Atlas Shrugged

Book Description

At last, Ayn Rand's masterpiece is available to her millions of loyal readers in trade paperback.

With this acclaimed work and its immortal query, "Who is John Galt?", Ayn Rand found the perfect artistic form to express her vision of existence. Atlas Shrugged made Rand not only one of the most popular novelists of the century, but one of its most influential thinkers.

Atlas Shrugged is the astounding story of a man who said that he would stop the motor of the world--and did. Tremendous in scope, breathtaking in its suspense, Atlas Shrugged stretches the boundaries further than any book you have ever read. It is a mystery, not about the murder of a man's body, but about the murder--and rebirth--of man's spirit.

* Atlas Shrugged is the "second most influential book for Americans today" after the Bible, according to a joint survey conducted by the Library of Congress and the Book of the Month Club

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Who is John Galt?

This famous rhetorical question rings through Ayn Rand's best-selling novel as the people's anthem of despair in depressed economic times.

Set in the future, the novel follows capitalist magnates as they battle looters, strikers, and the impending ruin of the United States' economy. The romantic and intellectual relationship between Dagny Taggart, the heroine, and John Galt, whose identity as the leader of the strike is eventually revealed, carries the novel to its climax.

This novel, controversial when it first appeared in 1957, purports Rand's objectivist philosophy that the individual is free to pursue his or her own happiness without bowing to God or society. Objectivism in action upholds full laissez-faire capitalism as the only philosophy that can protect humankind's freedom to think, to be inventive, and to live productively.

Customer Reviews:

More Interesting In Concept Than In Execution--And In Dire Need Of A Blue Pencil.......2007-10-07

Born in Czarist Russia, Ayn Rand survived the Soviet revolution and, after studying philosophy and history at the University of Petrograd, emigrated to the United States in 1926. She originally sought work as a screenwriter; having only minor success in this area, she turned to other venues and in 1943 and 1957 produced the two works that established her reputation, THE FOUNTAINHEAD and ATLAS SHRUGGED. Although novels, both works exist primarily as platforms from which Rand describes the form of philosophy she developed: Objectivism.

No philosophy can be condensed to a few simple statements, but at its center objectivism is characterized by the belief that man is an end to himself. In the process of making this statement, Rand takes several controversial positions, most of which revolve around the notion that an extreme of individualism is always positive; that industrialization is always positive; that the state's involvement in business is always negative; that atheism is the only rational position; and that those who are primarily motivated by altruism are intrinsically flawed and ultimately dangerous. The overall result of these thoughts is a sort of uber-capitalism in which financial success is equated with self-worth.

Rand's critics point out that she is very inconsistent in the application of her ideas and that, while claiming to eschew any standard morality, actually has a tendency to conform to precisely that--and that while she claims to be proponet of capitalism it is just as easy to use her concepts to justify fascism. Rand's philosophy also has an extremely black-or-white quality; something is either entirely bad or entirely good, a stance which allows no room for shading of any kind. Although she certainly inspires a hysterical devotion among followers, Rand is not considered a philosopher by the vast majority of contemporary philosophers, and Objectivism is generally considered superficial at best.

At the time she wrote ATLAS SHRUGGED, Rand had reached a point at which she construed her concept of personal individuality to mean that she should not seek any sort of editorial comment regarding her work. When advisors suggested she cut the work for readability and clarity, she refused--and the result is an extremely long book that runs to 1069 fine-print pages in paperback alone, enough to intimidate even the most determined readers. It is also a very, very repetitive book in which the characters and situations restate the same fundamental issues over and over and over. And to add a final nail in the coffin, the conclusion is profoundly ironic, for it tends to undercut Rand's philosophic stance, a fact that she seems to have missed.

Reduced to its bare essentials, Rand presents us with two pivitol characters, Dagny Taggart and John Galt. Taggart is a rail road executive who finds herself beset by union demands inspired by socialist-leaning leaders in both government and society, demands which threaten to destroy both her ownership of the company and the company itself. She gradually drifts into a circle influenced by John Galt, a heroically-styled industrialist who seeks to end such situations. Galt forms a group of mighty industrialists--and brings the socialist demands to an end by having these leaders stage a strike. The irony involved, if one hasn't noticed, is that while Galt and his supporters are very anti-union (as was Rand herself), their solution to unionization is... unionization.

Over the years, ATLAS SHRUGGED has been described as among the most influential books published. I find that difficult to believe and for several reasons--but most particularly because I cannot imagine that enough people have read it for it to have any great hold on the thoughts of the population at large. Certainly people have bought it; it has never been out of print and sales are consistently solid; and I myself cannot count the times that I have seen it residing in various bookcases. At the same time, however, I seldom meet any one who has actually read it from start to finish. When I do, they tend to describe the novel as "interesting" rather than inspiring or empowering.

The underlying problem with ATLAS SHRUGGED is that it is a philosophical dissertation presented as a novel instead of being a novel that presents philosophical positions. The characters, settings, and situations are important only as vehicles to Rand's thoughts--and as such are as dry as dust. Even without taking into account its length and repetitive nature, ATLAS SHRUGGED is a horrifically uphill read and about as enjoyable as attempting to cross Death Valley at high noon without a drop of water.

