Rating: 
Summary: lacking in so many ways
Review: As one can guess from my low rating, I do not agree with the simplistic worldview of Ayn Rand. But that alone does not account for the particularly low rating of this book (I gave the Fountainhead 2 stars). Aside from the silly ideas advanced from this book, this novel is just poorly written, plain and simple. The characters are one-dimensional beings whose only function is to recite the "philosophical" ideas of Ayn Rand at appropriate situations. The plot is overly long and unengaging, without the subtlties and complexities that generally justify long novels. All of the ideas of Ayn Rand can be contained in one page. None of the characters can be said to be interesting, much less sympathetic. As a book advancing philosophy, this book is dumbed-down and simplistic. As an epic, this book is unnecessarily long. As plain old entertainment, this book is boring.If you have to read an Ayn Rand book (God knows why...), you should at least read the Fountainhead, which has a relatively entertaining plot and is not so ridiculously long.
Rating: 
Summary: Simply the best I've ever read
Review: Like the subject said, the best book I ever read. Life changing and a true achievment.
Rating:
Summary: Uplifting and Beautiful.
Review: Fantastic! This book is tremendous on so many levels. It can be wildly enjoyed as an adventure story and work of fiction, or one can easily base a life's philosophy on it. Many criticisms of this book focus on its length, poor use of language, and depressing subject matter. I would like to clearly state, that I have never read a more beautiful or uplifting work. While reading this book, never did I feel depressed or disheartened. The characters in this book inspire me (and enable me) to be a better person. I have never felt such pride for being human, and such excitement for being alive as when I read and re-read this novel. Atlas Shrugged covers so much ground, by establishing and introducing a complete philosophical framework, covering in detail, a rational viewpoint of: economics, politics, life, love, sex, beauty, humanity and life. I never found the length of the book to be an issue, until it finally ended, at which point I wished it was at least another 1,000 pages. The writing of this novel is clear and beautiful. It is truly the antithesis of writing by authors such as James Joyce. The writing is clear in its content, but possesses beauty and poetry even in the longest of speeches or philisophical discussions. After reading this book, I think clearer, walk straighter, smile more often, and enjoy life, like never before. Atlas Shrugged is truly able to revolutionize your thinking, expand your mind, and exhalt your soul.
Rating: 
Summary: Great ideas, crazy author
Review: I couldn't in good faith recommend this book to anyone for casual reading. Rand's belief, that the evolution of a neocortex erased 60 million years of evolution and changed apes into rational machines who's primary function is to think and produce wealth, makes for some real boring and unbelievable characters and some terrible, and I mean terrible, long winded dissertations about how the pursuit of love/sex is the same as the pursuit of money. Meanwhile the novel reads like a bitter woman's revenge at the world as the low self-esteem non-Thinkers of the world split their time between humiliating themselves, dying, and begging for help from the heroes, while Dagny Taggart, heroess and only major female character in the novel, splits her time between refusing to let her railroad die and choosing between the men, including the main hero, that have chosen her to be their only love in their life ever. I'd say more on this, but you have to read it to believe it. Still though ... Rand's ideas about the importance of self-esteem and the (judicious) use of the mind are the core of this novel, if taken way way way way too far. And they are great ideas. This is what most people find influential and memorable about the book. If you're willing to read 1070 pages to get to these points (or you could always just read the chapter "This is John Galt Speaking"), this book is for you. Personally, I fell in love with the book right away, but my interest died at about page 500. Part 3 got me going a little, but my suspension of disbelief had been permanently trashed by a certain monologue which convinced me that Rand was really crazy.
Rating:
Summary: Objectivism? I object!
