Atlas Shrugged

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Summary: Atlas is shrugging
Review: Atlas Shrugged, published in 1957, is known as Ayn Rand's magnum opus, and the reasons for this honor are easily found within the pages of the book. The novel challenges thousands of years of altruism and collectivism in human civilization. Atlas Shrugged is Ayn Rand's tribute to the men of the mind: scientists, philosophers, businessmen, artists, teachers. The novel unites metaphysics, ethics, economics and romantic love. The integration of theme, plot, characterization and style are unparalleled by any other philosophi- cal work of the century. These elements, combined with the novel's scope and depth, lead the reader into Ayn Rand's world, where he discovers and enters the lost Atlantis, a world of moral giants. Stated briefly, the theme of Atlas Shrugged is the role of the mind in man's existence. In the one thousand-plus pages of the novel, Ayn Rand sets forth all of values upon which her philosophy, Objectivism, is based. In "About the Author," Rand tells the reader: "My philosophy, in essence, is 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." Near the beginning of his radio address to the world, John Galt tells his audience: "You have sacrificed justice to mercy. You have sacrificed independence to unity. You have sacrificed reason to faith. You have sacrificed wealth to need. You have sacrificed self-esteem to self-denial. You have sacrificed hap- piness to duty." For each virtue of Rand's philosophy which the world has given up, Galt presents a vice which the world has turned to. It is because the world has turned to these evils that it has deteriorated into the state of emergency presented in the novel. Rand makes it very clear throughout the novel that the men of minds are central to the existence and prosperity of mankind and without them, the world stops turning. Without the men of minds, the weight of the world becomes too much to bear, even for Atlas, the mythological man who holds the world on his shoulders: "'Mr. Rearden,' said Francisco, his voice solemnly calm, "if you saw Atlas, the giant who holds the world on his shoulders, if you saw that he stood, blood running down his chest, his knees buckling, his arms trembling but still trying to hold the world aloft with the last of his strength, and the greater his effort the heavier the world bore down upon his shoulders-- what would you tell him to do?' 'I... I don't know. What... could he do? What would you tell him?' 'To shrug.'" Atlas Shrugged is a mystery novel, not about the murder of a man, but the murder of mankind's spirit and the struggle to bring it back. In Atlas Shrugged, As a result of the decaying morality of the world, these industrialists, the men of the mind, go on strike. John Galt, the leader of the strike, told the world: "There is only one kind of man who have never been on strike in human history. Every other kind and class have stopped, when they so wished, and have presented demands to the world, claiming to be indispensable-- except the men who have carried the world on their shoulders, have kept it alive, have endured torture as sole payment, but have never walked out on the human race. Well, their turn has come. Let the world discover who they are, what they do and what happens when they refuse to function. This is the strike of the men of the mind." The men of the mind strike, hiding away together, in a hidden valley of the Rockies, where they can earn the payment and respect they deserve for the work they do. Galt continues to recruit industrialists, scientists, philosophers and artists to live in his valley until the world is left with nothing but moochers and beggars. It is after the United States, and the rest of the world, is in a state of total chaos, without any industry, transportation, or pro- duction for people to live by, that Galt makes his three hour, sixty page speech to the world. In it, he not only outlines why the world has crumbled into nothingness and why he and the other men of the mind have gone on strike, but all of the morals which are the underlying basis of Objectivism. Twelve years after John Galt begins his strike, it ends. The lights go out in New York City, a sign the John Galt has stopped the motor of the world, and the last of the striking minds return to their valley to begin rebuilding the United States of America and then the world, this time under their own morals and prin- ciples. Ayn Rand's literary style is unlike that of any other modern novelist. Greco-Latinated words abound, each one conveying the perfect meaning. This use of language almost helps to lead the reader into Rand's philosophical, highly intellectual world. . The novel is filled with numerous amazingly descriptive passages, one of which describes Dagny Taggart's first train ride on the John Galt Line: "The green-blue rails ran to meet them, like two jets shot out of a single point beyond the curve of the earth. The crossties melted, as the approached, into a smooth stream rolling down under the wheels." Ayn Rand wrote a novel over one thousand pages long, and each word on each page of the book is necessary, each sentence deepening the plot, increasing the reader's awareness of the virtues within, and drawing him deeper into the world of Atlas Shrugged. Many authors are able to draw a reader into their books while it is being read. Ayn Rand draws her readers into her novel not only while it is being read, but after the book has been set aside. Her characters never leave a reader's mind, her themes force the reader to leave the world they live in so that they can continue to ponder what they mean. A reader sees the "THE END" on the final page of the book and closes it, but knows that those words mean nothing, that the ideas Rand presents will never end, and that he will never forget why Atlas is shrugging.