My own sentiment: if you are interested in Rand's philosophy, read THE FOUNTAINHEAD, which encompasses the same ideas but actually works as a novel (and a gutsy and exciting one too) or simply go with an abstract of the main concepts of objectivism--which will run considerably less than a hundred pages.

GFT, Amazon Reviewer

A Classic on Individualism.......2007-10-07

I read this book in 1985, and found that it had an enormous influence on my thinking for a long time. As a result, I snapped up all her works that came to the Indian book shops. Ms. Ayn Rand was a staunch believer in individual freedom, and an enlightened capitalism. She opposed, in principle, that one man be expected to serve another, either through private charity or through enforced socialism. However, as I grew up, I found that this philosophy had a limited relevance to one's life.

The novel, nevertheless, is extremely well-written and has a very unique plot. It traces the lives of individual entrepreneurs in the land of freedom, who are being held back by laws and people who want them to serve others instead. Ayn Rand uses the characters to make long, powerful, speeches about her philosophy. She also weaves this in very deftly with the lives of the heroes, and shows what can happen when we put creative, dynamic people in bondage. There is a pleasant, surprising ending, which affects you like a fresh dawn

As fiction, the book suffers from these long speeches. As a book on Ayn Rand's philosophy, the story helps us understand her philosophy better. Her skill is such that each is meaningless without the other. Therefore, if you just read the story, skipping the speeches, you will miss most of the flavour. And if you read some of her other works, without having read this novel, you will find it very difficult to visualise the implications of her complex arguments.

While I am sort of glad today that I found a more, multi-faceted, multi-hued approach to life (than what Ms. Rand offered), I do envy you, if you haven't read this book so far. If you buy this book, you are sure to be in for a treat.

And later, even if you move on, some of her philosophy will perhaps always remain with you. And you will find yourself to be richer for it.

You may also find some of her other works interesting. I particularly recommend (The Fountainhead, Anthem, and The Virtue of Selfishness.

Take that, you narcissistic post-modernist!.......2007-09-30

This is the book I wanted to write, but it has more style, focus and artistry than I could ever have summoned. It was so relevant and poignant to current events (I read it in the early `80's) that I marveled it had been written in the `50's. Objectivism is "the concept of man as 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." Beautifully written and portrayed, and many arguments powerfully made. Besides absolutely glorifying in the human spirit I enjoyed other aspects of the book; guilt as a debilitating power, mediocrity as more powerfully destructive than evil, and the essential beauty and necessity of capitalism. And finally, the incredible passion and energy unleashed by a human's spirit freed.

Certainly Rand's image of man approaching G~d with his head held high and his arms held wide is instinctively alluring and powerfully consistent with Spinoza.

So much has been written about this great book that I'll keep this review short; some have said it's tortuously long. Worse, some say it's a philosophy of `selfishness.' Get over it and read it and internalize it. And the next time someone begins talking about yet larger government, or post-modernism, tell them to read the book. Enough said.

A Primer on Objectivism.......2007-09-29

While the book will take most readers more than a weekend to read, it would be wrong to judge a book by its size (anymore than it's cover), unless we are prepared to condemn the Bible for its lack of brevity.

Readers of Rand's Atlas Shrugged may be interested in viewing old video clips of Ayn Rand on Youtube, including an interesting interview by Mike Wallace.

While I came away appreciating Rand's literary skills, I'm perplexed by her conflating of religion and faith with throttling man's ambitions. I consider myself a follower of Von Mises and Friedman, and I question the depth of her contempt for organized religion, which is the bedrock of reason and purpose, industriousness, trade, individual and property rights. Her belief that faith is contrary to reason ignores thousands of years of scholarly opinion that finds faith and reason quite compatible, for science cannot prove first causes, lest it become a religion unto itself. It is unclear what set of moral standards Rand is preaching here: will to power, according to Nietzsche, needed a new religion and I don't see one offered here by Rand.

Rand's book contains some glaring contradictions. For example, Reardon's divorce from his wife, on a crude, material level, is akin to a breach of contract, which he never would have done (unless forced) to a supplier or customer. If Reardon didn't intend to remain with his wife, then forming the marriage contract was bad faith. Rand alludes to lack of consideration as grounds for a divorce, but courts look to whether consideration existed at the inception of a contract, not after one party claims they received less than expected.

Rand mocks the argument that humans are inherently evil. If they are not evil on some level, then perhaps she could explain the blackmail, extortion, blame, corruption and contemptible wickedness of her characters played as the "looters". Human nature created the system of dependency and malaise she scorns, but she fails to explain why we should continue to put our faith in human reason alone.

More Americans Need to Read This Book.......2007-09-24

It's a bit too lenthy, and you might find some of Rand's thoughts hard to swallow if you are a socialist or a hardcore churchgoer, but Atlas Shrugged is one of the finest and most daring stories ever put together.

The book is long but not at all dificult to follow like other novels written by philosophers. You cannot possibly miss the themse in Atlas Shrugged b/c Rand beats pounds them into your brain over 1100+ pages. Her philosophy is demonstrated though the characters, who at times go on rambling monologues and leave you screaming for her to get back to the plot, which is magnificent.

Atlas Shrugged is divided into three parts and begins as a mystery. It takes place in an ambiguous time in America's future (Atlas Shrugged was written in the 50's), in which America is the only mixed economy left, the rest of the world having succumbed to communism and stagnation. Rand basically divides her characters into good and evil. There's not much in between.

