Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand
 

I'm debating on whether to read this book. But after the slog I had to go through with the Iliad, I'm not sure. I'm taking a little break before reading the Odyssey.

The thread I had on here about The Iliad was quite helpful and informative and helped sustain the desire to finish that friggin' book. Which was cool. Given that, I decided to see some opinions on this book.

Sooo...

Also, a poll

Thanks

b

Re: Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand
 

I read AS in high school and fell in love with it. I even became an Objectivist for a couple of years before coming to my senses.

I don't recommend the book--not because I disagree with Rand's ideas (though I do)--but because I don't like books where every character is so clearly demarcated "good" or "evil". It reads like propaganda.

Re: Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand
 

Atlas Shrugged is a book that people adamantly love or hate... which I believe is why you should read it. Regardless, it is very thought provoking and a solid read until the end, which is pretty cryptic and long-winded, much like this sentence.

Re: Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand
 

The timing of this thread is funny for me because I just finished reading the book yesterday.

I still need time for reflection, but this could easily be the best book I have ever read.

I have a strong political and philosophical background which assisted in my enjoyment, but regardless of your own views the story is very intense and thought provoking.

I highly recommend reading this book.

-SC

Re: Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand
 

read catch 22

catch 22>>>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> atlas

Re: Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand
 

The thing is, many people think this book is the greatest thing ever right after they read it. I remember recommending it to all my friends. But as the years go on I find the core premises in the book more and more irrational in our world.

I love the discussion about children being raised without the concept of "original sin," or evil though. I really agree with her here.

Re: Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand
 

I found it to be quite thought provoking and enjoyable, although it can be very long winded at times.

Re: Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand
 

It's a good book. I didn't love it or hate it - The Fountainhead is much better IMO.

-SmileyEH

Re: Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand
 

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I found it to quite thought provoking and enjoyable, although it can be very long winded at times.

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Yeah, as much as I now dislike this book, I'm glad I read it and went through that old cycle of loving then hating it. It's never bad to read something and make your own mind up over it. However, there are millions of books to read, many of which are philosophically less dogmatic and/or better works of literature.

Re: Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand
 

I agree. Both Atlas Shrugged and The Fountainhead are worth reading. If I had to choose one, it would be The Fountainhead.

I have had more than one person tell me reading Atlas Shrugged changed their life. Not sure if that is good or bad.

Re: Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand
 

Who is John Galt?

Re: Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand
 

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Who is John Galt?

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the guy banging Dagny Taggart.

Re: Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand
 

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Who is John Galt?

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Oh and the John Galt diatribe towards the end of the book is wayyyy too long.

Re: Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand
 

So apparently allegory is over your head. Doesn't mean the book sucks.

It's a great book.

Re: Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand
 

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Who is John Galt?

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Oh and the John Galt diatribe towards the end of the book is wayyyy too long.

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Agreed. I admit I just scanned those 40 or so pages. I enjoyed her view on how a society that abandons capitalism will eventually deteriorate.

Re: Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand
 

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Who is John Galt?

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Oh and the John Galt diatribe towards the end of the book is wayyyy too long.

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It's like 10% of the book. Yuck.

Re: Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand
 

I read it and really enjoyed it before I fully understood the implications of what I was reading.

I returned to it a few years later, and was both disgusted by Ayn Rand's perspective, and bored to tears by the shoddy writing.

Also, if you've read the Fountainhead, you've already read Atlas Shrugged.

Re: Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand
 

very good book, but not ayn rand's best. fountainhead was great, and anthem is good for a quick read.

Re: Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand
 

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It's a good book. I didn't love it or hate it - The Fountainhead is much better IMO.

-SmileyEH

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Re: Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand
 

I am naming my first born Roark after the main character in the Fountainhead. Atlas didnt quite do that to me so much.

Re: Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand
 

it's a great book. it is very long winded and a lot of time you're like "ok, thanks, I get it, next..."

but it will defintely change the way you think about things, whether or not you agree with all the principle it presents - I, for one, don't. But I certainly look at things differently having read it.

Re: Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand
 

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So apparently allegory is over your head. Doesn't mean the book sucks.

It's a great book.

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Yeah this is a good illustration of the effect it seems to have on some people.

Grow the [censored] up. Someone not sharing your view that a work of literature (such as it is) is awesome is not sufficient grounds to question their intelligence.

Re: Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand
 

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The Fountainhead is much better IMO.



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Ayn Rand's philosophies sound great when you're a teenager who thinks he's smarter than everyone else and that people should respect you for it. As you get older, you realize this isn't how the world works. The Fountainhead is much better because it is more about how you should personally strive to be a great, talented person. Atlas Shrugged is kind of about how society should get out of the way of these great people and let them run things, which is ridiculous in reality because even smart people are motivated by self-interest.

Re: Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand
 

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The Fountainhead is much better IMO.



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Ayn Rand's philosophies sound great when you're a teenager who thinks he's smarter than everyone else and that people should respect you for it. As you get older, you realize this isn't how the world works. The Fountainhead is much better because it is more about how you should personally strive to be a great, talented person. THe Fountainhead is kind of about how society should get out of the way of these great people and let them run things, which is ridiculous in reality because even smart people are motivated by self-interest.

