Atlas Shrugged (Centennial Edition)
by Ayn Rand
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Book Reviews of Atlas Shrugged (Centennial Edition)
Book Review: Read Philosophy, do not fear it
Summary: 5 Stars
Ayn Rand's philosophy is known as objectivism. It is essentially having a objective reason and purpose for every action you commit.
Atlas Shrugged is one of two major novels that outlines her entire philosophy while trying to show how it would be applied. That is why this book deserves a 5 star rating. Any philosopher can give generic ideas with no application. Rand puts it all on the line to show exactly how she means her philosophy to be interpreted.
The student of philosophy will be able to understand her philosophy quite clearly after reading this. If you agree with her philosophy you should encourage others to read this book. If this book is so clearly wrong then you should encourage others to read it so they will see how clearly wrong it is. Those that want it burned or object to others reading it know that she offers some very strong arguments for a position they clearly do not want to be true.
This book takes place probably around the 1950s. It is centered around the industrial sector of the U.S., the only government that has not become a People's State. The main character in this book is Dagny Taggart. She is a no-nonsense VP of Operations for the largest railroad in the world. She is intelligent and is solely driven to keeping her RR as the best.
The times are dim and getting dimmer. In the beginning the country is in a recession of sorts and it is up to Taggart and others like her to save the country. There are two problems that are preventing her from doing this. One, the government seeks more and more control when it should be stepping away. Second, the men of industry are disappearing one by one just when they are critically needed. No one knows where they go off to.
In the sense of a novel this is a good one. It is suspenseful and intriguing. Everyone can identify with the characters in this book. Most of the antagonists have been left rather shallow. That is on purpose. They are supposed to represent certain elements of society. This book can get dry at times. One man has a 60 page speech that can seem a little preachy at times but is wholly necessary within the context of the novel.
Ayn Rand is perhaps the best known and widest read philosopher of the 20th century. If you have any interest in philosophy or economics then this is a must read. Don't fear her teachings. An open mind is a dangerous thing to some people.
The most important thing to remember is not to take everything you read here as dogma. Think for yourself and apply whatever ideas make sense to you and ignore that which you don't like. Think for yourself. I think Rand would object to anyone blindly following her philosophy without actually believing in it. No one says you can't be charitable to others. Just make sure you do it of your own volition and not because it is expected of you or because you feel guilty.
Book Review: So this was Atlas Shrugged! Twas I that shrugged.
Summary: 1 Stars
I never thought I was smart enough to read a book like Atlas Shrugged when I was younger. One person in my life kept telling me over the decades that I HAD to read this book. Well, after many years, a great deal of maturing both chronologically and mentally, and loads of experience, I opened the cover and began.
I hope that Ayn Rand gave this book to her psychologist/psychiatrist or was hoping, when this book was published, that one would take up the cause and approach her to offer his/her services. This has got to be one of the darkest, most cynical, and depressing novels I have ever read. And, I would be remiss if I did not say that it was loaded with sadism and masochism--if one is into S&M. I know that some would say that my description of the story is true and was part of her point!
I cannot believe that her editors didn't see their way clear to tailoring down the unnecessary amount of verbiage she spewed throughout the pages. How many different ways can one say the same thing and then say it again? Too bad Moon Struck wasn't around when this was being written so that someone could have referenced Cher slapping Nicholas Cage's face and telling him to, "Snap out of it"!
After all this anticipation, I concluded that Atlas Shrugged was the most disappointing book I have ever read. Disappointing isn't a strong enough word for a novel that I waited until this time in my life to tackle. I almost laughed at myself to think that I believed I didn't have the intelligence or capacity of mind to understand this 'great' work--said tongue and cheek!
To insure myself that it wasn't just me that had this reaction, I spoke to any number of people who I respect when it comes to the world of books and good writing. Two in particular, one being a professor; the other runs an advanced book group, had the same reaction.
Just so I don't leave any doubt, I am not expecting every book to read like a fairy tale come true. I have great admiration for books that lure me into the dark side of the author's expression. This book missed that lure. Instead, I felt assaulted.