The "good" characters exhibit all the qualities that Rand espouses in her Objectivist philosophy- honesty, diligence, competence, ingenuity. The "evil" characters are basically government bureaucrats and corrupt officials who mooch off the good characters in the name of fairness, the public good, and equality. The moochers are continuously placing more and more restraints on the good characters, making it more and more difficult for them to operate as industrialists and make money. I won't reveal much more of the plot- you don't find out what is really going on until the last third of the book, but I will say that it is intriguing and completely original. Rand is a great storyteller and she describes human realationships in a way I have never encountered before.

Not enough people have read this book. That is for certain. A handful of politicians come to mind who would clearly benefit from reading it because they have a warped sense of how society functions in our country. If you are a capitalist, then read this book because Rand provides an intersting moral backbone to capitalism. If you are a socialist, then read this and see if you can draw parallels to what happens in the novel and what is going on right now in America. This is an excellent piece of literature, and I hope everyone reads it and turns into a libertarian.

Average customer rating:

A modern Classic on Individualism
A must for all who believe in freedom and liberty
Those who preach selflessness do it for selfish reasons
An Inspiring Classic
Atlas Shrugged - Ayn Rand

Atlas Shrugged (Centennial Ed. HC)
Ayn Rand
Manufacturer: Dutton Adult
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Classics | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0525948929

Book Description

The year 2005 marks Ayn Rand's Centennial Year.

The astounding story of a man that said that he would stop the motor of the world—and did. Tremendous in scope, breathtaking in its suspense, Atlas Shrugged is unlike any other book you have ever read.

“A writer of great power. She has a subtle and ingenious mind and the capacity of writing brilliantly, beautifully, bitterly.”
—The New York Times

Customer Reviews:

A modern Classic on Individualism.......2007-10-07

A must for all who believe in freedom and liberty.......2007-10-01

I first read this in 1957 and find it compelling after 50 years.

It is even more pertinent a message from my present perspective in view of the past 50 years and the evolving cultural changes in our nation.

Those who preach selflessness do it for selfish reasons.......2007-08-11

In today's political clime Rand's writing is must reading. We are currently experiencing a resurgence in the war on the individual, with Hillary Clinton dropping quotes right and left that sound remarkably similar to statements made by Stalin and Lenin. Enough is a enough. Those who preach collectivism are trying to subjugate you. Those who preach altruism typically have their hand in someone else's pocket. As Rand says in Atlas Shrugged, "public welfare" is the banner that looters hide behind. Here Rand argues that capitalism is the ONLY just political system. The problem with many conservatives, as Rand saw them, is that though they defend capitalism they usually ground their defense in some vague notion of "God-given rights." Since religious beliefs are not rationally defensible this move greatly risks placing reason on the side of the anti-capitalists. No, Rand said, we must do what's right because it's right and not because we are told to or want to get into heaven. We must defend capitalism not because of some bizarre notion of being mandated by a supreme being but rather because it is the only political system that allows man to rise to his potential, to choose for himself, to bargain with others freely and to exercise his volition. Liberals who defend "minorities" (all the while ignoring that in one out of three of the most populated counties in America today whites are actually the minority) while engaging in collectivist attacks on "the cult of the individual" and "egoism" must contend with Rand's statement that one cannot claim to defend minorities while attacking individualism, for the smallest minority is ALWAYS the individual. People always act with selfish reasons. In order for charity to even be of any help the recipient must selfishly accept the charity. Bad competition, which levels the playing field by inhibiting the performance of rivals, drags achievers down to the mean. All the good such achievers can do for society as a whole is then eliminated, as in the "Anti-dog-eat-dog" agreement in this book. Good competition, in which people compete by perfecting their own skill and knowledge, improves everyone. Even if you are beat by someone else you are left more knowledgeable and able. I only have one question: Where is Galt's Gulch? I would like to move. This novel, originally entitled The Strike, is brilliant. The Fountainhead was about the individual vs. the collective, and this is about the producers vs. the parasites. What if the reviled "rich," those who produce the amenities others take for granted or expect the "government" to pay for, all went on strike? What then? By the way, if you like this book you will probably also like a book called Camp of the Saints. Check it out.

I love the party scene in this book. Rand perfectly points out the ultimate irony of parties: A party is supposed to be a celebration, but those who have done things worthy of celebration typically are not the kind of people who find any enjoyment in parties, whereas those who love partying are not the kind of people there is anything worth celebrating about!

The point of this book was ably made by Jon Hanson, author of a nifty little book called Good Debt, Bad Debt. The point is this: NEVER in history has there been a society that was socialist BEFORE it went capitalist. This has never happened because it would be impossible. It can only be the other way around. FIRST capitalists must BUILD and MAINTAIN a society BEFORE socialists can come and leech off of it parasitically. Socialists don't build or produce anything. They only appropriate. This is why socialism can only follow capitalism. Further, if the last remnant of the capitalist elements of society completely disintegrate, the entire structure collapses. It's not the socialists that keep things going, they just feed off of open sores.

An Inspiring Classic.......2007-08-10

Bottom Line: This is a L O N G, but interesting book. Read it to understand the conservative sensibility.

