Rating: 
Summary: A tremendous waste of paper
Review: The book is interesting as a political statement, but it reads like a real estate contract. That it is over 1000 pages long made it pure torture to read. I started this book hoping to learn something, but the only thing I got from it is the pride one feels when finishing an arduous task that few others could complete. If Ayn Rand were still alive I would send her some punctuaion marks. The sentences are so interminably long that I thought she was trying to conserve periods. Interrogators will sometimes play acid rock music over and over to browbeat their subjects into submission, this book is a written version of that.
Rating: 
Summary: A very good novel
Review: I have to admit that I am not normally big on novels, but I thoroughly enjoyed this one.Fans of Nixonite authors who try to sell you on "The Rich are getting Richer" will not like this book and that is exactly why they need to read it. Although this book is a novel, there is a lot of truth in what Ayn Rhand writes in here. I highly recommend Atlas Shrugged. It will blow your mind.
Rating:
Summary: I normally wouldn't do this, but...
Review: I have to respond to a reviewer a few places below on the page. First of all, ending the review with "Go Howard Dean!" shows that you had no interest in writing a review but only in championing a politician. Then you give advice to Rand for when she writes her next novel. Rand is dead; Atlas Shrugged was written in the 50's. Finally, why should Rand include God and family on her novels? Atheism was one of the core tenets of her philosophy. You may not agree with her, but why should she have included something which she clearly states in her philosophy is something she rejects? That said, I did enjoy this book. It shows the logical extension of liberalism that could occur if it were allowed to flourish to its conclusion. This book and The Fountainhead were the two reasons that my political idealogy changed from that of a liberal to a libertarian. For a thought-provoking book that might challenge your beliefs, in addition to an excellent story with gripping characters, read Atlas Shurgged. Although I give it 5 stars, I must voice the most common complaint against Rand's writing. Her characters, with very few exceptions, are black and white. People are either all good or all bad, and while I enjoyed her capitalistic politics, I disagreed with her A is A, B is B "rational" explanation for all things. She attemps to justify this part of her philosophy by making the characters extremes, so much so that they hardly seem human.
Rating:
Summary: Atlas shrugged - True then, true now
Review: Although written back in 1959 in the form of a novel, this 1,000 page classic expertly demostrates why capitolism is the system most beneficial to all people, rich and poor alike; and how punishing those individuals who are responsible for creating the wealth (through burdensome taxation and government regulation) can bring the economy, and the entire country, to a standstill.A must read for anyone who wants t develop and maintain wealth.
Rating:
Summary: I wanted to read and love this book.
Review: All the Ayn Rand fans are going to ding me for this, but I have to be honest - this novel didn't survive my "100 page rule" (translation: if you're not hooked by page 101, don't bother finishing the book, there are too many other novels to consider instead). Believe me, I wanted to read and love this book. I've heard nothing but rave reviews about Rand and picked this novel up with much anticipation. But the novel is over 1000 pages and after cracking 10%, I knew there was no way I was going to force myself to plow through it to the end. If you're like me and thinking to buy this because so many others have told you about it, please consider - this book is categorized as fiction but it reads too much like a textbook to just kick back and enjoy. The characters (at least as far as I got) are very one dimensional. Perhaps they get better and I missed out. I admit this "classic" did have an interesting plot and I'm sure it has many fine points & hidden meanings if the reader is into such topics. The tone of this novel was much like some L. Ron Hubbard fiction I've read.
Rating: 
Summary: Howard Dean is smarter than Ayn Rand
Review: I'm currently writing a novel titled "Atlas Hugged" that shows the creators of the world being nice and giving, instead of being selfish. It's just what's need, along with Howard Dean, to save this country. I hope that when Ayn Rand writes her next novel, she tones it down a bit and shows some compassion. Hey Ayn, it would also be nice to include God and family in your next novel. Duh! Go Howard Dean!