Review: In answer to questions reguarding my previous critique, this book was apparently written as a vehicle for the circulation of Ayn Rand's personal philosophy, i.e., "objectivism." Though Leonard Peikoff's introduction provided an outline of the motivations and intentions behind Atlas Shrugged, it wasn't until I was well into the story that the implications of objectivism began to crystallize for me. Objectivism is sort of an ultra-capitalist form of fascism that justifies itself in existentialist terms. In other words, the idea is really nothing more than an excuse to treat people badly and proceed through life as a ruthless tyrant, so long as you can do so "honestly," without becoming dependent on anything other than the pursuit of your own self-interest. It is much like dyanetics or scientology in that it espouses a predatory approach to social interaction. The story line itself lacked dimension, as an objectivist world doubtlessly would - while the characters, some of which initially seemed interesting, degenerated into mere caricatures of virtuous self-delusion and blockhead folly. I ended up hating the heroes worse than the villains in this book. Rand's ability to portray a gloomy scenario for the characters is only surpassed by her inability to remedy their dilemmas without resorting to miraculous devices such as the "image refractors" used to hide "Atlantis" in the mountains of Colorodo from the outside world, or the "secret motor" that runs off of the static electricity in the atmosphere. This is not the real world, so objectivism functions quite well here - when you run into trouble all you have to do is make something up to get out of it. Rand ties all this in with her own slightly sadomasochistic fantasies by allowing the heroine, Dagny Taggart, to win the undying devotion of every man she sleeps with. But no sooner does she get the man of her dreams, than she's off on a romp with someone she likes even better. Of course there are never any hard feelings on the parts of her rejected lovers, because like all good, obedient objectivists, they realize that they weren't good enough for Dagny in the first place and they are just glad to see her with someone better than they are. If you have not already read this book, keep these points in mind, you may not want to waste your time, or if you do, you may not want to get sucked into the confused idealism it is selling.
Rating:
Summary: The most profound book I ever read
Review: I read this book when I was in my late 20's and have never been able to enjoy another book as much since. Not only did it influence my life, but it was a wonderful adventure. The characters are easy to remember because Ayn Rand gave them strong characteristics, the good and the evil. It is exciting, mysterious and romantic. It is a wonderful read. I highly reccomend it.
Rating:
Summary: Atlas shrugged and so did I
Review: Atlas shrugged and so did I, or perhaps it was a gag reflex! Initially the story line and characters seemed interesting, but by about 300 pages the plot had lost all intelligent footing. By 600 pages I thought I had slipped into a Saturday morning cartoon/ soap, where capitalist super-heroes evoke pseudo-scientific powers to battle the dark forces of low self esteem. The only reason I bothered to finish the book was that I had invested so much time slogging through the frustrating and whining prose that I felt obligated to finish the read, which was the greatest disappointment of all. I write this because I was appalled to see Ayn Rand's name on a list of authors of "related works" while browsing the writings of Bertrand Russell. I was even more shocked to read some of the rave reviews Atlas Shrugged recieved from other readers. It proves one thing: that the evolution of the brain is not necessarily concomitant with the rise of critical thought, or even with the employment of common sense.
Rating:
Summary: Best Book I Never Read...
Review: I have no time for the written word, so this will be a review of the audio cassette of Atlas Shrugged. I'm sorry the existence of this masterpiece reached me late in life. It should have been on my sophomore English class reading list in high school just because it is so very thought provoking and mind expanding...MUCH more *educational* than Poe or Conan Doyle, Mr. Vavra.
Rating:
Summary: The Book That Changed My Life
Review: Back in 1984, when I was but a 20 year old, a friend reccommended I read "Atlas Shrugged". He thought I would like it so much that he loaned me his first edition copy to read. I tried to read it about three times before I just became too frustrated to go on. A few years down the road, my mom gave me the paperback edition for Christmas. I plunged through it and my life has forever been changed. I used to have a quite liberal view of life, but after reading (and oftentimes throwing) this book, I came to understand the world around me a lot better. Adam Smith was right, the "invisible hand" will always correct the market. When governments attempt to fool with said hand, chaos will ensue. Who is John Galt? Read "Atlas Shrugged" and you'll understand why Mr. Galt is so important to our free market economy. This book just may change YOUR life.
Rating:
Summary: A Classic
Review: I won't pretend I'm a master of prose, but this is a great book
|
