“Atlas Shrugged” – Ayn Rand
From time to time I will contribute to this blog, but I am not involved in the book-reading competition that my colleagues are in. I would never win. I read slowly.
On Wednesday, I finished Ayn Rand’s “Atlas Shrugged.” The paperback is 1,069 pages thick. I began reading it in August.
But never mind the length. The book is considered Rand’s masterpiece, and I now understand why.
In case you plan on reading the book, I won’t spoil the story for you. You can safely continue reading this blog.
“Atlas Shrugged” takes place in the U.S., sometime during the 1900s, I believe. Something strange is going on across the country: Innovators and industrialists are disappearing. The economy is falling apart under the control of a group of men – a mix of politicians, scientists and corporate leaders.
That’s all I can tell about the plot without giving away something important. But know this: “Atlas Shrugged” is a mystery novel, one in which the people of the nation are prohibited from using their minds, from using the word “why.” The story is about the destruction of the human spirit. The book also has some similarities to events happening in the world today.
Rand has the gift of writing with power and telling a story that can keep readers engaged to the end. Her characters are explained in great depth; you know exactly how they will feel, and you will love some of them and hate others.
Then there’s Rand’s philosophy, Objectivism, which is told through certain characters in the book. Rand describes her philosophy as “the concept of man as a heroic being, with his own happiness as the moral purpose of his life, with productive achievement as his noblest activity, and reason as his only absolute.”
It’s a philosophy that has made her a controversial figure, but also an influential thinker.
Every politician should read this book. Anyone who likes to be given reasons to think should pick up “Atlas Shrugged.”
I typically read works of fiction that are regarded as classics. I’ve read many books, but never one like this book. Rand has another famous work of fiction that involves her philosophy, “Fountainhead.” I will read that book eventually. I also will read “Atlas Shrugged” a few more times.
Rand has convinced me to learn more about logic (and to read her nonfiction books on her philosophy). I’m now reading “Being Logical: A Guide to Good Thinking,” by D.Q. McInerny. Even I could read this book quickly, as it’s only 129 pages. Afterward, I will begin “American Psycho,” by Bret Easton Ellis.
If you’ve read “Atlas Shrugged,” leave a post on this blog and tell me what you think of it.
I read Atlas Shrugged a few years ago, but it didn’t change my life. Instead it solidified my concepts of life and values. I am proud to say that I was developing the ideas of Ayn Rand, even before I had heard of her. Since then I have been using her teachings as a tool and hope to someday complete a novel based on her teachings.
My boss just picked up Atlas Shrugged after months of frustration with government bailouts and special presidential ‘addresses’ to the nation. The parallels between Atlas and our current political situation are being noticed by many people. Does anybody recognize this presidential quote “I need the entire productive power (the full resources) of the nation behind me if I am going to be able to solve our current crisis, that is why we must pass this emergency legislation.”
Hint- if you have the digital version of Atlas you can search on the phrase:
“Entire productive power” and “full resources”…
I read Atlas Shrugged in 1978 in Graduate School. I 1st read The Psychology of Self-Esteem by N. Brandon followed by The Fountainhead. Atlas was 3rd. These books changed my life. I went on to a very successful & lucrative career & since then have always known the right thing to do (morally) & more importantly, why. Afterwards, I read The Virtue of Selfishness. I do recommend reading Fountainhead before Atlas since Atlas is wider in scope & was written after Fountainhead. Once you have read Atlas you will be interested in the ARI website. Aynrand.org. Those of you who are about to read Rand for the 1st time, you are in for an life changing, thrilling adventure!
I am impressed with the number of comments and the effects that AS has had on people. The book has inspired me to read Rand’s nonfiction work dealing with her philosophy. I recently bought “The Virtue of Selfishness.” I will read it a little at a time as I read other stuff. I will also read AS several more times, along with Rand’s other nonfiction work. In the meantime, I will continue to read my favorite parts of AS, which I have marked with ink. I am thankful to have read this book.
