Atlas Shrugged

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By GenghisTheHun 05/02/2008
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This is a powerful book but is a challenge to read especially in this age when people don't read much anymore. The book came out in the late 1950's and by the time I went to college, in the early 1960's, it was everywhere. If you went to college, you know the scene. The paper edition would be seen in the dorm, the commons, the frat house, the library, the union, the....well, you know.This book had a tremendous influence on many people of my acquaintaince. I remember one stunning blonde who patterned her life after Dagny Taggart. I wish she would have considered me as John Galt, but alas, it was not to be.To sum it up in a nutshell is hard, but it is a political novel about a woman who fights a liberal philosophy government and society as she struggles to run her company, a railroad.From this novel, I have read later, Ayn Rand, put together her philosophy of Objectivism.I have to admit that I consider lots of this work as blather, but it does have a lot of truth in it about government and society. Rand condemns the moochers and looters. I recognize the breed, but in GenghisTheHun language, I call them "tit-suckers."I reject the atheistic philosophy that Rand preaches and the dog eat dog extreme free market libertarian society that she wishes.I don't know how many of you out there still read books, but you should read this one.

By kompewter 06/30/2004
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Ragnar is my favourite character. This book is awesome! But hey- who is John Gault?

By ritwingr 02/16/2004
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Stirring and life-changing. The world would be a better place if all read and understood Rand's philosophy.

By twinmom101 12/16/2003
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While I think Rand's objectivism deserves a little more recognition in this society's victim driven, what-do-I-get-out-of it mentality, I just cannot excuse her poor writing ability. Atlas Shrugged was even worse than the Fountainhead I also have a problem with the idea that man is above nature and that humanity can rise above it and dominate it. Man is a product of nature and while we can do much to manipulate things for our benefit, we cannot conquer it. This is proven every time someone dies of lung cancer from smoking or a town is leveled by a tornado. I think a lot of our sorrow and depression in modern society is caused by this separation of humanity from nature. Also, while capitalism is proven to be a lucrative system, it is not without faults. Laissez-faire will never work because there will always be someone out there taking the whole pie and ruining it for everyone else. Just ask Ken Lay and Bernie Ebbers. Objectivism, like most philosophies has some compelling arguements and makes a strong case, however, nature abhores a vacuum and people who follow Rand's preaching tooth and nail are selling themselves short. There's a lot more out there intellectually than what this woman preached.

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