What You Will Learn: Capitalists and money makers, although celebrated in our country, are often ridiculed as well. Atlas Shruggled really is a reminder that our society does very much benefit from having huge numbers of smart, aggressive, confident, and wealth-seeking individuals to build things that people want to buy. I hope they make the movie starring Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt so this fascinating book reaches a larger audience.

Parting Shot: If you read this you will rightly feel like you have accomplished something important.

Atlas Shrugged - Ayn Rand.......2007-08-01

If you believe that a book can change your life - then you've read this book.
On the other hand, if you don't believe that a book can change your life - read this book (go ahead... you've nothing to lose but your conviction).

I first read Atlas Shrugged when I was 16 years old. In the 21 years since my first reading, I've read it cover to cover 3 times more and keep referring to it for quotes.

Few books have been able to define so clearly what's right and what's wrong (of course, from the authors perspective)and it constantly challenges the reader to agree - or not. Either way, you're sure of what your decision is. You'll never be more convinced about a decision in your life. That's the greatness of this book - it makes you as great as Hank!

Average customer rating:

The Best Business Book Ever Written
Those who preach selflessness do it for selfish reasons
ATLAS SHRUGGED
The Best Book I Have Ever Read (and better each time)
This book made an impact on me!

Atlas Shrugged
Ayn Rand
Manufacturer: Random House
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Classics | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0394415760
Release Date: 1957-10-12

Customer Reviews:

The Best Business Book Ever Written.......2007-09-15

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.

Those who preach selflessness do it for selfish reasons.......2007-08-11

ATLAS SHRUGGED.......2007-04-06

Do yourself and your future a great service... take your next ten free hours and read this book. If you don't like it, you will still find value, this book is a masterpiece.

The Best Book I Have Ever Read (and better each time).......2005-07-01

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.

This book made an impact on me!.......2005-02-08

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.

Atlas Shrugged: 35th Anniversary Edition

Average customer rating:

A Fabulous Book on Individualism
Those who preach selflessness do it for selfish reasons
A review for young people in their late teens
Who is John Galt?
Brilliant

Atlas Shrugged: 35th Anniversary Edition
Ayn Rand
Manufacturer: Signet
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0451171926

Book Description

Published in 1957, Atlas Shrugged was Ayn Rand's greatest achievement and last work of fiction. In this novel she dramatizes her unique philosophy through an intellectual mystery story that integrates ethics, metaphysics, epistemology, politics, economics, and sex.

Set in a near-future U.S.A. whose economy is collapsing as a result of the mysterious disappearance of leading innovators and industrialists, this novel presents an astounding panorama of human life-from the productive genius who becomes a worthless playboy...to the great steel industrialist who does not know that he is working for his own destruction...to the philosopher who becomes a pirate...to the woman who runs a transcontinental railroad...to the lowest track worker in her train tunnels.

Peopled by larger-than-life heroes and villains, charged with towering questions of good and evil, Atlas Shrugged is a philosophical revolution told in the form of an action thriller.

Customer Reviews:

A Fabulous Book on Individualism.......2007-10-07

Those who preach selflessness do it for selfish reasons.......2007-08-11

A review for young people in their late teens.......2007-08-09

Atlas Shrugged is a captivating novel. The greatest "shortcoming" is that the book is over 50 years old. The heroine is the vice-president of a major railroad company, and most of the plot revolves around her desperate efforts to keep the railroad going. In the 21st century, when the age of railroads is long past, this is certainly dated. Indeed, Atlas Shrugged, although contemporary when written, takes on the feel of a grand masterful allegory perhaps like Dante, Chaucer, or Swift. It is just as much "fun" as Alice in Wonderland or Gulliver's Travels--and just as serious as the Divine Comedy. Yet, if you listen to a hour of local and national news on TV every evening while reading the book--half of the stories will sound as though they were lifted from the book--so timelessness and universal is Rand's story.

This will probably be the most important book (to you) that you read in your lifetime.

What is it about? It is often described as "Capitalism versus Communism", or "altruism vs selfishness"--but both descriptions seriously miss the point. What this book is really about is much more fundamental. It is about the nature of good and evil, and beyond that, the very meaning of life.

"But I'm a good person, so what value is this book to me?"--you may ask. Answer: You have certainly noticed that adult "morality" is full of all kinds of exceptions and contradictions. The truth is, the world of "morality" we adults have constructed is a sham, a fraud. It is no more than "social convention"--which is to say, "what we all more-or-less agree to"--and actually, despite all the "moral" justification, has absolutely nothing to do with morality or right-and-wrong, and often little to do with common sense.

Still, the question remains, "Why isn't simply accepting the current 'social norms' good enough?" "Go along to get along." Answer: To put it bluntly, the greatest evil the world has ever seen has been done by folks "accepting community norms" who thought they were doing good, or at least who could justify their actions as being "socially acceptable".

The truth is, you will be quite surprised when you learn the true nature of evil. Until you have read Atlas Shrugged, evil will remain a hazy mist floating just off your line of vision, which you don't look straight at, because you don't WANT it to exist. After reading Atlas Shrugged, evil snaps into sharp focus--and like a bully confronted--ceases to be a fear, and just becomes something distasteful to avoid.

