Customer Reviews

Atlas Shrugged

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That's right. It is the best business book ever written. Rand believed in the value of the individual. She believed that the state, the government, should have no control over a person's work and his or her achievement. She believed that no group should try to control the individual and that no person should compromise in an attempt to blend in.

This is Ayn Rand's masterpiece. It expresses her complete philosophy in a riveting plot that takes place in the U.S. in the future. The economy is collapsing because of the strange disappearance of leading producers and industrialists. The theme is the role of the mind in man's existence. It demonstrates a new moral philosophy based on rational self-interest.

In this wonderful work, Rand shows what the world would be like if the real producers, the productive individuals, would stop their work and their production. It is stunning and awesome.

While the dialog is stilted and uncommon to the culture, it was Rand's unique way of crafting her fiction. Her characters lacked depth and emotion, similar to those of F. Scott Fitzgerald.

While this may take away from the storytelling, it is actually merely the format for her presentation of her Objectivist philosophy. And, it is that philosophy that is the critical part of all of her work, including her fiction.

According to Wikipedia, "Objectivism holds that there is a mind-independent reality; that individual persons are in contact with this reality through sensory perception; that human beings gain objective knowledge from perception by measurement and form valid concepts by measurement omission; that the proper moral purpose of one's life is the pursuit of one's own happiness or "rational self-interest"; that the only social system consistent with this morality is full respect for individual human rights, embodied in pure, consensual laissez-faire capitalism; and that the role of art in human life is to transform abstract knowledge, by selective reproduction of reality, into a physical form--a work of art--that one can comprehend and respond to with the whole of one's consciousness."

But it can better be summed up, I think, by saying that it is the belief that a person owns his own mind and the production of his mind, i.e. his work. Furthermore, it holds that the individual has a right not to conform to the whims or desires of the collective, that he doesn't have an obligation to do his work as others wish him to and that he has a right to earn money for his work and not give any part of himself away for the benefit of others.

The dramatic story in Atlas Shrugged brings this philosophy to life.

An altruist would not enjoy this book. But if you read it with an open mind, you will appreciate the philosophy behind the words. You may or may not agree with the philosophy and you may not enjoy the book. But if you're in business, you should read the book. A business person who is not basically an Objectivist, is not a good business person but a slave.

By the way, Alan Greenspan, famous former fed chairman, was part of Ayn Rand's inner circle when he was very young. He still considers himself a libertarian Republican. Rand's philosophy is an important one and should be read and studied by all who care about human production and human value.

How do you take such heady subjects as Objectivism, rational thought and the virtues of selfishness, to an audience accustomed to the white washed, banal pablum of 1950's America? By simplification and reiteration. Atlas Shrugged is long, has some very simple, one dimensional characters, and repeats its themes often. But, it had to. It is a subtle introduction of a decidedly humanistic, secular philosophy to a puritanical, non-secular society . As many have said before, you will love it or hate it. If you subscribe to strict religious dogma and dismiss your mind as impotent and unable to "know" anything, then you will hate it. If Plato's parable of the cave is the world you live in, you will hate it. If you despise Bill Gates for his Billions; if you believe the government owes you better health care (or anything for that matter, other than a rebate on your taxes), then you will hate it. If you are excited by success (anyone's), believe in your mind and its abilities to think rationally, and laugh at new age channelers, witch doctors, snake handlers, or any other mystic who believes "A" is "non-A", then the chances are you will love it. Read it and find out who you are.

"Greed, for the lack of a better word, is good. And greed will save the United States of America." One has to suspect that Gordon Gekko's famous speech in Wall Street was inspired in small part by Ayn Rand's masterpiece. Reading it, even a dyed-in-the-wool Communist will understand why free markets work and government intervention and planned economies do not. Rand's masterpiece is timeless and a must-read for every political-science and economics major in our colleges. Unforgettable (if somewhat one-dimensional) characters, a purposeful plot, and an unquenchable belief -- the freedom to choose one's own destiny, good or bad -- make this not just a book, but THE Book.

This book will make you stop and think about your values and what if anything you can do for others through doing it for yourself. This book tells us that we live by societies rules whether we like it or not because we do not want to rock the boat! And when we choose to live like that, we become immune to the world around us. This book reminds me so much of how the government of the U.S.A. is working today. This is a must read for anyone who wants to live life the way we were meant to live it. Undoubtedly one of the best books I have ever read or listened to. I listened to this book on tape while driving back and forth to work, (I drive an hour each way)and I can tell you that I was at work or home before I knew it. There are 12 hours on 8 tapes. Ayn Rand had a unique quality in her storytelling and I would recommend this book to anyone wanting a good read to pass the time.

