Atlas Shrugged
- Thread starter jonnyk
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H
H2SNOW
ACCOUNT CLOSED
Atlas Shrugged is a novel by Ayn Rand, first published in 1957 in the United States. It was Rand's fourth, longest, and last novel, and she considered it her magnum opus in the realm of fiction writing.[1] As indicated by its working title The Strike, the book explores a dystopian United States where leading innovators, ranging from industrialists to artists, refuse to be exploited by society. The protagonist, Dagny Taggart, sees society collapse around her as the government increasingly asserts control over all industry, while society's most productive citizens, led by the mysterious John Galt, progressively disappear. Galt describes the strike as "stopping the motor of the world" by withdrawing the "minds" that drive society's growth and productivity; with their strike these creative minds hope to demonstrate that the economy and society would collapse without the profit motive and the efforts of the rational and productive.
The novel's title is a reference to the mythical Titan Atlas, who in the novel is said to hold the weight of the heavens on his shoulders.[2] The novel includes elements of mystery and science fiction,[3] and contains Rand's most extensive statement of Objectivism in any of her works of fiction, a lengthy monologue delivered by the strike's leader, John Galt.[4]
The theme of Atlas Shrugged is the morality of rational self-interest and portrayal of self-loathing of monetary values within a once thriving "New America". It advocates the core tenets of Rand's philosophy of Objectivism and expresses her concept of human achievement. The book explores a number of philosophical themes that Rand would subsequently develop into the philosophy of Objectivism.[5][6] It centers on the decline of Western civilization, and Rand described it as demonstrating the theme of "the role of man's mind in existence." In doing so it expresses many facets of Rand's philosophy, such as the advocacy of reason, individualism, the market economy and the failure of government.
Atlas Shrugged received largely negative reviews after its 1957 publication,[7] but achieved enduring popularity and consistent sales in the following decades. In the wake of the late 2000s recession sales of Atlas Shrugged have sharply increased, according to The Economist magazine and The New York Times. The Economist reported that the fifty-two-year-old novel ranked #33 among Amazon.com's top-selling books on 13 January, 2009[8].
just for anyone else who was wondering wtf this was about
The novel's title is a reference to the mythical Titan Atlas, who in the novel is said to hold the weight of the heavens on his shoulders.[2] The novel includes elements of mystery and science fiction,[3] and contains Rand's most extensive statement of Objectivism in any of her works of fiction, a lengthy monologue delivered by the strike's leader, John Galt.[4]
The theme of Atlas Shrugged is the morality of rational self-interest and portrayal of self-loathing of monetary values within a once thriving "New America". It advocates the core tenets of Rand's philosophy of Objectivism and expresses her concept of human achievement. The book explores a number of philosophical themes that Rand would subsequently develop into the philosophy of Objectivism.[5][6] It centers on the decline of Western civilization, and Rand described it as demonstrating the theme of "the role of man's mind in existence." In doing so it expresses many facets of Rand's philosophy, such as the advocacy of reason, individualism, the market economy and the failure of government.
Atlas Shrugged received largely negative reviews after its 1957 publication,[7] but achieved enduring popularity and consistent sales in the following decades. In the wake of the late 2000s recession sales of Atlas Shrugged have sharply increased, according to The Economist magazine and The New York Times. The Economist reported that the fifty-two-year-old novel ranked #33 among Amazon.com's top-selling books on 13 January, 2009[8].
just for anyone else who was wondering wtf this was about
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blue fluff
Well-known member
I have it, but haven't had time to read it. Want to. I keep hearing tons about it.
T
ThrillSeeker
Member
Sounds like an interesting read...
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swampwater
Well-known member
When it comes to politics and government I prefer not to read fiction especialy from an author who is, although conservative and in favor capitalism, is hostile to religion and who is in full support of abortion. She can keep her objectivisim. Swampy
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jonnyk
Member
while atlas shrugged might be fiction there are many other books by her that touch on the same principles.
Just because you don't agree on certain aspects of her thoughts, it doesn't make the rest irrelevant.
As for abortion, she's all about rational thinking. If you can't bring a baby into the world and be able to provide a nurturing, safe, and healthy environment, is it fair?
I personally don't support it, but in this world you're never going to agree with everything.
Just because you don't agree on certain aspects of her thoughts, it doesn't make the rest irrelevant.
As for abortion, she's all about rational thinking. If you can't bring a baby into the world and be able to provide a nurturing, safe, and healthy environment, is it fair?
I personally don't support it, but in this world you're never going to agree with everything.
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swampwater
Well-known member
Maybe not but I will never agree with or support anyone who supports murder of unborn children and since I am religious I will never waste my time or money with someone who is antagonistic to religion. Swampy
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Mooseknuckle
Active member
Where are you at, in the story JonnyK. Give me a one paragraph synopsis so I don't let anything out.
I have paperback and a 1957 2nd edition hardcover. It's a little like a bible for me. No disrespect Swamp, H2 and 24'Jet. I've read it cover to cover 4 times and always come away with something new.
Angelina Jolie or Demi Moore. JonnyK, what say you!
I have paperback and a 1957 2nd edition hardcover. It's a little like a bible for me. No disrespect Swamp, H2 and 24'Jet. I've read it cover to cover 4 times and always come away with something new.
Angelina Jolie or Demi Moore. JonnyK, what say you!