As Rand richly illustrates: Just as eating too much fat can clog up your arteries, thinking "too much fat" can damage with your mental health. Some mental illness is physiological. But most mental illness is caused by unresolved internal contradictions--caused, for example, by refusing to look at evil because you PREFER to believe that it does not exist. Reality is. You do NOT have the option of living in your own private version of reality. Nevertheless, many, perhaps most, people live lives built on thier own complex lies. That turns smart people crazy, and stupid people mean and crazy.

How do you avoid "unresolved internal contradictions"? By knowing the difference between right and wrong, and never, ever, allowing a rotten board to be used in the construction of your mental house. The problem is the old "slippery slope". Lie to yourself just once, no matter how trivial the lie, and the next one will be easier. Before long, you realize that you can justify ANYTHING--and with the blessings of the popular culture. And before you know it, you've lost your soul.

As Rand preaches, the meaning of life is integrity. Living without compromise. To live a life filled with joy and pride in yourself, made possible by being free of mental conflicts. To know, not merely hope, that your mistakes were honest mistakes. To live with the knowledge that you are the best you can be, while striving to be better. To be a joy and comfort to the people you love. To give generously of your time, wealth, and love simply for the joy of doing so. To be a person who has changed the world for the better when you have gone. That's what Atlas Shrugged is really all about. All ofthe other themes, even Communism vs Capitalism are peripheral supporting themes. It is precisely because the fundamental issues are so basic and primary, that the implications are simultaneously universal--applying to all aspects of life.

The greatest real flaw in Atlas Shrugged is that Rand herself does not quite understand how her philosophy applies to inter-personal relationships. All of the heros in the story are flawed characters, because Rand's characters are based on herself, and are flawed because Rand herself was flawed. That is, Rand had such a horrible youth that her ability to love and trust was damaged. In her own flawed vision, she has largely substituted hero worship for love. Rand's heros are real heros to be admired, but not role models to emulate.

You will also find many things with which you will want to disagree, but in your heart, you will know that Rand is right. How you resolve these conflicts will be the most important decision you will make in your entire life. If you choose the truth, simply because it is the truth, then you are on the way to a life of good mental health. If you reject the truth because you PREFER a different vision or interpretation of reality--then you have already begun to lie to yourself, and you will probably have an unhappy life and be a miserable person to live with.

Who is John Galt?.......2005-07-22

This book was truely amazing. I read this book after Rand's other novels, "We The Living" and "Anthem". Atlas Shrugged is a marvelous book and her ideas, thoughts, and philosophy are noticed throughout the book, in the way she writes and through the text.

This book is very influential, at times hard to read, but overall very rewarding. The different characters and the PLOT of the book all assist each other. The plot of the book is ingenious, the story and the conclusion work very well with each other.

This book has been one of the most influential books in my life, and I think on the world. I would highly recommend anybody to read this book, and keep up with it. Keep an open mind.

Brilliant.......2005-02-22

I selected this book off the shelves of Barns and Nobles with no prior knowledge of its contents, nor its reputation for being a "classic". Thus my verdict on this book was not altered by my expectations or by what others have regarded it as. I am not going to write out the plot, because it has been done several times already in previous reviews. I found this book to be brilliant. I was not sure what to make of it after the first, rather slow hundred pages or so. However, after the basic setup of the circumstances articulated in the first section of the book, it began to pick up. The characters are charismatic, and draw you in with their brilliant insight and observations of society, and how it functions. Its philosophies are subversive of nearly all beliefs that are popularily accepted today, yet each argument against the commonly held convictions are backed up with logical arguments. Anyway, I can not do the book enough justice by trying to give a synopsis of why I feel it is great, so I advise everyone to read it and experience it for themselves.

Average customer rating:

Which one is the full version?
Those who preach selflessness do it for selfish reasons
Great book, only it is the second part
I'd probably never get through this book any other way.

Atlas Shrugged II part
Ayn Rand
Manufacturer: Blackstone Audio Inc.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Audio CD

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

ASIN: 0786161787

Product Description

Atlas Shrugged is the "second most influential book for Americans today" after the Bible, according to a joint survey conducted by the Library of Congress and the Book of the Month Club.

Customer Reviews:

Which one is the full version?.......2007-09-18

I love this book! It is my favorite of all time. I listened to the abridged version narrated by Edward Herman and it was nothing less than superb. People nowadays have lost touch with what makes things tick in this world and Ayn Rand is turning in her grave. I have been a political spectator for too long now and it is time now for me to lower my blood pressure and go back to dreaming about the human potential. I hope there is still hope.

I now want the unabridged version and I have doubts on which one to buy?? I don't want to buy only half , especially the second half as the previous reviewer stated. Can someone enlighten me on which of the three versions is which?

Those who preach selflessness do it for selfish reasons.......2007-08-11

Great book, only it is the second part.......2007-03-28

The book is great and the lecturer is very clear. However, I thought it was the complete novel, but this is the second part only and I have been having trouble to find part No. 1.

I'd probably never get through this book any other way........2007-02-18

Atlas Shrugged is one of those books that I know I should read but it's sheer size is intimidating, especially when I've got two young children and a full time job.

So, what a pleasant surprise to find this monumental novel unabridged on CD! It comes in two boxes and takes about 40 disks to contain this masterpiece, but the narration is well done and I am slowly working my way through this book using the CD player in my computer at work.

