Atlas Shrugged
By Ayn Rand
- Release Date: 1959-07-01
- Genre: Classics
Description
Peopled by larger-than-life heroes and villains, charged with towering questions of good and evil, Atlas Shrugged is Ayn Rand’s magnum opus: a philosophical revolution told in the form of an action thriller—nominated as one of America’s best-loved novels by PBS’s The Great American Read.
Who is John Galt? When he says that he will stop the motor of the world, is he a destroyer or a liberator? Why does he have to fight his battles not against his enemies but against those who need him most? Why does he fight his hardest battle against the woman he loves?
You will know the answer to these questions when you discover the reason behind the baffling events that play havoc with the lives of the amazing men and women in this book. You will discover why a productive genius becomes a worthless playboy...why a great steel industrialist is working for his own destruction...why a composer gives up his career on the night of his triumph...why a beautiful woman who runs a transcontinental railroad falls in love with the man she has sworn to kill.
Atlas Shrugged, a modern classic and Rand’s most extensive statement of Objectivism—her groundbreaking philosophy—offers the reader the spectacle of human greatness, depicted with all the poetry and power of one of the twentieth century’s leading artists.
Reviews
Predicting the Future
5By LancerlaxWhile written more than 50 years ago, Rand accurately describes the current sorry state of our world. From nonsense world wide tariffs that gut economies and made up crisis (they’re eating the dogs!) to the abject cruelty and outright meanness of the nation’s leaders to the ignoring of basic HUMAN rights. If A is A, then how as thinking beings can we even half tolerate the cry of “fake news” and “alternative facts”. READ THIS BOOK! And watch the movies which are really not bad. Who is John Galt? I wish I knew.One of my favorites
5By FreeTheWorldFromCrueltyI love this book. From John Galt to Francisco D’Anconia to Danny Taggart to my personal favorite character, Hank Rearden, there are so many amazing characters in this book. For a woman that many claim praises Narcissism, she has harshly condemned it in this book. For example, there is the trio of Phillip Rearden, Mrs. Rearden and Lillian Rearden, who are the true uncharitable ones. They are unforgiving while demanding forgiveness for themselves, at Hank’s expense of course. Hank eventually rejects them and rightfully so. I loved this book.A is A
5By AngelD2112One of the best books ever written. Everyone should read this before they form an opinion on economics!First time reading this at 60!
5By jillhardy2Wow. I see so much of the bad in current society in this novel. Scary how accurate the depictions of mindless people. Very well written.Timeless
5By Flyin' lowI first read this when I was 15. Now, 37 years later, I have yet to find any better analysis, through a great work of fiction, of the world and the way mankind fits into it. It is more relevant today than when published 55 years ago.Thought Provoking
5By Lil Book BooNot for the faint of heart....as this book is very long! But it is worth every minute spent reading it. When I started it, I had no idea what it was about, but read it b/c someone told me it was their favorite. It is difficult to say what it is about with out giving away too much, but it it is about the struggle of the economy during the industrial Revolution. It is told through several different eyes and from people on both the socialist and anti socialist points of view. Not only that, but there is some romance sprinkled in which spices it up a bit. It goes into the philosophy behind the views as well. It's interesting to see how so many of these ideas and conflicts relate to the world we are living in today. It's written in the 50's and can be quite wordy and preachy, but worth it!Most excellent.
5By Mike123$$$Who is John Galt in our world today? Elon Musk.This is one of most farsighted books written since ww2.