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Summary: Why you should read this book
Review: Atlas Shrugged is without a doubt one of the most important books of the 20th century, and is still entirely relevant today. It addresses a subject (individualism vs. collectivism, in economics, philosophy and culture) that wars have been fought over, and which millions perished and suffered because of (the communist, socialist and fascist regimes of the 20th century). Even today, while most of these collectivist states have collapsed, the debate over the proper role of the government and the degree to which wealth should be taken from some to be given to others continues unabated. All of the arguments that politicians use today to justify their positions on tax policy, or regulation of businesses, or new health and welfare programs, or the evils of big businesses and powerful industrialists (e.g. the U.S. government's attempt to punish Microsoft and Bill Gates), appear in Rand's masterpiece. You could study these subjects by reading dry economics textbooks, but Rand has taken both sides of each argument, illustrated the conflict with dramatic images and events, and drawn the logical conclusions. Atlas Shrugged is a 1000+ page refutation of Karl Marx's dangerously alluring statement: 'from each according to his abilities, to each according to his needs'. Why doesn't this work, and why does it actually destroy societies? Why would a cradle-to-grave welfare system (government guaranteed housing, medical care and food) fail? Atlas Shrugged shows why, in incredible detail. If only more people in the 20th century (and today) had been able to read and understand Ayn Rand, who knows how many lives could have been saved. Atlas Shrugged is also an inspirational guide for how to conduct one's own life. The top people I've met in U.S. businesses more closely resemble Hank Reardon and Dagny Taggart than they do Jim Taggart and Wesley Mouch. So, if you want some ideal role models on how to succeed in business, Atlas Shrugged provides them. It is one of the few works of art to present engineers and applied scientists as true heroes. Also, the book teaches the most important lesson about personal responsibility: each individual, not others, is responsible for his/her own happiness. Finally, there are other more trivial reasons to read Atlas Shrugged. The plot is a page-turner; you'll want to keep reading to find out what happens. You'll feel a major sense of accomplishment when you finish. You will find many interesting, amusing tidbits (I was surprised to learn that American academia was a collectivist, relativist hotbed in the 1950s ' I had thought that was a phenomenon induced by the Sixties). It's amazing to realize that Ayn Rand had this all figured out in 1957. It's also heartening to see that Atlas Shrugged continues to be a top-seller (ranked in the top 1000 on Amazon right now) nearly 50 years after it was first published. Why is this so? Read the book!
Rating:
Summary: Meh...
Review: I have read Atlas shrugged 3 times now, and with each reading Rand's message becomes quite a bit weaker for me. When I first read this book at the tender age of 20, I would have given it 5 stars and raved about it like many people here, as the best novel ever written. I would dispute anyone at that time to find any flaw in the novel. I read it a second time at 24, and realized how poor the characters are, and how weak and unrealistic the story is, but her overall message still got me. From a novelistic/artistic point of view, it's a bit of a mess, but her message was sound. Now at 29, I have just finished it for the third time and I am able to pick many holes in Miss Rand's philosophy. Her mediocre writing does not help either. It is still impossible to argue with the primary message of her objectvist philosophy: accept the world in a rational manner - as it is and not how you wish it to be. On the other hand, it is becoming exceedingly easy to argue that to accept the world rationally not necessarily to accept the sort of complete lassie-faire anarch-capitalism she advocates. Her initial premise is correct (accept the world rationally), but I now personally disagree with how she correlates that into the society she thinks this premise should lead to. Her ideas on politics, economics and government are sadly and extremely ignorant. She would basically throw away thousands of years of human society and knowledge based on her own philosophy without even giving it a look. Basically, she would say if its not Objectivist its crap! That being said, this should still be required reading for any politician, if only to hear an extremely influential point of view different then what that person may have ever experienced. I would not mind if religious people read it either. For an artistic, quality, character driven novel along the same vein I would far recommend "The Fountainhead" over Atlas Shrugged. That was Rand's true master work. "The Fountainhead" actually becomes stronger for me with each reading. This is perhaps because it is an actual novel, not a rant disguised as one.