So, now you can finally get through Atlas Shrugged (and impress your friends when you tell them you've "read" it) while you're sitting in traffic, doing your day job if you've use a computer, or anywhere you've got downtime with a CD player handy. I shrugged too when I saw how much I got for my money!

Average customer rating:

Good Support Material
Great Idea for a Great Book
Bernstein - right choice for Cliff note on Atlas
GREAT TOOL TO HAVE!
A Great Supplement

Atlas Shrugged (Cliffs Notes)
Andrew Bernstein
Manufacturer: Cliffs Notes
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0764585568

Book Description

The original CliffsNotes study guides offer expert commentary on major themes, plots, characters, literary devices, and historical background. The latest generation of titles in this series also features glossaries and visual elements that complement the classic, familiar format.

CliffsNotes on Atlas Shrugged is your guide to author Ayn Rand’s masterpiece, an impassioned defense of the freedom of man’s mind. She shows that without the independent mind, our society would collapse into primitive savagery.

Delve into the post-World War II historical context of Atlas Shrugged and the modern implications of its conclusions. Other features that help you study include

Character analyses of major players
A character map that graphically illustrates the relationships among the characters
Critical essays
A review section that tests your knowledge
A Resource Center full of books, articles, films, and Internet sites

Classic literature or modern modern-day treasure — you'll understand it all with expert information and insight from CliffsNotes study guides.

Customer Reviews:

Good Support Material.......2007-07-04

I found the Cliff Notes beneficial in reviewing Atlas Shrugged, which I had recently read. It helped me articulate the author's philosophy and metaphor. My mother, who is legally blind, had also recently read Atlas Shrugged on CD, and the Cliffs Notes contributed to our lively discussions of the book. (We had both read the book for pleasure, not academics).

Great Idea for a Great Book.......2007-01-05

I gave this book to a very good friend that loves the book and he thought it was pretty clever that there are Cliff Notes for Atlas Shrugged. We are discussing the book chapter by chapter (I am reading for th first time) and we are going to start using the cliff notes for our discussions as well.

Read the entire book though...It is pretty amazing. The Cliff Notes are a great companion for it.

Bernstein - right choice for Cliff note on Atlas.......2002-12-28

Like Rand, Bernstein is a philosopher and novelist. His extensive study of Rand's thought is evident in this masterful recapitulation of Rand's great novel. He understands Rand's ideas and characters, leading to a sympathetic treatment. However, he avoids being an overbearing propagandist. For those of us who were riveted by the action the first time we read Atlas, this will serve as a discussion with a `friend' as we recall the events and characters. Enjoy.

GREAT TOOL TO HAVE!.......2002-07-31

I've pushed my way through many years of school without buying a single Cliffsnotes. I found it funny that my first purchase would be for a book I choose to read on my own accord. Rand's novel can't be praised enough, but I also have to give the Cliffnotes for the novel their fair due. This little book was a great help in gaining a better understanding of this massive novel. I really enjoyed the in depth character analysis, the tight summary of the book, and the critical essays offered at the end. If I were to write a paper on the book, I would definitely gain from having these notes. More importantly, by reading the book chapter by chapter, then going to the Cliffnotes and reading along to cover what I had just read, I was able to get through a work that covers a TREMENDOUS amount of ground, with a huge scope, and not get lost. After gaining as much as I did from using the Cliffnotes as a study tool while reading this novel, I made sure to pick up the Cliffnotes for "Fountainhead" so I could do the same for that book. I will definitely give consideration to purchasing Cliffnotes for my longer, more challenging future reads.

A Great Supplement.......2002-06-19

If the value of CliffsNotes was only to help readers discover with clarity what a particular author meant to convey in their novels, this book on _Atlas Shrugged_ would be trash. The reason is that Ayn Rand, more than any other author, wrote perfectly lucid novels about which no clarification is needed.

However, these books (of which I've only read a few) do offer another value that makes this one especially, not trash, but a book to be treasured. What they offer is this: the CliffsNotes books condense often-lengthy, important works of art so that they can be grasped--and remembered--with ease. And, as _Atlas Shrugged_ comprises some thousand plus pages with enough action and subplots to rival any novel by Hugo or Dumas, this value can perhaps never be more evident than with this new addition to the CliffsNotes series by Andrew Bernstein.

Cognizant of the task at hand, Dr. Bernstein condenses the entire book in a solid nine pages. From there, he lays down who the characters in the book are--as well as their relation to one another. And, after that, the reader is given a host of "critical commentaries" on each of the books thirty chapters which summarize what happened, pose questions to the reader that will be answered later, and reveal a number of instances where Miss Rand's overall theme can be seen.

Any person who is reading _Atlas_ for the first or second time ought to find these commentaries very helpful in understanding and appreciating the book. Unfortunately, as someone who has read the novel many times, I had to read many of the author's observations with a bitter-sweet sense of joy. ("Bitter" because I wish such a book was around when I first started reading Rand's novels and "sweet" because one finally is.)

Complete, undiluted happiness did not have to wait long however. Immediately after the "critical commentaries" is a section on the most important characters giving a detailed analysis of each. Then, at the end of the book, are two magnificent essays--one on the overall theme of _Atlas Shrugged_ and another on Miss Rand's portrayal of the common man which tells why the book's main "common man" (Eddie Willers) has an unresolved fate at the end. These two essays were a nice finishing touch for the book, making even a self-titled "veteran" reader like myself glad to have read it.