5By luckey 20This book outlines what is happening I in the US today with the lies of the administration and freedoms taken away by liberals, the crookedness of the press , just to name a few. There are many more. Get this, it was written in 1957, by the daughter of a Russian family who witnessed what was going on in Russia then and serves a a clear reminder and indicator of what is going on in our country today. I have read it several times to center my thoughts if I feel I am drifting in my conservative foundation. For those who don’t understand it or “get it” stick to Animated books and productions. They say a picture is worth a thousand words. If anyone is interested,she has written many books all of which are worthy reads. Atlas Shrugged and all 1200 pages is one of the best books I have ever read.Escaped Ithica
1By TᑌG/ᗩᒪE᙭/ᖴᗷKᔕPlease site where and when “Atlas Shrugged” was ever banned, or “removed from libraries”, as you claim in your review. I can’t find any evidence that it has ever been banned or “removed from libraries”, in the U.S.😕😕😕
1By amandax345Awful and so hard to understand. Super boring I couldn’t even finish it!Great 👍🏻
5By omg great.I cant explain this book. It’s complex yet relatable plot will change the way any reader percepts reality. It’s impeccable philosophic backbone support the story, as it goes through numerous genres;fiction, philosophy, sci-fy, science fiction, romance, horror etc. I first watched the movies in 6th grade, and I was astonished be how much a story can change you. That is when I challenged myself to read the book in 7th grade and I immediately fell in love with it. The book is so good I kinda want to marry it. I have no idea how to explain this feeling, but all I can say is that you are missing out big time if you don’t read this..Awesome
5By GJ MinaThis book changed the way I think about my right to be happy.A master piece
5By Galaxy BurrThis book is the reason why I was able to overcome depression. It’s the book that shattered my chains in my mind that slow me down in life. It challenges your mind and shifts your perspective of life. This book makes you work and it’s not for the lazy but the competentMust Read
5By RobNardoShould be required reading for every HS studentLove it or hate it, you’ll learn
5By Johnny EngineerLet’s be honest, whether you love or hate this book depends more on your political leanings, than on your literary taste. Having said that, I will always take self-reliance, intelligence and achievement over namby-pamby sentiments of entitlement. I love this book not only because of its message, but because of its plot, its well-developed characters and it’s foray into a number of genres including political thriller, science fiction and romance. Two criticisms which I understand or that the book is too long and that the dialogue is pedantic. A little context goes a long way in understanding Rand’s writing style. She is Russian and she writes like a Russian: long developed paragraphs, tons of exposition and a lot of lingering on characters’ thoughts. It is a characteristic Russian authors. The dialogs for the most part are written in the format ancient Greek question and answer philosophical debates. To our modern sensibilities it seems that she takes too long to reach a conclusion. Some of the reviews lead me to believe that the reviewer good night actually read the book. Once such a critic says that sometimes businessmen or corruptible. Atlas shrugged is full of corrupt businessman. Actually they are portrayed as being villainous. An important distinction that needs to be made is that rands hero is not a businessman. He or she is an entrepreneur of high intelligence, tremendous work ethic and unfaltering vision. She is glorifying the Steve Jobs, Jeff Bezos and Bill Gates of the world. Finally, I find it ironic that so many so-called progressives don’t give Rand credit for her portrayal of a strong woman, not hampered by the constraints of her era. The fact that Dagny Taggart outperforms the vast majority of men, is unabashedly sexual and is in every sense a woman should be celebrated. Particularly since this book was published in 1957. Anyway, I’ve gone on for too long and I’m not even Russian.Amazing novel. We’re living it now.
5By PHXDanaI have this work on my iPad, on my desk, on a bookshelf and in my briefcase. Rand is a worthwhile, tough read. It gains nuance with additional reading.May be recommended however...
1By Lrn2222I read this book as a requirement. I’m not a fan.One of the Great Books
5By Escaped IthacaIt was once required reading; it should be again. Liberals and socialists actively deride it and make sure it’s removed from libraries. It is much more than a novel. It’s inspiration for anyone who believes in freedom and the primacy of the individual over the state. It is not an easy read, but it may change your life and explain the idiocy of what is called modern “progressive” thinking. You have value. Your work and the product of your labor has value. Your ideas are yours. No one has a right to to take these things from you. And you have the right to decide how they will be used. What is the alternative?Childish poorly written
1By Chic606One the worst book I’ve ever read. It’s embarrassingly bad. If you get through hundreds of page-long paragraphs of pointless blathering to get the essence of this book, you’ll be left with a childish premise that gets infantile as it nears the end. After hearing so many conversational references to this book and seeing it on so many bookshelves I decided to read it. I now doubt those who like this book have actually read it beginning to end.
