A towering philosophical novel that is the summation of her Objectivist philosophy, Ayn Rand's Atlas Shrugged is the saga of the enigmatic John Galt, and his ambitious plan to 'stop the motor of the world', published in Penguin Modern Classics. Opening with the enigmatic question 'Who is John Galt?', Atlas Shrugged envisions a world where the 'men of talent' - the great innovators, producers and creators - have mysteriously disappeared. With the US economy now faltering, businesswoman Dagny Taggart is struggling to get the ...
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A towering philosophical novel that is the summation of her Objectivist philosophy, Ayn Rand's Atlas Shrugged is the saga of the enigmatic John Galt, and his ambitious plan to 'stop the motor of the world', published in Penguin Modern Classics. Opening with the enigmatic question 'Who is John Galt?', Atlas Shrugged envisions a world where the 'men of talent' - the great innovators, producers and creators - have mysteriously disappeared. With the US economy now faltering, businesswoman Dagny Taggart is struggling to get the transcontinental railroad up and running. For her John Galt is the enemy, but as she will learn, nothing in this situation is quite as it seems. Hugely influential and grand in scope, this story of a man who stopped the motor of the world expounds Rand's controversial philosophy of Objectivism, which champions competition, creativity and human greatness. Ayn Rand (1905-82), born Alisa Rosenbaum in St. Petersburg, Russia, emigrated to America with her family in January 1926, never to return to her native land. Her novel The Fountainhead was published in 1943 and eventually became a bestseller. Still occasionally working as a screenwriter, Rand moved to New York City in 1951 and published Atlas Shrugged in 1957. Her novels espoused what came to be called Objectivism, a philosophy that champions capitalism and the pre-eminence of the individual. If you enjoyed Atlas Shrugged, you might like Rand's The Fountainhead, also available in Penguin Modern Classics. 'A writer of great power ... she writes brilliantly, beautifully, bitterly' The New York Times 'Atlas Shrugged ... is a celebration of life and happiness' Alan Greenspan
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I listened to the audio version but bought the 1957 book version for my daughter.
It's scary just how many parallels you can find in todays society. It's a good story with a powerful message that should be required reading, if not in high school at least in college. That it isn't, speaks volumes about our horrible schools &
universities. The story itself isn't finely crafted or expertly polished as some other writers of fiction that I have read but it serves as a framework for Ms. Rand to expound her theory and philosophy. There is a lot of it that could seem dated now some sixty years after its publication but that didn't bother me because of my age although todays younger generations might have a hard time imagining some of the importance or seriousness of the situations in the story.
rrnewell@gmail.com
Oct 7, 2014
Magnificent
This book, originally published in 1957, retains its relevance for the diagnosis of the ills of Western society in 2014, the poison of postmodernist nihilism, and beyond. It is a prelude to her solution of said problems, her philosophy of Objectivism. It should be read and understood by every thinking person in Western societies. Who is John Galt? It should be all of us!
rolly
Aug 15, 2013
Atlas Shrugged
I got interested in the book after seeing the two films. I am reading the entire book to compare the movie to the book. It is a long book, but I would recommend it to serious readers.
Ed K
May 9, 2013
Remarkable Book
This book should be required reading for everybody!! For a book published over half a century ago it it accurately reflects what is happening in this country today. The "1984" of our generation! Read it!!
Janet
Mar 28, 2013
Very Relevent
This story written in another era (the 50s) is so relevent to today it is almost frightening.
If you care about our freedom and what is happening to it you will be spellbound by this story.
I recommend this book to everyone who cares about our freedom/republic.