I give credit to anyone that can get through this vast sink hole of darkness. I wonder about those who praise this work as they revere Ms. Rand like a literary goddess. Do they really believe this was great writing or are they part of the herd? But, then again, what constitutes great writing?
Enough said. Just a word of advice--don't read this before retiring as you may have some nightmares.
Book Review: This book made an impact on me!
Summary: 5 Stars
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. This 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 each other. I have mellowed out some lately. However, I really think that this book should be read by high school age where it would have maximum impact of one's train of thought.
The Fountainhead
Book Review: A book that challenges the reader to define themselves
Summary: 5 Stars
My first encounter with Ayn Rand's ATLAS SHRUGGED was in college as a reading assignment in my Humanities class many years ago. When my professor placed the book on his desk and said it was our reading assignment, I could hardly contain myself. The horror of reading a lengthy philosophical theory spanning over 1,000 pages was a nightmare evident in my reaction. He looked me straight in the eye and said he guaranteed I would love it. Well, he was right.
It's a book I keep coming back to. Putting aside the obvious Objectivism present throughout the novel (especially during Galt's lengthy radio address), this book forces you to think about Rand's ideas brought to life in her characters, and challenges you to define your own. The book questions our values, morals, and ethics bringing to light the qualities an individual requires to live. It also highlights the contrast between the looters who mooch off of others and a person who lives his/her life by their own abilities while expecting other to do the same.
Each character in the book evokes a different response from the readers. Some you love, others you completely despise. Most characters are typically on one extreme end of the scale of morals, ethics, and values. With Rand, there seems to be no in-betweens. Having read other works by Rand, it is obvious that she does this to represent elements of society, capitalism, and much more. The book's heroine, Dagny Taggart, is a strong person primarily surrounded by individuals without talent, skills or basic common sense. Although some claim Rand's work is very radical - I'm sure the reader knows someone in this type of situation (come on, admit it). The John Galt character is the physical and intellectual representation of man's ideal; a brilliant man who passionately loves life, work and refuses to live for the sake of others.
ATLAS SHRUGGED is a story of true intellectual substance that captures what would happen in the world if the genuine productive leaders decided to halt their contribution to the looters forcing the moochers of society to fend for themselves. Although a lengthy book, it is a great story filled with mystery, suspense, passion for work and life, love, and much more. If you can only read one book, then ATLAS SHRUGGED is an excellent choice simply because it makes you think.
Book Review: infantile appeal to your worst evolutionary urgings
Summary: 1 Stars
We all have a primitive inner voice, some call it the "Id", some call it the lizard brain. It's been referred to with the most clarity as the "selfish gene": Not meaning that an individual has a particular gene that makes them selfish, but that we all have genes that demand to be passed on, and thus compel us to behave selfishly: to hog resources, to create as many babies as we can (for the males at least), to lie and cheat to clamber our way to the top of the evolutionary pile, or at least make sure that our particular genes aren't extinguished in this round.
And it makes perfect sense. Obviously, in the stone age, those who didn't get enough resources perished along with their genetic code, and those who produced more offspring were more likely to pass the code on to future generations. The result: we're now in the 21st centure with an artifact in our brains telling us to do whatever it takes to maintain status, resources, and offspring.
Now, what are the most base, shallow, crude, and salient indicators of reproductive fitness primitive man and woman would have looked for? Simple: Secondary sex charcteristics and wealth. The former needs no explanation, the latter indicates ability to survive, intelligence, power, etc. etc. Never mind that there are people who are incredibly weatlhy now who have little intelligence, wit, or work ethic (eg Paris Hilton) our primitive brain still sees all that wealth and says "good good, me likey" or just "oooohhh shiny".
Now we have Ms. Rand- pseudo-intellectual poser writ large. With her bloated, pedantic, patronizing tome, glorifying monkey brain style status indicators and by god, your right to seek them at all costs. "Altruism is for the weak" shouts the Ape Queen. She towers over her drone-like followers as they worship at the temple of their own primitive drives, now given legitimacy (at least in their minds) by this and a few other of her "novels", snapping and salivating at any who may have the audacity to question the sanity of their philosophy.
Can't we all agree in this age that this kind of dressed up selfishness just doesn't work? Sadly no.