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Summary: I ascribe to the tenants of Objectovism
Review: I am a Objectovist, that is some one who ascribes to the tenants of the philosophy of Ayn Rand. Their is no body in History that EVER developes a philosophy like she. It even has epistomology, which is Reason, you should always use Reason to dissern the facts of Reality, no body ever PROVED this before Ayn Rand but who could argue with this unless you are a Second Handed! A is A, if you do not dissern this you are a Moocher maybe even a Kantan! I especialy also like her novels which changed my life, my favorite caracters are Dagney Taggert, Hank Reardon, John Gault and from an other book (the Fountianhead) Howard Roarke. I want to be just like all of them, heros who live there life for themself. I do not like no body very much, most men are not Rational. If YOU are not Rational then, you are part of the life destroyers, like the negative reveiws on these page. Some people just do not get it or they are Evaders, live you're life by Reason, I think that is all Ayn Rand was trying to say! Good day all Looters and Moochers :)
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Summary: The Book that Started my Motor
Review: Atlas Shrugged often said to be long and tedious, is nothing of the sort. Although I can't say I agree fully with the late Mrs. Rand's view, I can say that her philosophy is sound and noncontradictory. The simple plot and noncomplexity of the characters is what makes this book easy reading, the highly developed theme and philosophy make the book enjoyable and rewarding at the same time. It forced purpose into my life and inspired me to work hard at everything I do, and save time by doing only doing what I deem to be necessary. I think it should be required reading for all high school students.
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Summary: Amazing Book, but I still only think it's worth 3 stars.
Review: I've been reading several of the reviews below, and one of the major patters I've noticed is that anyone who says "this book is too long", is immediately disliked, and have something like "1 of 32 found this review helpful" above them. Before you just scan over by review and see that statement and automatically say you hate me, read why I say it, please. THIS BOOK IS TOO LONG. This book is not too long because it has some 1168 pages, because the thickness of a book should not be a reason to judge it. This book is too long, because the huge page number is not needed. The first 900 pages are incredible, some of the best writing I've read. The problem is what's after that. Ayn Rand did something for the first part that most philosophers seem incapable of---she didn't have to say "I believe this, this, and this" in those words, she showed it through the action of the characters and through the story. That is a good thing. However, towards the end (and not just the infamous 60 page speech which could be shrunk to about 3-4 pages, seeing as if continually says the same thing), the characters start to be too obvious. In the beginning it would be..."Some begger comes up to Dagny "can I have money" "no" she says. YOu understand the philosophy. In the end, however, she starts to say "can I have money?" "no", she says, "because I believe that..." for the next 300 pages. When the book begins to repeat itself, I no longer consider it to be "classic literature". To those of you who talk about how you hated it because you disagreed with it---I disagreed with it too, strongly, to the point where I had to grit my teeth to read another page, but that shouldn't be what your rating should be based on. This book is good, and even if you disagree with it, read it to actually see more than one side to an issue. It's called open-mindedness.
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Summary: Atlas Shrugged
Review: Applicable today even though written 50 years ago. Wonderful and life-changing. Strong female character. Read this book. You won't be sorry.
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Summary: worth more than any education I ever had
Review: Reading Atlas Shruggged added more value to my live than all the 20 years school education. Through school, I learned how to think and acquired "a lot of knowledge". From Altas, I learned what life is about, what to live for and how to live. Since Atlas, I never had a moment of self doubt, indecision, or worries. All my enery is focused on consciously pursuing success and my own happiness. Atlas dared to show the good, evil, beautiful and ulgy of man. Rand did it clearly with logic, consistency and convinction. This world can be black, white, and most of the time grey. Rand was not concerned about the grey. She chose to demonstrate the black and white. By knowing the black and white, one has the tool to grasp the grey. one learns the 1+1=2 in maths, Newtons's law in physics. With these simplified "black and white", the "unreal", one goes as far as building cars, airplanes, computers, the "grey", the "real." In morden sciences, one studies the essentials, the comprehsibles, the fundamentals. They are "unreal" because one rarely sees them in real word. It is the study of these "unreals" that made modern science, engineering, and industry possible. "Human is different!", "Human is irrational!", "Human life cannot be black and white!" "Life is all grey!", "how can one ever know anything for sure!", "Everything is relative!", If these are your choices, have you ever wondered why "making decision is so hard", "my life is so miserable", "feel guilty to enjoy a good meal, to drive a new car", "feel guilty to love someone", "feel guilty being loved"? Everbody gets what they want out of live. The wise ones are open for positive influences, they keep on learning, become wiser and wiser, live beter and better lives.
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Summary: Any book that I stay up till 5 in the morning finishing...
