Atlas Shrugged

Sell the book and buy "The Fountainhead" this is a much better read.

Atlas Shrugged is very dogmatic, preachy and way too long. The highlight is a speech on money that presents a well laid out argument of Rand's thesis.

Read this speech at http://www.atlasshrugged.tv/speech.htm

There, that's all you need. I just saved you 1067 pages of reading.

I typically love long books as I read very fast. I did enjoy some of the book, however most of it was a chore to read. I agree with ebrown either don't read it or just read that one portion. I have not read "The Fountainhead" this was my first Rand book and it turned me off. Maybe I will try it.

Ayn Rand's prose style is turgid--it isn't just the type size that's giving you problems. I'm not crazy about her character development or her personal philosophy, either.

I read the entire book back in the late '50's when everyone was talking. My opinion wasn't very popular then.

English was her second language and she is very, very repetitious. You will need to persevere to get to the good stuff. The money speech is the bomb, but it is only one of many and it means so much more when you read in the proper context. I've noticed that between Atlas and the Fountainhead, people usually prefer whichever one they read first. I suspect that is because the Fountainhead is a smaller less preachy book, (good word Ebrown) but carries with it the same basic messages so if you read it first Atlas just seems too long. On the other hand, if you read Atlas first it is the real deal. Long and repetitious but once you make it about half way in to two thirds in; it will make you miss work to finish. This was her life's work... something like 13 years went into writing this one novel. So, if you read it first; the Fountainhead seems like a good, but not nearly as powerful book. That's just my opinion on what the others have said. You can probably guess which one I read first, how bout you Ebrown?

As for encouragement to read it I have a plenty.
Personally, I credit this book for a lot of the success I've enjoyed so far in life. (no BS, I wouldn't say that just for encouragement). My mom once offered me money to read it when I was a teen, and I am convinced had I had the good sense to do so then, I would have developed the same focus I did in my mid twenties and life would have been much easier.

From what I've read of your posts I'd guess you already have leadership ability that matches your obvious intelligence and are probably the most capable leader in most of the rooms you step into. It's my opinion that you will identify with a character named Dagny and fall in love with one or more of the men in the story. Just my honest opinion. I do hope it was encouraging!

Debra_Law,

A cartoonist I like released a cartoon on his website (since removed) characterising pseudo-intellectual conservatives as using it as their Bible (as opposed to the more sofisticated conservatives I guess).

Disclaimer: lest he be accused of bias he himself is a conservative.

Anywho, if for nothing else, the fact that it's illogical ramblings are the basis of so many people's personal philosophy should be motivation enough to read it.

You know, kinda like how the Bible is an important read merely on the basis of it's silly texts being the foundation of many people's philosophy.

Both resonate with a certain class of people very strongly.

----

Bill, no I don't want to argue it.

BTW, the stigma of unsophisticated conservatives being a fan of Atlas Shrugged is pretty prevalent. The Flame Warriors cartoonish, who seeks to create characters that represent stereotypes had this to say of a conservative character he created:



http://www.winternet.com/~mikelr/fwdr1.html

Ayn Rand is the dumb (and subsequently popular) conservative Bible, that alone is motivation to read it.

Hmmm - poorly written exposition of ideas that can far more simply be picked up in their frank political philosophy form - and more accurately, without the emotive crap which is superficially engaging - Sorry Bill!

But - hey, I read Mein Kampf AND the Bible cos I felt I ought. 'Tis good to understand these viewpoints, I think. Mind you, I have forgotten the books - and only recall the awful prose, and how foolish I thought the philosophy.

I kinda liked some of the architectural ideas, as I recall - but the purple, actually frankly literarily fascist, way she described them! And the name, Ruark, or eagle squawk, or whatever it was, oy veh. Not sure which of her books that came from.

Get a distinguished looking magnifying glass, and plough on.

I ploughed through Atlas Shrugged and The Fountainhead in my teens.

I am sure I am better for it.

Maybe that's it Bill. Why I liked some of it, but had to read a lot of crap to get the good stuff. I did feel like I had to persevere to get through the entire book. I had vowed after struggling through Atlas not to read another Rand novel, but since Fountainhead as you describe is less preachy I may enjoy it more and maybe if I am in a good mood, may try it.

Funny you feel so strongly about this book as I never got that impression. It did not hit me as it hit you and I sure do read a lot and almost every type of book.

You are being a bit harsh.

Ayn Rand articulated a reasoned philosophy well. I did not particularly like her fiction (I thought the Fountainhead was the best). She was certainly very intelligent and her philosophy is influential and resonates today. Some of her arguments are brilliant. It is unfortunate they take the form of contrived fictional diatribes.