I read ‘Atlas Shrugged’ when I was 18, uneducated and homeless. I did not want or expect help from anyone, including the government. But I couldn’t have said why. ‘Atlas Shrugged’ told me why. I had found my roadmap to a successful life. Now, almost 40 years later, I am living that successful life. I’ve had a great career, have a great marriage and am flourishing, thanks in large part to Ayn Rand.
Atlas Shrugged is a milestone in human achievement. Hopefully the current events that are so accurately predicted, will hasten the spread of the ideas and values she identifies and demonstrates. It’s very encouraging and energizing to see all these positive replies.
I first read “Atlas Shrugged” more than 40 years ago, having begun reading Ayn Rand with her novelette “Anthem,” followed by her novel “The Fountainhead.” I was an unhappy government employee at the time. With (a substantial) effort, I was able to turn my life around completely, eventually achieving true happiness. I recommend that “new” readers begin with “Anthem” and “The Fountainhead,” then take time out to read some of Rand’s non-fiction, especially “The Virtue of Selfishness” before progressing to “Atlas.” This is what I did, and I believe I got more out of “Atlas” on the first reading than I otherwise would have.
I read it a few years ago, loved it, sought out more of her works.
Take RnBram’s advice above and mine: Read Rand’s “Introduction to Objectivist Epistemology.” Then read it again. You will be very glad you did.
It’s been about 15 years since I last read Atlas Shrugged but you are inspiring me to re-read it. I loved it then and have read almost everything else Rand wrote. I think it’s time to go back to the source.
Happy Birthday AR!
Happy Birthday to Ayn Rand (Feb 2nd)!
I absolutley recommend reading Atlas Shrugged and studying the Philosophy of Objectivism.
I have read all of Ayn Rand’s novels more than once and much of her non-fiction, and to the degree that I understand Miss Rand’s ideas and her integrations, her great work deserves and gets every nth degree of intensity of my admiration and love. Because she demonstrated that her fundamental values are achievable, she is the one of the most human of human beings I have ever encountered.
This is the most profound book I have ever read. I’ve actually read it 3 times and am gearing up for my fourth.
What I find so interesting about the book are the parallels I make to our current society. The government’s current attempts to ‘fix the economy’ are right out of Wesley Mouch’s playbook. Government spending and regulation will not solve our problem, in fact, they are the problem. Time for government to ‘get the hell out of the way’.
I am still waiting for the modern ‘John Galt’ to appear, I thought perhaps it was Ron Paul…
however, I’m thinking that he might have been a little before his time, as he had already been marginalized before the economy faltered, and laughably, he had been marginalized because he was saying the economy WOULD falter. Mark Sanford might just be the guy…
Of the dozens of negative comments I’ve read of Rand and Objectivism, none have had anything to recommend them. Each one had spewed forth the same message of unfocused anger and venomous hatred. Not here. It is refreshing to peruse a dozen endorsements of a philosophy whose time has come. Happy Ayn Rand!
I cannot recommend Atlas Shrugged enough (as well as anything else by Rand). If you are a seeker of values and ideas are important to you, her writings will help you improve your life.
I read AS in 1968 while on a 7 week camping vacation across the USA. I now enjoy my life and don’t feel guilty about the fact that I have produced a lot of wealth to buy things to use however I want. My wife and two sons feel the same way.
I just read Atlas Shrigged as well. It really is too much like today’s world-the sheeple who choose not to do anything and then complain about their lot in life…
To Undercurrent,
I will keep in mind your warning about logic texts. I read the first chapter of “Being Logical” and so far I find it useful. It has stressed the importance of selecting the right words to communicate clearly. People sometimes take for granted the significance of using vague words or statements compared to clearer ones.
On another note, someone who posted a message on this blog suggested that we give copies of “Atlas Shrugged” to friends. I’ve done that already. I bought a nice hardcover edition for a friend who loves literature, but he is reluctant to read it because of the book’s length. I told him he will not regret reading the book. I told him the size of a book is irrelevant if the story is good. I will keep nagging him until he reads it.