Atlas Shrugged was given to me as a high school graduation present from a teacher with whom I frequently argued about philosophical issues such as charity and other topics which my Christian upbringing focus on. She never demeaned my arguments but provided reasoned, interesting rebuttals. When I graduated she gave me the book and said that she thought I was "ready" for it. I was a bit insulted as this sounded patronizing. I thank her often for such a wonderful gift. I have worn out my paperback copy and will buy a hardcover copy for future reads.

The first time through the book can be a roller coaster ride. You will undoubtedly like parts and hate parts. Ayn Rand is quite verbose, particularly in some of the speeches or monologues of the book. It is tempting to skim over those parts but there are gems within the paragraphs. For example, there is a 75 page monologue from Francisco, one of the main characters. It is full of positive messages, such as the concept of "making money". I have gone back and read this section of the book several times.

I have read negative reviews of Atlas Shrugged and I can see why some people do not like the book. It does not follow any specific political party line, but anyone with a liberal leaning (by today's definition of liberal) would hate this book. However it disagrees with a lot of the mainline "conservative" dogmas as well. I like to think of it more as a philosophy of life. My political beliefs follow from that philosophy.

Give Atlas Shrugged a try. If you are honest with yourself you may very well like it, whether you agree with all of the concepts or not. It is a story and it is a textbook. It is a very enjoyable read and if you are not accustomed to such lengthy books, you will probably feel a sense of accomplishment from finishing a 1000+ page book.

Atlas Shrugged is one of the most ambitious and intelligent novels of this century. No matter how many times you read it, it always gives you something more to think about. This is a thinking man's (and thinking woman's!) novel.

It also has one of the best and most positive heroines of any novel I have ever read.

Don't let the hecklers and net.trolls who give bad reviews of the novel prevent you from exploring it for yourself. You'll either end up agreeing or disagreeing with the ideas therein, but at least you'll have had a chance to think about challenging ethical and political issues.

In case this is your first encounter with this book, It is a fresh story but a continuation to Ayn Rand's philosophy that started out with books like "We the living" where she new something was wrong but could not put her finger on it. She progressed to books as "The Fountainhead" where she could describe the problem quite well. Now in "Atlas Shrugged she has come up with a plausible answer to the problem. In essence your head can work without your hands yet your hands can not work without your head.
The story is not unique but it still holds you attention. The world is becoming more socialized and it is harder for individuals to make an impact without having a multitude of parasites on their back. Some chose to fight, others chose to ignore, some do not have a clue as to what is happening. The world seems to be gearing down is just coincidence or is there some one taking a hand in it. "Who is John Galt?"
I can tell you of my experience with the book. I must have been a late bloomer or just unlucky, because I did not come across "Atlas shrugged" until I was 20 years old. I was in the military and needed some reading material. My younger sister sent me the book. It looks just a little thick to me but I started reading, and reading and reading. I do not know if it was the story or the clarity of thought. Now I saw everything in a new or different light. It felt weird to see the newspapers and politics paralleling the book.
I was in New York (West Point) at the time and three things stood out to this day. The was a public service announcement on the TV "The law says that an apartment owner can not charge more than 30% of what you make" and at the same time the apartment buildings were closing down. The postal carriers went on strike and the military had to deliver the mail. That winter the snowplow drivers went on strike. When the strike was over the snowplows were missing. They found them the next summer in an empty lot.
There is nothing quite as convincing as watching the world and book parallel. I have mellowed out some sense then. However, I really think that this book should be read by high school where it would have maximum impact of one's train of thought.

I first read this book in the summer of 9th grade, and absolutely loved it. There was a lot I missed then, as I just read it on the shallowest level possible, but the story line and characters intrigued me. As I grew older I kept rereading it, and each time I found it on another level. The philosophy is absolutely intriguing, though I also find very easily misunderstood if you don't read some of Rand's non-fiction. Every time I find another aspect to the book though, I love it even more. I really do think it's one of the greatest novels ever written.

Ayn Rand's masterpiece has helped me shape my beliefs and commitments to my life and to my work. I have read it many times and each time I discover new dimensions and learnings. In addition, it is a wonderfully romantic and exciting story and is impossible to put down. "I swear--by my life and my love of it--that I will never live for the sake of another man, nor ask another man to live for mine", John Galt, "Atlas Shrugged"

The paperback of this book has been in my possession for almost 10 years compliment of a very good (and deep) friend. It was advised that I should read this when I am ready for it - but I cheated! I listened to the audio book tapes and this is a fabulous book! I have bought a first edition as well as started to read the paperback as this is must keep in my personal library. I want to recommend this to anyone who is concerned about where this world is going. It has some very practical application and really has affected me on a very personal level. Take the time to read this book! It is well worth it!