J
jonnyk
Member
Maybe not but I will never agree with or support anyone who supports murder of unborn children and since I am religious I will never waste my time or money with someone who is antagonistic to religion. Swampy
She's dead she doesn't need your support or money....
"Playboy: Has no religion, in your estimation, ever offered anything of constructive value to human life?
Ayn Rand: Qua religion, no - in the sense of blind belief, belief unsupported by, or contrary to, the facts of reality and the conclusions of reason. Faith, as such, is extremely detrimental to human life: it is the negation of reason. But you must remember that religion is an early form of philosophy, that the first attempts to explain the universe, to give a coherent frame of reference to man's life and a code of moral values, were made by religion, before men graduated or developed enough to have philosophy. And, as philosophies, some religions have very valuable moral points. They may have a good influence or proper principles to inculcate, but in a very contradictory context and, on a very - how should I say it? - dangerous or malevolent base: on the ground of faith"
and one more
"ever mind the vicious nonsense of claiming that an embryo has a “right to life.” A piece of protoplasm has no rights—and no life in the human sense of the term. One may argue about the later stages of a pregnancy, but the essential issue concerns only the first three months. To equate a potential with an actual, is vicious; to advocate the sacrifice of the latter to the former, is unspeakable . . . . Observe that by ascribing rights to the unborn, i.e., the nonliving, the anti-abortionists obliterate the rights of the living: the right of young people to set the course of their own lives. The task of raising a child is a tremendous, lifelong responsibility, which no one should undertake unwittingly or unwillingly. Procreation is not a duty: human beings are not stock-farm animals. For conscientious persons, an unwanted pregnancy is a disaster; to oppose its termination is to advocate sacrifice, not for the sake of anyone’s benefit, but for the sake of misery qua misery, for the sake of forbidding happiness and fulfillment to living human beings."
how can you argue with this?
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jonnyk
Member
I'm at the part where Rearden's met the pirate. Every things going to the ****ter! Dagny's quit at the railroad.
The more I read this book the more I'm drawn into. It should be mandatory reading in the school system. Wish someone would have made me read this as a kid!
Even if you don't agree with some of her other viewpoints, her ideas on capitalism are very sound and what her "fiction" was in this book written in the 50s is our reality today.
The more I read this book the more I'm drawn into. It should be mandatory reading in the school system. Wish someone would have made me read this as a kid!
Even if you don't agree with some of her other viewpoints, her ideas on capitalism are very sound and what her "fiction" was in this book written in the 50s is our reality today.
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shortstop20
Well-known member
There are plenty of people in this country(and world) who cannot have babies who are more than willing to help support a mother while she is pregnant and adopt her baby when she gives birth.
M
Mooseknuckle
Active member
JK,
So shes at the cabin?
So shes at the cabin?
H
H2SNOW
ACCOUNT CLOSED
Maybe not but I will never agree with or support anyone who supports murder of unborn children and since I am religious I will never waste my time or money with someone who is antagonistic to religion. Swampy
AMEN !!!!!!!!! "we are right they are wrong" end of story ....props to Andrew Wilkow
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Superjag
Well-known member
Awesome book. And while I, like many of you, don't agree with all of Rand's political and moral ideologies, I guarantee that many of you on this site would certainly agree with much of what is in this book.
SPOILER ALERT!!! JOHNNYK STOP READING HERE!!!!
Let me put H2Snow's summary in plain english for you. It's been a while since I last read the book, and this description might be a bit over-simplified, but you'll get the gist:
Goverment decides that it's not for the greater good that certain companies in any given industry (i.e. the companies who are hard-working, productive, and creating new, better products or services) are so succesful while other companies can not succeed. Government decides to implement measures that essentially eliminate any competeitive advantage, such as forcing companies to share their trade secrets/ patents with other companies in order to level the playing field. Now, the companies that were making money are burdened with carrying the dead-weight companies and can't thrive anymore. Result is that a good chunk of the captains of industry, inventors, scientists, etc. say, "F*ck this" and disappear to a new, hidden, society which has been created to reward hard work, creativity and ingenuity. Meanwhile, without these companies to carry the load for everyone else, the rest of society falls into economic ruin.
Tell me you don't agree with this.
SPOILER ALERT!!! JOHNNYK STOP READING HERE!!!!
Let me put H2Snow's summary in plain english for you. It's been a while since I last read the book, and this description might be a bit over-simplified, but you'll get the gist:
Goverment decides that it's not for the greater good that certain companies in any given industry (i.e. the companies who are hard-working, productive, and creating new, better products or services) are so succesful while other companies can not succeed. Government decides to implement measures that essentially eliminate any competeitive advantage, such as forcing companies to share their trade secrets/ patents with other companies in order to level the playing field. Now, the companies that were making money are burdened with carrying the dead-weight companies and can't thrive anymore. Result is that a good chunk of the captains of industry, inventors, scientists, etc. say, "F*ck this" and disappear to a new, hidden, society which has been created to reward hard work, creativity and ingenuity. Meanwhile, without these companies to carry the load for everyone else, the rest of society falls into economic ruin.
Tell me you don't agree with this.
M
Mooseknuckle
Active member
Superjag
I violently throw my wine glass into the fire in a salute to you.
Who is John Galt?
I violently throw my wine glass into the fire in a salute to you.
Who is John Galt?
D
deaner
Well-known member
M
maluchm
Well-known member
That's only one side to this controversial story.