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You completely missed the point of these books.

Re: Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand
 

How so? Care to explain what I'm missing? Obviously I'm overgeneralizing but I'd like to hear what you have to say. I haven't read these books in years, so I admit my recollections could be off.

Re: Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand
 

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The Fountainhead is much better IMO.



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Ayn Rand's philosophies sound great when you're a teenager who thinks he's smarter than everyone else and that people should respect you for it. As you get older, you realize this isn't how the world works. The Fountainhead is much better because it is more about how you should personally strive to be a great, talented person. Atlas Shrugged is kind of about how society should get out of the way of these great people and let them run things, which is ridiculous in reality because even smart people are motivated by self-interest.

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The other thing is that when Rand wrote The Fountainhead she was still flesching out her personal philosophy. I agree that the Fountainhead is much more about personal growth, self esteem etc. and less about the grand implications of how she thinks people should behave and her subsequent hero worship of the top 2% or whatever. I found Fountainhead uplifting but Atlas Shrugged made me much more jaded.

-SmileyEH

Re: Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand
 

There are too many great and/or important works to waste time digesting Ayn Rand's mental vomit.

Re: Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand
 

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How so? Care to explain what I'm missing? Obviously I'm overgeneralizing but I'd like to hear what you have to say.

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1. The books are not about how the world works. We all realize this isn't how the world works. The books are about how the world should work.

2. The Fountainhead is not about getting out of anybody's way and letting them run things. And a major point, if not the major point, is that these people should look out for their own self interest. Everyone should. This is not a problem that is ignored by the philosophy. It is the cornerstone of it.

I'm not arguing the validity of the philosophy, just your take on the books seemed a little off. Maybe it was just the way you communicated it, or maybe I misunderstood what you were saying.

Re: Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand
 

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I am naming my first born Roark after the main character in the Fountainhead.

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Your kid better get used to hearing:
Ha Ha! Your dad's an [censored]!

Re: Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand
 

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I am naming my first born Roark after the main character in the Fountainhead.

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Not for Roark's Formulas for Stress and Strain? This would be much better. This book rules.

Re: Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand
 

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2. The Fountainhead is not about getting out of anybody's way and letting them run things.

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He didn't say that's what Fountainhead was about. He was referring to Atlas Shrugged.


His Fountainhead quote:
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The Fountainhead is much better because it is more about how you should personally strive to be a great, talented person.

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b

Re: Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand
 

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2. The Fountainhead is not about getting out of anybody's way and letting them run things.

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He didn't say that's what Fountainhead was about. He was referring to Atlas Shrugged.

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That's what I meant. That's not what it's about.

Fountainhead a better read?
 

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It's a good book. I didn't love it or hate it - The Fountainhead is much better IMO.

-SmileyEH

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I've noticed a few giving this opinion so I'm wondering if I do read one of Rands books, if maybe I should read Fountainhead instead.

I've also heard that she didn't use an editor which can make it tough to read. Is one book better in this regard than the other?

b

Re: Fountainhead a better read?
 

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I've noticed a few giving this opinion so I'm wondering if I do read one of Rands books, if maybe I should read Fountainhead instead.

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The Fountainhead is a much better read.

Re: Fountainhead a better read?
 

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I've noticed a few giving this opinion so I'm wondering if I do read one of Rands books, if maybe I should read Fountainhead instead.

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The Fountainhead is a much better read.

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It is a better read, but I think Atlas Shrugged is probably the better book.

That probably doesn't make much sense, but at least I know what I'm trying to say. [img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

Re: Fountainhead a better read?
 

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I've noticed a few giving this opinion so I'm wondering if I do read one of Rands books, if maybe I should read Fountainhead instead.

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The Fountainhead is a much better read.

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It is a better read, but I think Atlas Shrugged is probably the better book.

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Disagree, but to each his own. To those wanting to read Rand, read Fountainhead first then give her other stuff a shot. The fountainhead is one of my favorite books.

-SmileyEH

Re: Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand
 

If it wasn't the size of four Bibles, it would be better.

Re: Fountainhead a better read?
 

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It is a better read, but I think Atlas Shrugged is probably the better book.

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One is a better story, but the other doesn't suffer as much from lack of an editor?

b

Re: Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand
 

It's a good book. I say read it. I enjoyed it a lot. It's long, but that's not a problem because you will be able to tell pretty quickly whether you are into it or not. If you hate the book after 150 pages, you are going to hate the rest of it, so you might as well stop there. If you like the book, then its length isn't a problem anyway.

I haven't read Fountainhead. People I know who are into Ayn Rand claim that it is the better book. On the other hand, it is less famous and influential, so if the reason you are reading this is for cultural literacy rather than purely for enjoyment, Atlas Shrugged might still be the better choice.

Re: Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand
 

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f the reason you are reading this is for cultural literacy

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This seems like a terrible reason to read a book.

-SmileyEH