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Summary: Jeez... Did I read a different book than everyone else?
Review: The philosophy is right on, and I do not understand those people that call Rand a Nazi or just plain sick. My problem was with the story. I never have cared so little about what happened the chacacters. This could have been a great 200 page book if Rand had quit repeating her ideas over and over (Noone can deny she does this). Visualize someone making a dollar sign in the air. If you can take this person seriously and not break out laughing, then this book is for you

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Summary: The Best Book I have ever read
Review: This was without a doubt the finest book I have ever read, and I have read quite a few. Ayn Rand expresses fer objectivism philosophy masterfully, and lets the reader fully submerge themself in the world of "Atlas Shrugged". She logically demonstrates the effects of altruism and self-secrifice, and uses reason to support man's mind and his ego. All in all, a book I plan on reading many times over. I would appreciate any comments on this book and am interested in discussing it's philosophies. My name is Jason and my e-mail address is [e-mail]

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Summary: A masterpiece of freedom --with a catch
Review: This is a book that inspires passion from those who like it, as well as those who despise it. It is philosophy dressed up under the guise of fiction.

If you disagree with the philosophy, you will, if you wish, be able to ignore the philosphical statements in order to reach the end of the book. If you agree with the philosophy, you should branch off to one of Rand's other works, after excitedly racing through the novel.

However, since the book is in fact fiction, it should be primarily viewed as such. The protagonist of the novel, Dagny Taggart, is one of the strongest women characters in the history of literature. She puts Scarlet O'Hara to shame.

What is important about Atlas is the spirit in which it is written. Rand extolls the superior person; one will be able to tell which characters lack it. This spirit is seen in Dagny and one cannot help but root for her. Regardless of the doctrine in which the spirit-- perhaps better defined as zest-- is preached (the philosophy, again), it can be viewed positively of its own accord.

But (and this may seem illogical), a concomitant theme of hatred envelops this book. People who hate this book harp on that. People who love this book tend to submerge that and concentrate on other aspects of Rand's philosophy.

The literary high point of the book occurs in the second part and seventh chapter. Rand, after devoting the majority of 500 pages to development of three characters, speeds away from those characters to introduce other characters, who by implicit comparison to the trio of main characters, seem like cardboard-cutouts. But, these pieces of cardboard are made human by the pathos caused by the inability of the trio of main characters (and especially Taggart) to stop the inevitable conclusion that ends the chapter.

Rand's plot twists can be seen a mile away. The example cited above does not detract from the reading of the inevitable conclusion; in fact it heightens the tension, for the dramatic irony literally reeks off of the page.

The book divides neatly between the second and third section. Values that are upheld in the first two sections are disdained in the third (and the reader is well prepared for this due to Rand's voluminous verbiage); and vica versa. Characters who go on journeys often learn something about themselves along the way. The reader is well prepared to travel into the third part; a comparison with the first chapter of the book shows the reader the degree to which Rand has weaved her magic. If the book hasn't gripped you by this point, it probably will not. Put it down and read it at another point; this is book that can stand as a benchmark of how the reader's views and opinions can change over time.

