Rating: 
Summary: Calm down reviewers
Review: I notice that the reviews are either 1 star or 5 stars. Anyone who would plow through this ponderous mess of a novel and still give it one star must be a masochist. But the 5 star reviwers don't surprise me. They are the type of people who desperatly want certainty in their lives. So did Ayn Rand, and she wanted it so much that she couldn't talk of anything else. I found the book interesting reading in parts but way way too long. Silly little John Galt should have been shipped off to a salt mine to sweat off his genius. Those who think it is the greatest book ever written (something many reviewers state) obviously need to broaden their reading, or perhaps get out in the world and do a bit of work. And as far as the parasites that Ayn talks about, bear in mind that Ayn Rand never produced so much as a homegrown tomato. Failed marriages due to her infidelity (trying to find her hero), debts she never paid, a standard of living she never earned. She never really worked to pay her way, unless you consider the income from some of the worst books ever written. It is probably not fair to get personal with Ayn but she really begs for it. The "Fountainhead" is actually a fair book and has everything "Atlas Shrugged" has with about 1/4 of the words.
Rating: 
Summary: Take the time to read it
Review: I read this book when I was quite young, which I believe is an indication that this book is far from boring. From the implication in the title to the very last words...this book held my attention. I can understand the problems some may have with Ayn Rand's views but that is no reason to downplay the books value. There is great value in the fact that it leads you a path of thinking (even if you eventually decide that she is completely wrong). The characters may have seemed a bit two dimensional to some, but I thoroughly enjoyed the reading and (dare I say it!) related to the heroine. It is helpful to remember that this is not really a novel but a thinly veiled forum for Ayn Rand's philosophy. Specifically because I remember this book as having some valuable insight I plan to reread it (which is why I got to the reviews.) I was just a bit surprised at the amount of personal attacks on the author or maybe just the sheer ugliness displayed in some of the reviews. Even is she is a psychopath-which I seriously doubt-this book is a valuable read. A lot of our great thinkers-scientists, psychologists, artists and musicians were at one time or another considered (or actually were) crazy.
Rating:
Summary: Inspiring, Motivational & Enlightening
Review: I'm a Physics major (Junior)and a member of the US military (MIANG) I normally don't read much fiction. I read a variety of other subjects (hist, econ/fin , math, biblical, politics, communications etc). The reason I picked up this book was that I wanted to read some fiction and my brother had once suggested Anthem. I remembered the author and saw Atlas Shrugged at the bookstore. After reading the back I decided it should be an interesting story and a challenging (lengthy) undertaking. What I did not expect to find is my new favorite, most inspiring and inspirational book. I relate to this book so well that I feel as if it was written to me. Ayn Rand puts into words some of the things I have half-thought and felt all of my life. I think that the best application of this book, at present (other than personally), is to realize that we live in the most prosperous country with one of the most free and productive societies of all time, BUT it is the simple fact that we (as a society) do not adhere to nor believe in the foundations that it was built on... Free Will, Freedom to Persue Happiness, Hard Work, Self Pride, Individual Effort..... etc... I am not saying that the US started with a perfect sys nor that it has not improved, only that she points out (intentionally or not, I don't know) the areas to improve. OVERALL : LENGTH : not a challenge STORY : mostly exciting with a few slow spots IDEAS : life changing and thought provoking BEST QUALITY : AMERICAN AMERICAN AMERICAN AMERICAN, through and through WORST DRAWBACK : redundancy of "looters" ideas and actions... it makes you wait for the really exciting stuff
Rating:
Summary: The Exalted Delivered From Parasites
Review: Atlas Shrugged is a giant-size mystery with high aspirations, it undertakes to show us the attempted murder of humankind's soul, and what is required to save it. It is monumental, dramatically paced, and so well integrated that all the complex plots and subplots are perfectly resolved at the end. The major characters and many of the minor characters are the MOVERS and MANIPULATORS of the industrial, political, and to some extent cultural world. There is an industrialist who invents a new metal-Rand deliberately uses this metal to indicate a new age in humankind, like the Stone Age, Iron Age, Bronze Age, etc. There is a scientific genius that refuses to act responsibly in regards to who uses his abstract discoveries, the applications of which ultimately lead to the creation of a weapon of mass destruction. Every character, except for the most inconsequential, goes full "circle" we know whom they are, where they come from, what they have done, and where they end up. Her heroic characters are not effervescent or subtle, but they are audacious, authoritative and always seen in purposeful movement. These characters are working sometimes 18 hours a day, which given their positions of power in a constant state of emergency in a collapsing world, is quite a realistic touch. There is a scene of a national radio broadcast interview with Dagny, the heroine and the operating VP of a Trans-continental railroad. Dagny perceives she is being blackmailed to promote the government's propaganda. She quite cleverly undercuts the interviewer's trump card (her adulterous affair with the powerful industrialist of the metal fame) by proudly flaunting her very sexual love affair with him, and exposing the Government's attempted blackmail. The evil characters are chance trolls riding on the back of culturally accepted altruistic ideology, which they manipulate to wangle one-upmanship towards questionably and ultimately evil ends. James Taggart, Dagny's brother, uses his status, money, and power to impress an excitable but naïve dime-shop girl (a minor character). He publicly milks his selfless generosity to her, while he disparately needs her uncritical hero-worship. And she, understandably, is way out of her league, but she gropes inch by inch to do the best she can to cope and understand what's going on between them. Her belief is that James sees her potential and she will become a deserving partner. In the course of their relationship she becomes wise to his self-decent and finds out that he is a vampire of the spirit, albeit a mousy one, but at this point its too late for her. The most outrageous confrontations in the book are not between the good and the evil but are between the heroes clashing at cross-purposes. Rand had a very interesting concept about evil vs. good in fiction, she didn't think there was any conflict in it at all. She believed that the most dramatic conflicts arise between the good and good. Hence, the realistically absurd characterizations of the bad boys. (Anyone out there know any genuine evil people? Ten to one they are as soft and whimpy as they come.) There are quite lengthy, though brilliant speeches that are not superfluous-they are needed show us what were the compelling ideas that got these larger than life heroes to re-evaluate their personal premises and accept a radical alternative for living on earth. We all know that human change on a profoundly deep level is possible, though not easy or simple to achieve, and a lot of effort and thought must go into it; her speeches are infinitely shorter than the transcriptions from two years of therapy! The most common criticism is of her prose. It is simple and direct. Maria Callas was giving a master class at Juilliard, at the end of the course her last piece of advice was to use EXPRESSION as the primary tool; the artist must be true to the meaning of the music, and to the meaning of text. Expression wise, the prose in Atlas is right on, and boy, the meaning comes through crystal clear. Lastly this book is the projection of a moral ideal. It shows us what it would feel like to be let loose, to experience freedom unobstructed by irrational man-made controls, and to create and explore to one's furthest reaches.