Taken all together, from the brief biography of Miss Rand at the beginning to the quizzes and projects to stimulate learning at the end, this book proves that Dr. Bernstein was the right man to pick for the job. And so, my gratitude goes out to the author and this last word of advice goes out to you, the person reading the words I've written here: "get this book whether you are reading _Atlas_ for the first time or not--as a supplement to Miss Rand's magnum opus there's nothing better on the market."

Average customer rating:

Remarkably Overrated

A Classic of Free Capitalism

This book will change your life forever.

Those who preach selflessness do it for selfish reasons

A review for young people in their late teens

Atlas Shrugged (Centennial Edition)
Ayn Rand
Manufacturer: Plume
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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The Fountainhead

Atlas Shrugged (Cliffs Notes)

Anthem (Centennial Edition)

Capitalism: The Unknown Ideal

We the Living

ASIN: 0452286360

Book Description

The astounding story of a man who said that he would stop the motor of the world—and did. Tremendous in scope, breathtaking in its suspense, Atlas Shrugged is unlike any other book you have ever read.

Customer Reviews:

Remarkably Overrated.......2007-10-09

One phenonmenon which used to baffle me was the immense popularity that quasi-articulate writer-philosopher Ayn Rand seemed to enjoy among young people back in the late 60s, especially given that her novels (and "Atlas Shrugged" is probably the most egregious example), which are little valued among literary academics, were primarily vehicles for propogating her incredibly selfish philosophy of "objectivism" (she named it herself) -- a remarkably atheistic, utterly eogcentric, extremist philosophy which might fairly be described as what some have called "anarcho-capitalism".

I surmise that Ayn Rand gained her phenomenal popularity with younger folks for two major reasons: first, she opposed the Vietnam War; and, second, there were some very energetic and naive student "activist" organizations busy during the late 60s pushing her writings. Also, she became known as a feminist.

I wish that more people would take a little time to review Ayn Rand's (1905-82) biography and her extremist thought, but I suppose that would be asking too much. But, if they did, they would discover that Rand was originally born Alisa Zinovjevna Rosenbaum in Russia and, as a young lady, managed to make her way to America with ambitions of becoming a glamorous Hollywood screenwriter. Perhaps we have here a hint of the angst that later went into her "objectivism" -- she had fled a rigid, communistic, socialistic, totalitarian scene to come as a refugee to the heart of contemporary creative capitalism. She was overjoyed, celebrated all aspects of unbridled, laissez-faire, and became a staunch patriot. All this is reflected in her later novels.

Around 1950, with the assistance of a few supporters and followers, Rand launched a "think-tank" to promote "objectivism". One of the better-known disciples at the time was Alan Greenspan. Others she influenced include people that we might today describe as "neocons".

Rand sold loads of books, and even now, I have read that the sales exceed 500,000 copies per year. One can visit almost any bookstore and discover for themselves that there is no shortage of Ayn Rand books on the crowded shelves, either in the "literature and fiction" aisles or in the "philosophy" sections. When Americans are surveyed about which books are the "best" or the most "influential", Rand works such as "Atlas Shrugged" are inevitably ranked high, usually in the top five. In the meantime, if you ask literary critics and professional philosophers the same thing, Ayn Rand books will frequently not even appear on their lists. I think that this is revealing.

A Classic of Free Capitalism.......2007-10-07

This book will change your life forever........2007-10-05

Like the Shins cd Natalie Portman had Zach Braff's character listen to in the film "Garden State," this book will change your life. However, it does tend to make you seriously unpopular. People will start to act like you are sinister and selfish, and you will be met with much disdain if you practive the philosophy of objectivism. Frankly, I think this is a more important work than many religious texts, and should be mandatory in all high schools, even though it is nearly 1200 pages long.

Those who preach selflessness do it for selfish reasons.......2007-08-11

A review for young people in their late teens.......2007-08-09

Average customer rating:

Ignore the Nit-Picky, I missed the Point Review Above
Interesting analysis of a flawed novel.

Atlas Shrugged: Manifesto of the Mind
Gladstein
Manufacturer: Twayne Publishers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0805716386

Book Description

Author and Rand scholar, Mimi Gladstein, brings the novel sharply into focus in this Twayne Masterworks volume. She explores Rand's personal history and the development of her unique philosophy, and takes a look at the critical reception of Atlas Shrugged and the overall importance of the work. The second half of the study contains an in-depth summary of the plot and a breakdown of how it fits into several different genres (science fiction, mystery story, Arthurian romance), a detailed reading of every character, and a survey of many of Rand's major and minor themes in the book.

Customer Reviews:

Ignore the Nit-Picky, I missed the Point Review Above.......2002-02-07

Ignore reviewers who nit-pick irrelevant details in Atlas Shrugged and the other novels of Ayn Rand. Far from promoting a a persecution, victimization attitude, Rand's books promote individualism, independent thinking and reason. Unfortunately, her philosophy contradicts centuries of flawed philosophy taught by and to our "intellectuals." For this reason, Rand's philosophy must be studied. It cannot be spoon-fed, like baby food, to those who "wish" that her book was written differently.