As an example of how a book filled with a zest for life and freedom could also be filled with such hate, consider the following:

"For centuries, the battle of morality was fought between those who claimed that your life belongs to God and those who claimed that it belonged to your neighbors-- between those who preached that the good is self-sacrifice for the sake of ghosts in heaven and those who preached that the good is self-sacrifice for the sake of incompetents on earth. And no one can came to say that your life belongs to you and that the goal is to live it." (p.930)

The above, incredibly, is from the same author who writes the following with apparent glee: "Looking down, they could see the last convulsions: the lights of the cars were darting through the streets, like animals trapped in a mass, frantically seeking an exit, the bridges were jammed like cars, the approaches to the bridges were veins of massed headlights, glittering bottlenecks stopping all motion, and the desperate screaming of sirens faintly reached to the heights of the plane. It took them a moment to realize that the panic had reached the power stations-- and that the lights of New York had gone out."(p.1064)

This book will make you think; indeed, that is the point and theme of the book.

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Summary: John Galt exists and so do the looters!!!
Review: The time of the writing of this book is irrelevant. It speaks to us today about the state of our contemporary world as much as it did when it was written. Rand is not a subtle writer, as anyone who has read any of her non-fiction work can tell you. She has a tendency to lead the reader a bit, but that is one of the effects she sought in writing this and her other fiction works...she wants to share with you what she thinks and doesn't want you to miss her points! Today, the looters are alive and well. Those people who choose not to think for themselves and those who choose not to produce for themselves (while taking from those who do), are those looters. I know too many "Jim Taggarts" personally. Fortunately for us, there are still some producers left...it's just as hard for them to accomplish what needs to be done as it was at the time of the writing, however! We need more Galts, Wyatts, and Reardens in our world!

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Summary: THE book for those who "think out of the box" objectively.
Review: Readers of this book will quickly discover a category into which they fall...and be forced to think. It is not only a book with a marvelous storyline, but, more importantly, a book that encourages people to reexamine the world and their place in it. It thrusts preconceived notions to the forefront and forces the reader to confront the worst within us and, if they chose, to nurture and foster the best with us. In the course of the story, it answers questions many of us are afraid to ask...objectively...about life, business and relationships, to one another and to the world

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Summary: This book is difficult to put down once you start reading it
Review: I began reading "Atlas Shrugged" with some skepticism. How could it be as good as people say but yet I had not heard much about it until recently? I soon found out that it is not only as good as people had said; it was better! Rand is a terrific storyteller who creates characters that are both endearing and repulsive. The story is so well told that the reader never experiences those boring stretches that sometimes litter even the greatest novels. This story is intriguing from start to finish. I feel "Atlas Shrugged" is a must read for all

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Summary: An explicit depiction of good vs. evil...
Review: "Atlas Shrugged" remains one of the finest examples of the vicious dichotomies offered by the religious dogmas espoused throughout mankind's history. It tells of the logical conclusion of a world propelled my altruism, and how those who espouse that view are blind to the destination they're ultimately going to arrive at. Many thought provoking questions are raised, and answers given...a refreshing change of pace. Naturally, her critics condemned this book (and continue to do so), but this tells more about them than about anything else. Miss Rand's incredible plot-theme structure, phrasing and imagery are in abundant detail. This book is the finest example of the true writer's art that I have ever read...whether you agree with her philosophy or not. The 35th Anniversary edition gives many illuminating insights into the creation of this masterpiece, thanks to Dr. Leonard Peikoff, Miss Rand's heir. All in all, as important a work as the Bible for those who look for truth.

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Summary: Interesting philosophy carried too far w/o quality editing
Review: Ayn Rand's "Atlas Shrugged" outlined (that term is used loosely! -- in about 500 pages too many) her philosophy, Objectivism, which promotes Capitalism in an interesting and occasionally original and diverting manner. Were it not so long and so often lecturing, I would recommend it as a must-read. Her fictional account of John Galt, an epitomized version of the perfect genius/capitalist, and her endearing, realistic, powerful and intelligent heroine (four adjectives in a rare combination in American fiction) would make this book captivating and a true must-read if she were not so intent on converting all of her readers to Objectivism. If you are capable of guiltlessly skipping 30 page + sections of lecture to get to the rest of the plot, I highly recommend reading this book

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Summary: Rand's best work
Review: The masterpiece and overture of Rand's 'Objectivism' philosophy- and beyond that a
truly superior look into the realities of communism and capitalism and how
these concepts apply even to our every day lives