Rating:
Summary: Incredible Story!
Review: After being forced to read many of the so-called "classics" throughout high school and college, I found myself somewhat turned off to reading. None of them really struck me as enjoyable stories. Atlas Shrugged is a brilliant and captivating work of fiction. It is a powerful and unique story which I found very easy to read, despite its length. It inspired thought like no other book I had ever read and it restored my faith in reading. A gripping story about an incredible and noble battle. It really knocked my socks off! A must-read for everyone.
Rating:
Summary: Miss Taggart is incorrect
Review: Begging the pardon of Miss Dagny Taggart, but - railroad magnate or no - she is quite incorrect. Miss Rand did indeed believe in a 'higher power'. More precisely, she believed in two of them: the 'benevolent universe' ('existence', the 'facts of reality') and the human being (including and especially herself). In her attempted rejection of G-d she merely parcelled out the Divine attributes between these two 'higher powers' (for example, 'existence' is eternal, and 'man' is self-creating). I object to the foundations of her 'philosophy' not because she failed to believe in any 'higher power' but because she believed in the wrong one(s). Miss Taggart's own Member Page includes the following remark: 'My whole life is a contradiction'. Indeed, so was Miss Rand's - though I hardly think she would approve of her ATLAS SHRUGGED protagonist's namesake thus acquiescing to irrationality!
Rating:
Summary: Better read sooner than later
Review: I have spent years studying in school and have read thousands of books. It was only after I finished college that I read Atlas Shrugged. I wished that it had been required reading. Unfortunately most campuses are staffed by liberal looters. This book is one of the most eye opening and life changing experiences I have ever had. If you are looking for intellectual guidance or an injection of adrenalized ambition, you must read this book.
Rating:
Summary: The Best
Review: Some people choose to anathematize Ayn Rand for not believing in a higher power. If you look at that guy Mordechi's page, you will see nothing but Ayn Rand books with poor ratings. I really don't care. If you find it necessary to defend Objectivism from other people, go back and read Atlas again, because a true Objectivist doesn't care what anyone who beleives in altruism thinks.
Rating:
Summary: Some reviewers are missing the point
Review: People giving this book low ratings seem to be intent on arguing with the book's philosophy. OK,so you don't agree with it, so what? It's still a well written suspensful novel, that keeps your interest at a high level. I also found Upton Sinclair's The Jungle to be a well written novel, and I completely disagreed with the philosophy of that novel, but I would give the book five stars anyway. Regarding Rand's philosophy, what she is attempting to do is simply astounding. She is trying to come up with a moral defense of capitalism, which has rarely been done before. Are her ideas sound? They are certainly thought provoking. Should we have a government with less laws, less control over business affairs? Why is it that the Democrats believer in personal liberties, but want to exert so much control over businesses? Why do Republicans seek less controls for businesses, but try so hard to control our personal life decisions. Rand offers a third, libertarian point of view,of economic conservatism and social liberalism. I think these ideas are important and worth consideration. Even if I did not, however, I would highly recommend this book because it's such a fine read.
Rating:
Summary: For Life Lovers
Review: "I swear -by my life and by my love of it- that Iwill never live for the sake of another man, not ask another man tolive for mine". This eye openning, thought provoking novel has been absolutely the best book I've read, comparasible only to The Fountainhead. It is an insult to Ms. Rand to declare that she is the founder of a cult or that her books are like bibles to her followers, however I must say that I do admire her, her mind, her brilliance. Her love of man -not mankind- is the most noble, most moral value humans must seek. This book has helped me realize that by negating his/herself a person only achieves to negate life. This is a book for those among us who love the fact that we are alive and want nothing more from other men that to be left alone to act, to think, to live. She shows love between individuals as it must be, if its to be worth anything, as selfish; as a tribute to the other person's values in exchange for one's values. 1168 pages worth every letter. END
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