Go to http://www.aynrandbookstore.com for books and tapes by authors and teacher who really understand the precise literary and philosophic integrations contained in her novels. You will find that Rand wasn't 100% accurate, but she formulated a philosophy that answers some of the most profoundly perplexing problems of our time. Her philosophy was formed by induction-that is, from the facts of reality, not wishful thinking or faith.

Rand is decidedly anti-cult. If some of her followers have lapsed into cultism, then they, too, miss the entire point. The cultishness of some devotees does not detract from the fundamental soundness of her philosophy.

Interesting analysis of a flawed novel........2000-11-17

Mimi Reisel Gladstein concludes from the whole cult phenomenon surrounding Ayn Rand's _Atlas Shrugged_ that the novel must have some deep literary merit. But that is not necessarily the case. The cultish enthusiasm says more about the frustrations and repressed desires of adolescent and young adult Americans, of both sexes, than it does about Rand's particular abilities. I recall reading in Jeff Walker's book, _The Ayn Rand Cult_, that Rand figured out how to project into her novels the common adolescent feeling that you are being misappreciated and exploited by your "objective" inferiors, and meant for better things. _Atlas Shrugged_, frankly, isn't all that good as literature, though it does hold its own when compared with other productions of popular culture with cult followings among the young, like the novels of Robert A. Heinlein, for example. Rand's magnum opus acts more as a kind of literary Rorschach Test than anything else.

Gladstein is on target when she discusses the genre-crossing aspects of _Atlas Shrugged_. Is it dystopian fiction, science fiction, a detective novel, a feminist-flavored romance? All of the above, it seems, though Gladstein doesn't persuade me that Rand consciously borrowed from Arthurian romance as well. The feminist and female-romantic elements of the novel were never emphasized all that much by Rand's "orthodox" followers, but Gladstein does make the case that Rand pioneered a new kind of strong, independent female character -- Dagny Taggart -- who holds her own in a man's world and doesn't need a man to make her life complete, though finding her ideal lover in John Galt certainly helps. In the 1950's such an idea was radical, but because many fictional female characters these days are "Xenafied," Dagny Taggart's prototypical role has been obscured. Perhaps the miniseries version of _Atlas Shrugged_ due out sometime next year will give Rand the credit in this one area she deserves.

Still, I found some flaws in Gladstein's exposition of Rand's make-believe world. Gladstein fails to explore _Atlas Shrugged's_ unsubtle family-hating subtext: All of the major characters are alienated from immediate relatives as if that were a good thing. Even after Dagny makes an emotional connection with her hapless sister-in-law Cherryl, she displays no emotional response to Cherryl's suicide. The question of Hank Rearden's paternity never comes up, nor whether he and his wastrel brother Philip even share the same father. (If not, that could in itself explain the hostility between the two!) At the end of the novel, the strikers plan to leave their Rocky Mountain stronghold and rebuild an America where young people can look towards the future with hope -- but because the heroes don't have children, and apparently don't plan to, given the shortage of worthy females for them, you have to wonder where these youngsters are going to come from. (Because Dagny never seems to need contraception, despite having sex with three of the novel's heroes, she must be infertile.)

Perhaps the creepiest aspect of all in the novel, which Gladstein seems oblivious to despite her feminist sensibilities, is how John Galt's behavior towards Dagny throughout most of the story resembles love-obsessional stalking. In the real world, a guy in his late 30's who is still a virgin, abandons a well-paying technological career so he can hold a menial job on a railroad, and obsesses over and surveils the railroad's attractive female Vice President (even going so far as to sabotage her business deals), would be considered potentially threatening. (Call Gavin de Becker!) I don't know if many women fantasize about falling in love with their stalkers, but this is an aspect of _Atlas Shrugged_ I don't quite understand.

Customer Reviews:

Those who preach selflessness do it for selfish reasons.......2007-08-11

it left me feeling funny inside.......2003-01-10

This is my first book review and I'm not sure where to start. This book is in a word - POWERFUL. For people that get really involved in their reading - it will take you away emotionally. The characters are so well formed that you really believe in them and are compelled to keep reading through the books 1000 pages and a sometimes tedious 80 page speech mid book. Rand likes to have multi page descriptions of a single person or event and for those who aren't detail oriented it can be hard to patiently read that section while wanting to get back to the action. Rand puts nothing in her books in vain, each detail is important. This book makes you question yourself, your values, everything you've been living for. While reading this book I was working as a volutneer in one of the poorest counties in the nation. Becuase of my current situation and the content of the book, I was completely conflicted, torn up inside and an emotional wreck. HOWEVER - you should read this book. I've added it to one of my favorites of all time. If you are new to Rand read Anthem first. It's a short first person narrative that will introduce you to Rand's philosophy. The Fountainhead and Atlas Shrugged are both stories of this philosophy in action.

Average customer rating:

Best Book you can ever read
This book made an impact on me!

Atlas Shrugged: Library Edition Part 1
Ayn Rand
Manufacturer: Blackstone Audiobooks
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: 0786196254

Customer Reviews:

Best Book you can ever read.......2006-10-24

This is my bible.

I read Ayn Rand for the first time in 1975 when I was 18, since then, I have read and re-read both The FountainHead and The Atlas Shrugged many times over, with gaining more and more clarity as I grew in my experiences.

I have introduced my children with these books and they have greatly benifitted from the philosophy presented by Ayn Rand.

This book made an impact on me!.......2004-11-08

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.
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.

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