lecturing on “The Fountainhead” for almost 20 years.

Dan Pasker, coordinator of lectures for the Objectivists Club at ISU and senior in ceramic engineering, agreed that Bernstein offers thought-provoking material during his lectures.

He said he attended one of Bernstein’s speeches on “The Fountainhead” nearly two years ago, and he said Bernstein was a dynamic speaker.

“He really got an emotional and intellectual response from the audience,” Pasker said, adding that some members of the audience even wept.

Pasker said he thinks students who attend Bernstein’s presentation will get a real insight into one of the most popular writers of this century.

“I think she made some excellent contributions to literature and philosophy. That really shows by how many people have read her novel,” he said.

According to a press release sent by Kyle Markley, president of the Objectivists, which is co-sponsoring the lecture, “The Fountainhead” dramatizes the theory of rational egoism — the theory that “it is each person’s responsibility to choose his goals and values by use of his independent, reasoning mind.”

The Russian-born Rand based many of her works around the theme of objectivity, which “offers the individual a rational philosophy for living on earth,” according to the Ayn Rand Institute’s Web site.

Rand, who died in 1982, gained international fame with “The Fountainhead,” published in 1943.

Her book features the hero Howard Roark, the ideal man, a man as “he could and ought to be.”

“As an advocate of reason, egoism and capitalism, I seek to reach the men of the intellect — wherever such may be found,” Rand once said.

The theme of the “The Fountainhead,” according to a press release, is “the virtue of independence in thought and action: the crucial importance of deriving your values and standards by the exercise of your own best judgment.”

Bernstein is expected to discuss the novel in depth at tonight’s lecture and give his theories on the development of other characters in the book.