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Ayn Rand

Atlas Shrugged Paperback – August 1, 1999

by Ayn Rand (Author), Leonard Peikoff (Introduction)

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Peopled by larger-than-life heroes and villains, charged with towering questions of good and evil, Atlas Shrugged is Ayn Rand’s magnum opus: a philosophical revolution told in the form of an action thriller—nominated as one of America’s best-loved novels by PBS’s The Great American Read.

Who is John Galt? When he says that he will stop the motor of the world, is he a destroyer or a liberator? Why does he have to fight his battles not against his enemies but against those who need him most? Why does he fight his hardest battle against the woman he loves?

You will know the answer to these questions when you discover the reason behind the baffling events that play havoc with the lives of the amazing men and women in this book. You will discover why a productive genius becomes a worthless playboy...why a great steel industrialist is working for his own destruction...why a composer gives up his career on the night of his triumph...why a beautiful woman who runs a transcontinental railroad falls in love with the man she has sworn to kill.

Atlas Shrugged, a modern classic and Rand’s most extensive statement of Objectivism—her groundbreaking philosophy—offers the reader the spectacle of human greatness, depicted with all the poetry and power of one of the twentieth century’s leading artists.

Print length

1192 pages
Language

English
Publisher

NAL
Publication date

August 1, 1999
Dimensions

6 x 2 x 9 inches
ISBN-10

0452011876
ISBN-13

978-0452011878
Lexile measure

990L
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Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Born February 2, 1905, Ayn Rand published her first novel, We the Living, in 1936. Anthem followed in 1938. It was with the publication of The Fountainhead (1943) and Atlas Shrugged (1957) that she achieved her spectacular success. Rand’s unique philosophy, Objectivism, has gained a worldwide audience. The fundamentals of her philosophy are put forth in three nonfiction books, Introduction to Objectivist Epistemology, The Virtues of Selfishness, and Capitalism: The Unknown Ideal. They are all available in Signet editions, as is the magnificent statement of her artistic credo, The Romantic Manifesto.

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ NAL; 35th ed. edition (August 1, 1999)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 1192 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0452011876
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0452011878
Lexile measure ‏ : ‎ 990L
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 2.31 pounds
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6 x 2 x 9 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #184,309 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #975 in Political Fiction (Books)
- #1,673 in Classic American Literature
- #3,941 in Contemporary Literature & Fiction

Customer Reviews:
11,958 ratings

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5 star		75%
4 star		12%
3 star		6%
2 star		3%
1 star		4%

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Top reviews from the United States

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Steven T. Abell, author of "Days in Midgard: A Thousand Years On"

One of the most important books ever written.

Reviewed in the United States on December 6, 2018

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I became aware of this book when I was in my teens, finally read it when I was 30. My life would have been better if I had read it sooner. Buy this for your kids, make sure they read it, then make sure they learn the right things from it.

As literature, this book is just OK, hence the four stars. Rand was not a native English speaker. That she managed to write this well in a second language is amazing. I would have written this book differently, but I didn't write it. Everything after The Big Long Speech is necessary, I suppose, but kind of sophomoric, definitely a B movie. As science fiction, the book is laughable, but I suggest you cut the author some slack and go with it. As an exposition of important ideas, this book has no equal. If you want to know what's wrong with the world, you can start here. It is important that you not *end* here. Think of this book as a laxative. Once you have ingested this, you can work on restocking your mental gut with better food than our culture has given you.

Speaking of speeches, this book has lots of them. I have a friend who says this is her favorite book, but she also says she has never read the speeches. Here's news for you: if you haven't read the speeches, you haven't read the book. Knowing her, I suspect that if she read the speeches, it would no longer be her favorite book. Atlas Shrugged is an assault upon your morals. Some people are surprised to learn that their morals deserved to be assaulted. Some never get over the fact of the assault, assuming the problem lies with the author and her infernal book. No. The problem lies with some very old and pervasive ideas that turn out to be senseless, destructive, murderous, and just plain wrong. Some of us sort of knew that all along, but thought we were the only ones who thought so. It's a relief to see this out in the light of day.

I believe the author's strategy is to make you tired. The main character tries way too hard before capitulating, allowing the author to write yet more episodes illustrating the corrupt and coercive muck we wallow in, the stuff you've encountered all your life, perhaps wondering if life really had to be this way. No, it doesn't. The aforementioned Big Long Speech is one of the greatest things ever written. But the author has to soften you up first.

Some people read this and get strange. This is probably to be expected after somebody hits the reset button on their morality. It takes a while to figure out what to do next. A few people never recover, becoming something like Jesus Freaks. Most readers eventually resettle their minds, but in a different place than it would have been if they hadn't read this book.

Still need a reason to read this book? It will help you say No when No needs to be said. It might even save your life. Really.

427 people found this helpful

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Kindle Customer

Thought provoking but....

Reviewed in the United States on November 8, 2018

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I am not against a lengthy book, but a self indulgent 1000 plus page manifesto in which characters give uninterrupted speeches that take four hours to read and serve no purpose other than to preach the author's philosophy is completely unnecessary. The book did clearly demonstrate Ayn Rand's philosophy through the characters of John Galt, Francisco D'anconia, and Ragnar D. I didn't need the sililoquies.

I loved the character of Danny Taggart, who is portrayed as a woman ahead of her time considering the era in which this book was written. Can't stand Hank Reardan, who is supposed to be a hero, but is just an arrogant, if intelligent, putz.

