Atlas Shrugged

[Dr. Gonzo]

I'm not really sure how this forum works...but do I suggest a book?

Because if so...I think that this book by Ayn Rand would be a great book club book. It is a little lengthy...but a very quick read.

Anyway I think it would be a good topic for discussion her individualism and objectivist philosophy.

I don't agree with everything she has to say, but I admire her greatly...

...any thoughts?

[Iluvatar]

At one point, we voted on a book for the club to read, read it, and discussed. As it is, it's sort of defunct. I was considering trying to take on the task of revitalizing it, but I realized I'd have to give up sleep or food if I were to take on any more commitments in life right now. Witness the recent lack of poetry contests or posting of any sort on my part.

Anyways, since we aren't running an official club at the moment, this may as well be a general purpose book discussion forum.

As for Atlas Shrugged, I wouldn't argue it as a quick read by any means. It's definitely a good book, and a great way to acquaint yourself with one of the better capitalist writers out there. I called Rand a capitalist writer, though the term is not entirely accurate; she has her own philosophy of "Objectivism", which seems to promote a very libertarian style of life. I've not spent the time to research it very thoroughly outside of reading a few Rand novels.

I would definitely recommend AS over "The Fountainhead". AS is more an argument against the socialist ideals, while The Fountainhead is more one for independence and intellectual self-sufficiency. They have a similar feel to them, though, and the roots of AS can be felt in Fountainhead.

AS does start out a bit slowly, as I recall, as it sets up the mood and setting. Overall, though, this is one of my favorite books.

As a side note, I had always wondered if a movie could possibly do justice to this book; perhaps I might yet find out (To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 3 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.).

[invictus33]

I wish I could say more, but I can only just put in a third vote for reading this book. If you want to see the ideas and philosophy of Ayn Rand put in action then this is a must read. I can't agree that this is a quick read, but once you get sucked into the action and plot of this book its hard to put down. In the realm of true novels I rank this book second only to Les Miserables (unabridged version of course!), and overall its one of the most well written books I've come across.

[Trendem]

I've heard that it is better for one to read The Fountainhead first before reading Atlas. Is that true?

[starcreator]

I've only read Atlas, and it's very persuasive and eloquent. Anyone who is politically interested would enjoy it, and I think it would make an interesting Book Club book. The only snag would be its length; at 1000 pages, with most of us having busy lifestyles, I don't think we'd get to discussing it any time soon ;).

[chadn737]

I found the Fountainhead to be the far more interesting read, Atlas Shrugged was good for a time, but it just drags on for so long I quickly grew tired of it.

[Dr. Gonzo]

Yeah...I agree it can drag on, but I think that the faster you read it, the more enjoyable it is.

[Ibelsd]

Atlas Shrugged was the most influential novel I have read. I am among those who am pretty excited that a movie is being made. Perhaps, it will get her work and ideas into the common vernacular.

[starcreator]

I'm excited about the movie too. I hope some of her ideas come into the mainstream; the far left is becoming far too prevalent in certain political arenas. On the other hand, I hope certain other ideas stay in the book they came from.

[Iluvatar]

I dunno about the movie; I could easily see them stripping out a lot of the philosophy to make it appeal to a broader audience.

[ChrisTC]

I think a better title would have been 'Atlas Yawned'. I must confess to never having finished this book, or to even conquering a large portion of it. I found her writing style almost as tiring as her philosophy and from a guy who has read Caxton translations thats pretty damning.

[starcreator]

She is very repetitive. I guess she wanted to make sure we got the point :P.

[Iluvatar]

The writing does start out a bit slow for the first 1/5th of the book or so, but it picks up a bit. The 50 page monologue (by d'Anconia or Galt, can't recall which) is rather repetitive, but I think the story itself is decently paced.

Rand does tend to paint the world in very black and white terms, though. Everyone is either a workaholic capitalist hero or a socialist sloth in AS.

[starcreator]

The 50 page monologue (by Galt) is, actually, one of my favourite parts of the book. It turns the tone from narrative to philosophical. Some of the other parts of the book are rather tedious, though. Dagny wonders to herself why the capitalists are quitting for 500 pages while the Strikers hint at it, directly and constantly.

You're right, she is pretty black and white in the way she described the future USA (or past, I suppose). The reason why the novel disturbed me is that it didn't account for people who were where they were for reasons other than their merit or lack thereof.

[Stealth]

I actually much preferred We the Living to Atlas Shrugged. The former was shorter, which was nice, and much better written, I felt.