She wrote articles explaining her philosphy that were provocative. I enjoy this philosophy and believe it is relevant even though I mostly disagree with it.

Comparing it to the Bible is a bit foolish. The Bible is a socialist text that takes a nearly opposite position on morality and economics.

As you can tell, I tend to lead to the Bible's view of morality, but Even as a "looter", I think that Rand's philosophy was relevant and reasoned.

Bill: Rand didn't understand the Robin Hood legend very well... (I do want to argue it )

burn the book and read "Steal this Book" by Abbie Hoffman and then write obscure messages to Bill asking if John Galt would drive a Miata. (in your leisure time read "Preface to a 20 volume suicide note" by Leroi Jones.)

I never thought of you as the book-burnin' type dys.

Dlowan, there's no need for apology. We're all entitled to our opinions. Btw the stuff you said you kind of liked came from the Fountainhead. :wink: Howard Roark was the architect in that story. His character was supposedly loosely based on Frank Lloyd Wright because of Wright's independent style and refusal to accept the going consensus when he thought he knew better… and did.

Craven, describing something you haven't even read as dumb or illogical ramblings provides no basis for argument. But I'll answer since Debra asked "Fans of Atlas Shrugged, please give me encouragement." Not "People who haven't read Atlas Shrugged, please give me your negative summary of other people's negative summaries. Funny thing is, Craven, you personify many of the ideals Ayn Rand presents. I'd happily purchase and send you a copy if you agreed to read it.

Debra, since Ayn Rand's philosophy has a great deal to do with individuals relying on themselves rather than societal groups like churches, governments (both sides) you will find many people with strong beliefs in these institutions, or any other major societal institution, will have negative things to say. The idea of pseudo-conservatives using the book as their bible is laughable because conservative ideals are not presented in the book. Since the ideals are about independent thought (opposing group allegiance) and self reliance, it is typically a little easier to swallow for conservatives… unless of course they are big into organized religion (matters not at all, which religion; independent thought is a threat to them all). The book has zero to do with promoting any of them or any other organization. It promotes thinking for oneself, for one's own sake. A celebration of the individual mind, if you will.

If I thought I could adequately sum up the book for you or anyone else, I would, rather than recommending it. Being a fan, I've read dozens of summaries and though some are better than others, none get it done. There's a reason it's big (beyond repetition)and I hope you don't let the naysayers, that will probably find this thread soon, discourage you. I assure you there are tons of people who would encourage you if they weren't put off by the arguments that ensue. Despite your request for encouragement, it seems there are always more people interested in tearing things down than building them up. Human nature I guess. As good as you are at expressing yourself, I am very much looking forward to hearing your assessment.

Yikes, I'm behind again and hungry.

we anarchists are a confusing lot.

Okay by me eBrown, I loved what Ragnar Danneskjold had to say about that. Just tell me where you want to do it (not appropriate for a thread looking for encouragement to read it because it's liable to spoil the book).

Dyslexia, I already answered that :wink: Still driving that junk by the way and still liking it. The Z3 was a waste of cash and I'll never buy another one.

Linkat, I too have devoured tons of books but this one is my absolute favorite. It helped me articulate things I knew my whole life and confirmed that I wasn't alone in the assessment.

I refrain from naysaying the book, because of its apparently positive effect on people. I think that there is a difference between decent determination and a belief that greed it good.

People also give the excuse that 'it's philosophy, not a story' for the turgidness of the prose, the stereotypical nature of its characters and its being devoid of poetry; but Nietzsche, or Plato, both very decent philosophers, made their works sing. Perhaps it were better had she written her work as plain philosophy. I don't buy it, personally, just like I don't buy into the empiricists.

I invite you all to my new thread where a debate will be appropriate - "Jesus vs. John Galt"

http://www.able2know.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=30076&highlight=

Only if you completely misunderstand the comparison.

The comparison was not intended to equate the political philosophies but to compare books that have a marked influence and especially on the less sophisticated.

As in, even if you don't believe the Bible enough daft people do that it is an important read. Kinda like Atlas Shrugged.

I am reading portions of it and have read about it extensively.

I do not have to read the entire tome to know about the idiotic logic it espouses.

Let me provide an example:

Unamed book that you have not read claims that 1+1=42356

1) You do not have to read the entire book to know that that nugget is idiotic.

2) Similarly, some of the logic espoused in Atlas Shrugged is infamously idiotic and one can learn a great deal about it based on excerpts of the book and reading exegesis thereof.