The writing style was awful...I would really love to know how many times some form of the word "astonish" is used in the book. Rand seems to need to state the most mundane points in both the positive and negative fashion. She would not say "Dagny was happy..." She would say "Dagny was, not sad, but happy. That is to say she was filled with joy, she was joyous. She was not downtrodden, but rather, pleased." This is not a quote from the book, but would have fit right in. Goodness, Ayn, leave it at happy, we all get it.

Rand does write some great triumphant moments...especially when her heroes accomplish a monumental task or, pull off a dramatic act of rebellion. These are the moments that push you through the drivel. Examples: the first run of the John Galt line, or when John Galt instructs the clueless politicians in how to repair their torture machine.

As for her philosophy...I am not in agreement. The world she portrays in Galt's Gulch would not be the end result of a nation which accepted her primitive , childish, self-centered, arrogant and elitist tenets. Her true society would look like a bunch of four year olds, sitting on top of their toys, crying mine, mine, mine!

175 people found this helpful

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An Amazingly Interesting Work of Fiction, Ayn Rand is A Very Interesting Person

Reviewed in the United States on August 31, 2018

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"Atlas Shrugged" is a huge sprawling dystopian novel that combines economics, science fiction, philosophy, and intrique. It is the fourth and final novel of Ayn Rand. The novel is written in a modern popular style and is mostly highly readable. Probably the most difficult part of reading this book is its length.

The novel seems to me to be particularly timely in regard to the current philosophical debate in American society at this time. The book revolves around the larger issues of private enterprise and entrepreneurship and socialism and government control. Within the larger theme are many subplots including some romantic intrigue.

The first novel by Ayn Rand that I read was "Atlas Shrugged". Since then I have read "Anthem", "The Fountainhead", and a second reading of "Atlas Shrugged". "Anthem" and "Atlas Shrugged" are both dystopian novels. I don't wish to risk spoiling the reading experience for a perspective reader. It is clear to me that Ayn Rand conveys her personal philosophy within these works. In "The Fountainhead" she seems to extol her preferred architecture along with a very strange sexual relationship between two individuals. In "Atlas Shrugged" there is yet more unusual romantic relationships between individuals. Having also read a biography about Ayn Rand it is clear that there is a semi autobiographical aspect to those parts of these novels.

In summary I am very glad that I had a chance to read and study both "Atlas Shrugged" and the life and works of Ayn Rand. Her novels provide both entertainment and fuel for thought. I doubt that this book will suit the tastes of all readers, but it is highly readable and was well worth the effort to me. Thank You...

140 people found this helpful

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Top reviews from other countries

Mr. Michael Gover

easy to read, but why bother?

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 5, 2020

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As a novel it fails completely. The characters are cardboard and the plot so heavily signposted you could probably skip nine pages out of ten and miss nothing. It has the virtue of being written in simple language with short sentences so it is an easy read. That said, this particular edition has irritatingly heavy typeface and a cramped layout.

If you fancy yourself as a superhero just read Sun Tzu 'The Art of War' or Clausewitz 'On War' which make clear and mercifully brief arguments which could actually be useful if you were a senior army officer. Neither of them have much to say of value to anyone running a business or going into politics, although a lot of shallow people assert the contrary.

The novel is an attempt to illustrate Rand's philosophy of Objectivism, which can be discussed elsewhere if you have the inclination, though few philosophers think it worthy of the time it would take.

One could imagine businessmen brandishing this book in the same way Trump brandishes the Bible. It is seen by those who have achieved some success in business as a rationale for rejecting any and all constraints upon their behaviour.

33 people found this helpful

Lillytwoshoes

This book should be among everyone’s 100 books.

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 11, 2018

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This book should be among everyone’s 100 books. Ayn Rand (who I personally think was not a very pleasant woman) wrote it as a response to communism. However, some of the principles of the book could well apply today. The idea behind the book is that people should be rewarded for their intellect, especially those whi are able to design things for the betterment of mankind and these skills should not be donated for the greater good free of charge. A modern reader will bauk at some of the precedents but the ideas put forward are interesting and thought provoking. What would happen if the brains of the world went on strike.?

41 people found this helpful

TGJJ

A Classic

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 3, 2018

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Atlas Shrugged is one of those books that divides its readers. The book is extremely long and does get become unnecessarily long and repetitive at points, but is still a good read nonetheless.

The story is set many decades in the past and focuses on a rail executive who finds herself in a world where business leaders are disappearing. The story is interesting and gripping, but not the main reason why people read this book.

The story is suppose to express Rand's "Objectivism" to readers in a way that is easy to understand and convincing. This world view attempts to justify extreme egoism and reject altruism. This is perhaps the only bit of Rand's Objectivisms that comes through well. Other parts such as her epistemology and metaphysics are easy to understand, but very unconvincing.

This book is a commitment to read, but one that everyone should take in their life. This book has influenced countless leaders throughout the world, and it is good to have read it to better understand their thought process.

18 people found this helpful

Kindle Customer

Boring nonsense

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 25, 2018

Verified Purchase

The writing is clumsy. The plot is nonsensical. The characterization thin and unbelievable. And interspersed are long boring sermons trying to promote a ludicrous pseudo philosophy which makes Scientology seem sensible. Avoid

23 people found this helpful

Walter

Read the book, don't be 'framed' by al the reviews about the deeper meanings (objectivism)

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 6, 2019

Verified Purchase

Although for me not as great as the Foundtainhead, this is another great read on Ayn Rand. It might sometimes be a bit too lengthy and slow, but it is so well written that you also will pass by that parts easily.

Yes, a lot is written about the author Ayn rand and about this book in particular. All kind of people seem to have 'hijacked' the book for their own purposes, trying to label and politicise the book. What a pity. Read the book. enjoy it. Then have your own experiences, views, opinions.

12 people found this helpful