Review: I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Admittedly the characters are a little black and white; there is a very clear distinction between the good guys and the bad. Overall, though, I loved the story and I had found myself having strong emotional responses to their actions-a sign that the author has done a good job. The book was rather long but I found that it did an amazing job of keeping my interest. (This coming from a person that shies away from books of half the length.) Ms. Rand is pretty clear about the message she wants to deliver in Atlas shrugged. For the most part, the extent to which a reader buys into her message will be proportionate to how much you enjoy the book. Many themes are repeated but they do serve a purpose. I personally found the "So you think money is the root of all evil?" speech to be magnificent. In all honesty, I did skip over a 30-page speech toward the end; it got to be a little much. I general though, if you keep an open mind I think you'll enjoy the book and you may very well find that it changes your out-look on life. I can honestly say it's changed my view of my place in the world for the better.
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Summary: I OVERCAME MY ADDICTION TO OBJECTIVISM!
Review: I read this book back when I was 19, during the last phase of my teenage angst and hatred of life and the world. It should come as no surprise that I found this book to be an invaluable tool. It fit in perfectly with all my convoluted and misguided emotions. Not only did it justify my hate, it gave me a plethora of people, ideas, philosophies, and things to despise. After reading Atlas Shrugged I pretty much expected the end of the world on a daily basis. I was sure that, "the mob" as Ms. Rand put it, would triumph. I was sure that tomorrow would be the day when the entire human race would plummet into oblivion and forever live in a gray abyss of selflessness, worthlessness and altruism - All because of the "Commies" and their evil ways. But that was ok because I was different. I was an objectivist. I was rational and I was better than everyone. I even began to speak and behave like Hank Rearden and Dagny Taggart. My contempt and disgust for society, religion and government couldn't have been more evident. I enjoyed being hated by people. And then, one day when I was 25, I woke up and realized just how big a jerk I really was. So, no, I wouldn't say that Atlas Shrugged SHOULD be "required" reading for everyone; even though I agree with a few of the things objectivism advocates. A man can be rational without wishing death on 90% of the world population. I did notice the hate and contempt in many of the reviews with 5 stars. One went so far as to say that if you didn't agree with Ms. Rand's philosophy he did not want to know you. I've been there...I used to be like that, and it's a sad existence. Thinking you are above everyone else makes you feel so secure because it means you don't have to face just how big your shortcomings really are, and how disgusting your existence really is. After reading Atlas Shrugged (if you choose to do so) you'll discover yourself alright, just not in the way all these reviewers say you will or should. Many of the 5 Star reviews read as though they were written by snotty, angst-filled, well-to-do, indoctrinated teenagers who have never done an honest day's work. Or by people who have decided the world is full of degenerates with no resemblance to their righteous selves, thus spending their lives reading about objectivism. Some guy even bragged about having read Atlas Shugged three times...GET A LIFE! I appreciate that Ms. Rand came from Russia to the U.S. escaping communism. I escaped my native country for the same reason as recently as 1979. So I am quite familiar with the nature of her predicament. The problem, as we can clearly see by some of the reviews, is that her allegories and metaphors are being taken literally by some people who think they have a right to exist and anyone who isn't like them doesn't. I'm glad I read Atlas Shrugged, once. I know I couldn't do it now...it is tedious! I tried reading The Fountainhead a few years later and couldn't get past the first chapter. Objectivism represents a phase in my youth...a phase I'm glad to have outgrown.
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Summary: You're not alone
Review: Tired of the welfare state? Political correctness? Tired of being the only one at the office who still has pride in your work? You're not alone... Ayn Rand has painted some wonderful heroes for us all to measure ourselves against. Henry Rearden, who gave years of his life to his craft, his science- only to be disdained for his success and intelligence. Dagny Taggart, capable bearer of the legacy of her name- put down because she does not have the right "connections", only the mind and the initiative. Francisco, the playboy billionaire- or is he? And, of course, John Galt- who is he, and why is everyone invoking is name? America's best and brightest are disappearing... government is responding to the problem (causing it...) by promoting brotherhood and socialism, ie successful, hard-working people should give to the lazy and the incompetent. Well I say HELL NO, and so does Ayn Rand. A bit trite and the end, and a bit tiresome throughout- nevertheless, Atlas Shrugged will alternately enrapture you with the highest levels of joy and leave you screaming in frustration, slamming the book on the ground, and crying for the plight of the virtuous protagonists. A must-read for every competent, intelligent, ambitious person.
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Summary: huh
Review: Shes a good pitchwoman for a wolf in sheepskin. Endless drivel.
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Summary: Monumental Epic
Review: Why is this book one of the most controversial books of 20th century literature? Quite simply, Rand challenges the establishment ideas in virtually every area of philosophy - esthetics, politics, ethics, epistemology, and metaphysics. The overriding leitmotif is the view that individuals can achieve greatness and prosper. They can project the ideal world (esthetics) in which individuals live free (politics) to pursue happiness (ethics) by using their minds (epistemology) to understand reality (metaphysics). However, when the dominant philosophy of a culture is anti-life and anti-mind, misery may be the only prospect. The world is doomed unless a hero fights the good fight; unless the most able rise to the occasion. How is this achieved? Who is John Galt? Read the book.
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