I am Swedish, and I read a book by Ayn Rand for the first time back in 1979. The book was The Virtue of Selfishness. I had bought that book because I was fascinated by the title. Reading that book changed my life, for the better. A couple of years later I read Atlas Shrugged. That was also a life-changing experience. I cannot recommend reading all of Ayn Rand´s works too strongly.
I’ve read “Atlas Shrugged” twice, “The Fountainhead”, and “Anthem.” I’ve also read “The Virtue of Selfishness”, “Capitalism: The Unknown Ideal”, “The New Left: The Anti-Industrial Revolution” and am finishing up “For the New Intellectual.” I’m currently in high school, and reading AS has significantly changed my life. I think that you are absolutely right in saying that AS is incredibly gripping, as when I started it, I couldn’t stop. It was like, “click! things make sense now!” I look forward to reading AS and “Fountainhead” again and again.
Everyone should read Atlas Shrugged. It will make you think. As a side note, be careful of logic texts, they are often the opposite of Ayn Rand’s ideas (arbitrary symbols with no relation to reality).
I read both Atlas Shrugged and The Fountainhead in my early teens. They made a life changing impact. No matter what respons may be, you do at the very least have to read them.
Feb 2 is Ayn Rand’s birthday. Go to Amazon.com and buy 3 copies of AS and send them to friends, your local congressman, or journalist.
http://tinyurl.com/c77pop
This will help promote the life saving ideas that we so desperately need in our culture today.
I read The Fountainhead and Atlas Shrugged when I was 18 and Ayn Rand’s philosophy guided me throughtout my next 47 years to happiness and success.
As a next step, check out the web site of the Ayn Rand Institute. They have more information about Ayn Rand and her ideas, loads of resources for students, and essay contests with $$$ prizes.
I’ve read AS four or five times, and each time I miss at least a day of work because I can’t put it down. It’s like I have found an imaginary home in the hearts of thinking characters and in the place of Galt’s Gulch. It has made me a better person, more honest and more observant. What really impressed me last time was the accurate psychological profiles of the villains and how we can recognize those traits in others and in ourselves sometimes when we’re on the wrong path. AS is my bible. Ayn Rand is my hero.
I read the book very slowly, and often re-read some parts to understand what was happening. Still, I will need to read this book many more times to have a full grasp of the plot and Rand’s philosophy. Galt’s speech, though spectacular, was overwhelming in its depth.
The second time I read Atlas (20 years ago) I was stunned by how much was “hidden in plain sight”. The metaphors (light as the Enlightenment) appear again and again in different forms. They are easy to miss as one gets wrapped in the plot.
I then began reading it with specific purposes in mind. Why did she write this or that, there? How did Galt glean so much information (from Eddie)?
Jim says, “Any grafter can make money.”
Francisco replies, “Some day, James, you ought to discover that words have exact meanings.”
I re-read Francisco’s money speech and looked up “grafter”. Whoa, my understanding of “grafter”, “money” and “make” had been far too simplistic! I had to go back to the beginning, and read with still more care!
When I read, “For the New Intellectual”, which contains major ’speeches’ from her fiction works, I was staggered by the depth and breadth of Galt’s Speech (infamous to some). It was also clear that the speech was a synopsis of something much much larger. I chose to read her non-fiction with even more care.
Even so —and with my three University degrees and considerable reading background, knowledge of science, and statistics—, I had to read “An Introduction to Objectivist Epistemology” several times before it became fully coherent.
I read Atlas and Fountainhead again, and discovered even more of their intellectual features.
Would that Rand’s detractors (some who have written books to argue against her) had made such an effort to think. Such detractors will continue to come out of ‘the woodwork’, and many will sound very convincing, until one has enough knowledge of philosophy to grasp their errors. At times, only a professional Objectivist will have what is needed to truly refute certain of their arguments.
I read both “Atlas Shrugged” and “Fountainhead” way back when (circa 1972) while I was in college. I remember being greatly affected by AS for weeks after I finished it. Seeing your review has inspired me to re-read both. I’m sure from the perspective of 50-something I will get something different from both.