Atlas Shrugged

Rating:
Summary: A book for the man of the mind
Review: I first read this book in the summer of 9th grade, and absolutely loved it. There was a lot I missed then, as I just read it on the shallowest level possible, but the story line and characters intrigued me. As I grew older I kept rereading it, and each time I found it on another level. The philosophy is absolutely intriguing, though I also find very easily misunderstood if you don't read some of Rand's non-fiction. Every time I find another aspect to the book though, I love it even more. I really do think it's one of the greatest novels ever written.

Rating:
Summary: "The Best Book I've Ever Read"
Review: I just complted this book for the second time. The first time was 14 years ago before I was married, had children, or worked in the corporate world. I always claimed it to be my favorite book and here at age 40 it still is. When I was younger all my unique friends told me to read it but, I thought it would be as weird as them. I was wrong. I think it was even better the second time even if I did know what was going to happen.

Rating:
Summary: A wonderful ride.
Review: I read this book as a 17 year old, and now, 25 years later am reading it as a 42 year old. At 17, the book was inspiring and motivating toward the potential for individual excellence. At 42, it is still a wonderful ride, in that it carries you along with it, making you want to keep reading. As a middle aged adult, it is not as inspiring nor as motivating as it was for an adolescent, but is still a fun read. The characters now seem to me to be less real, and there seem to be less differences between the male and female characters. I find myself more amused by the forced melodrama than at age 17, when it was perfectly attuned to adolescence. I would absolutely recommend this book to teenagers for inspiration and then suggest putting it on the shelf and letting it age for a quarter of a century; then revisit it. It is worth the wait.

Rating:
Summary: A Timeless Classic
Review: I read this book out of curiosity more than anything, and was thrilled with it. An excellent story line, with well-developed characters. Gets a little long during John Galts' speech but generally flows very well. An extremely satisfying read

Rating:
Summary: Looooooooooooooong
Review: If you ask me, Rand was a long winded bore who could have spent more of her time figuring out just what objective reality is, rather than going around claiming to be the greatest human being ever. Her philosophy is not particularly original and her disciples are just as dogmatic as those they often criticize. As for the book, its a long and tedious read with a 100 page speech summarizing Rand's philosophy that can for the most part be skipped. It's almost as big as her ego. To be honest, I've read better pulp SF with essentially the same plot and philosophy but a whole heck of a lot more fun.

Rating:
Summary: This book made an impact on me!
Review: In case this is your first encounter with this book, It is a fresh story but a continuation to Ayn Rand's philosophy that started out with books like "We the living" where she new something was wrong but could not put her finger on it. She progressed to books as "The Fountainhead" where she could describe the problem quite well. Now in "Atlas Shrugged she has come up with a plausible answer to the problem. In essence your head can work without your hands yet your hands can not work without your head.
The story is not unique but it still holds you attention. The world is becoming more socialized and it is harder for individuals to make an impact without having a multitude of parasites on their back. Some chose to fight, others chose to ignore, some do not have a clue as to what is happening. The world seems to be gearing down is just coincidence or is there some one taking a hand in it. "Who is John Galt?"
I can tell you of my experience with the book. I must have been a late bloomer or just unlucky, because I did not come across "Atlas shrugged" until I was 20 years old. I was in the military and needed some reading material. My younger sister sent me the book. It looks just a little thick to me but I started reading, and reading and reading. I do not know if it was the story or the clarity of thought. Now I saw everything in a new or different light. It felt weird to see the newspapers and politics paralleling the book.
I was in New York (West Point) at the time and three things stood out to this day. The was a public service announcement on the TV "The law says that an apartment owner can not charge more than 30% of what you make" and at the same time the apartment buildings were closing down. The postal carriers went on strike and the military had to deliver the mail. That winter the snowplow drivers went on strike. When the strike was over the snowplows were missing. They found them the next summer in an empty lot.
There is nothing quite as convincing as watching the world and book parallel. I have mellowed out some sense then. However, I really think that this book should be read by high school where it would have maximum impact of one's train of thought.



Rating:
Summary: the epitome of individualism
Review: In today's climate of socialist and collective thinking, this book is a refresher course for those who have lost there way. written in 1957, altas shrugged shows us the difference between the rugged individual who refuses to give in and the arrogant collective, who think they have the answer to everyone's problem

Rating:
Summary: The best book ever writen.
Review: My boyfriend asked me to read this novel before we started to go out. I loved it! I have read it 6 times since. John Galt's speech is finely written, but it is more for the unintellect because it says the same thing over and over again. Maybe Ayn Rand could have said the same thing she wanted in 20 pages instaed of the 70 page speech. I has changed my life though. I will never foget the meaning of the book. I have read many other Ayn Rand novels since. Atlas Shrugged was the first but not the last.

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Summary: I have read thousands of books and this one is the best!
Review: The first time I read Atlas Shrugged, I read 70 pages and put it down - I guess 1167 pages overwhelmed me. The second time I picked it up (several years later), I got past the first 70 pages and couldn't put it down. I read Atlas in less than a week - staying up all one night, and spending a weeks vacation reading. Since that week 20 years ago, I have read the book at least 10 times. I know the answer to "Who is John Galt?" He is a "timeless" hero! It's hard to believe this book was written in 1957, over 40 years ago. The theme holds true today just as it did in 1957 - the only thing that gives it away is the dime cup of coffee. Ayn Rand is a romantic realist, and a fine novelist. I love her work and have recommended this book and Fountainhead to many, many friends - and many have read them both and feel the same way I do.

Rating:
Summary: This is one book you must read in your lifetime!
Review: The paperback of this book has been in my possession for almost 10 years compliment of a very good (and deep) friend. It was advised that I should read this when I am ready for it - but I cheated! I listened to the audio book tapes and this is a fabulous book! I have bought a first edition as well as started to read the paperback as this is must keep in my personal library. I want to recommend this to anyone who is concerned about where this world is going. It has some very practical application and really has affected me on a very personal level. Take the time to read this book! It is well worth it!