Rating:
Summary: If you believe the world owes you a living ...
Review: you will not like this book. MOST people want to be kept and controlled and coddled and told what to think. If you are one of this unfortunate group, there is honestly nothing here for you. This is a book for individualists who are willing to take responsibility for themselves and for MAKING themselves and their world according to the principles upon which the United States was founded. NOT as the United States currently exists; but as it was founded and intended to be. The founding fathers -- especially Jefferson and Franklin -- would clearly be rather ashamed of how we have perverted their Republic into a Socialist Democracy. _Atlas_Shrugged_ was DELIBERATELY written in the Romantic style. Rand DELIBERATELY chose the Romantic style -- making her characters relatively "one dimensional" -- so there would be NO room to mistake or rationalize or confuse evil and good. Her heros wear the proverbial "white hats" in this novel and her villians wear black. If you want proof that Rand was fully capable of writing a book with more "realistic" (that is, conflicted and "sympathetic") characters, and that she deliberately chose her style, read her first novel, "We the Living". I think she made the right stylistic choice -- the large number of people who attack her message because of her characterizations in this book, is something to ponder. Evil really roils at being exposed to light. In my opinion, we excuse way too much evil in this world on the grounds that evil-doers are "misunderstood" or simply the products of bad parents or good intentions gone awry. You may not be entirely responsible for where you are, but you ARE responsible for staying there. This is a life-changing book for those who are open to change. Depending on your inner nature you will likely either love it or turn from it with revulsion and bitterness. For those who mistake Rand's exhaultation of TRUE capitalists with fascist industrialists, I suggest you ponder "Who is John Galt?" John Galt -- the greatest "hero" in the book by far -- was NOT a "great industrialist" but, rather, an entrepreneur/creator/philosopher who found himself interrupted while on the path of his creation. I doubt Rand would have much adoration for Bill Gates and other erstaz "capitalists" who choose to "suck up" to the system -- to use the system and work the State -- in order to gain money by any means available. In the book, most of her "black hats" are reserved for such "pragmatic" folk. What else is there to say? All I can suggest is: Look. See. Tell the truth. Take authentic action. Maybe move to New Hampshire.
Rating:
Summary: Impossible to refute scientifically
Review: Ayn Rand's philosophy, objectivism, is impossible to refute scientifically; just as religions, falling in love, the quality of art and so on are all impossible to refute. Why is this? It is because her writings come across as thousands of pages of ranting without real foundations or concrete definitions. I suppose a philosophy is just that: a method of perception and not a provable truth. However, Rand screams about the applicability of her ideas, even going so far as to say hers is the only method of individual lifestyle and societal management that will work. Thus, absolute claims require absolute proof. Blanket statements based on assumed truths accompanied by arbitrary value judgments masquerading as facts (do all humans share Rand's materialistic definitions of quality of life?) and angry accusation of the underclass, as well as railing against generosity and selflessness require great proof to even consider, let alone to accept. A story that takes up over 1000 pages while constantly repeating the same assertions without real development of the ideas within will not convince a true rationalist of the validity of those assertions. Quantity does not equal quality (unless of course, hehe, you're an objectivist).
On a side note: It is quite disturbing that defenders of her philosophy and writings seem to have a tendency toward condescending attitudes and insults against the intelligence of others who criticize her thinking. Perhaps it is because the entire nature of her heroes was that they have no obligation to anyone or anything. The notion that you are either an objectivist or a collectivist is one I challenge for real proof. I for one will deny myself no weapon in the arsenal of man, neither my own strength and ability to aid myself and others, nor the strength I find in those important people in my life. One is not required to agree or disagree with Rand, since her assertions are not provable without further definition of the foundation truths and despite the "me against the world" attitude of the objectivist.
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