Atlas Shrugged

[MrKoreanguy]

Ugh. I'm 10% way through this massive book. So far, it's pretty interesting. Should I finish it or just stop now? I've been fascinated by Ayn Rand's Objectivism because of BioShock. Yes, I admit it. I started looking her stuff up after I played BioShock.

So for anyone who read this: Is this book worth finishing?

[Vaikyuko]

I'd say no, but I hate Rand.

[Amuro]

If you've ever had any interest in the profession of architect, try The Fountainhead. For one, it's a little shorter than Atlas Shrugged, which I haven't read. Second, I believe that The Fountainhead is a little less over-the-top and in-your-face with its ideology based on what I've heard of Atlas Shrugged. Atlas Shrugged seems to be much more of a parable or satire of sorts (neither of those terms quite fits, but it's a valid statement). Reading plot summaries caused me to think of Dr. Strangelove.

I think it's worth pointing something out that you violated Ayn Rand's ideology by asking our opinion about whether or not you should read the book. If you slave through it because it's considered a "good book" or "a masterpiece" by popular opinion, you've also violated her ideology.

Then again, it might be said that Ayn Rand violated her own ideology by trying to convince people that her ideas are right in the first place, though her characters sort-of did that too.

[JoeStrummer]

Heh, I wouldn't say that, her characters don't try to convince, they just offer an idea. Or that's how I seen it anyway. I loved the book, I suggest you keep reading it an get an opinion on it yourself

[CrossboneGundam]

If you've ever had any interest in the profession of architect, try The Fountainhead. For one, it's a little shorter than Atlas Shrugged, which I haven't read. Second, I believe that The Fountainhead is a little less over-the-top and in-your-face with its ideology based on what I've heard of Atlas Shrugged. Atlas Shrugged seems to be much more of a parable or satire of sorts (neither of those terms quite fits, but it's a valid statement). Reading plot summaries caused me to think of Dr. Strangelove.

I think it's worth pointing something out that you violated Ayn Rand's ideology by asking our opinion about whether or not you should read the book. If you slave through it because it's considered a "good book" or "a masterpiece" by popular opinion, you've also violated her ideology.

Then again, it might be said that Ayn Rand violated her own ideology by trying to convince people that her ideas are right in the first place, though her characters sort-of did that too.

Ayn Rand has nothing to do with architecture, as architecture involves designing structures that will shelter human beings and not fall down on them, which is diametrically opposed to everything she believed in.

Neo-social darwinism should have died with her, at any rate.

[JoeStrummer]

^ Why should it die?

[UberDirector]

Yes, finish the book. Then laugh in wonder at the obvious parallels to modern society. When an refugee from the Soviet Union can so accurately predict the slow decay and collapse of western society, we should be worried. Instead, we expedite the process by stealing the fruits of others labor. Oh vicious irony

[Bernard_Monsha]

Yes, finish the book. Then laugh in wonder at the obvious parallels to modern society. When an refugee from the Soviet Union can so accurately predict the slow decay and collapse of western society, we should be worried. Instead, we expedite the process by stealing the fruits of others labor. Oh vicious irony

Meh, turgid mental detritus from a frigid lesbian is not high on my recommendation list.

[UberDirector]

Meh, turgid mental detritus from a frigid lesbian is not high on my recommendation list.

Maybe not... but what does it say for our society when it has become a foreign and elusive concept that it's a bad thing to punish those who are willing and able to provide so much that they up and leave?

[JoeStrummer]

What's wrong with lesbians? I happen to like the libertarianism of it all

[Samurai Drifter]

I think you should pick up "Anthem," it's the only Ayn Rand book I've read so far but I really liked it.

Objectivism has a lot going for it, at least in terms of social ideas. I'm not sure I entirely agree with the metaphysical claims.

[CrossboneGundam]

^ Why should it die?

Because it's nothing more than a "moral" justification for the rich and powerful to abuse and exploit the poor and powerless.

[tenshi_a]

I was urged to read some Ayn Rand by a friend of mine, some years ago. She wanted me to read Atlas Shrugged. But I couldn't find a copy so I started reading The Fountainhead. I quite like the design principle of putting practicality and useability first, in terms of architecture, as a software engineer. Then this friend of mine sent me a copy of Atlas Shrugged so I stopped reading The Fountainhead and started with that.

It was the exact same book, but worse. I don't actually disagree with her idea that eliteism is good and communism is bad, but she's an abysmal writer. I mean, that's all she has to say and yet she spends hundreds of pages saying the exact same thing in the hope it'll brainwash readers. She starts off chapters going "well X was going to happen" and then spends the chapter doing exactly what was described in the first paragraph. She doesn't live up to her ideal in the slightest. If she did, she would be writing GREAT stuff, and it would be DIRECT to the point, EFFICIENT, UN-WASTEFUL, and yet her writing is crap, dull, repetitive, lacking innovation, lacking twists, lacking entertainment, chapters falling down crushed under their own weight and lack of speed, chapters not existing to get a new idea across but the same old idea that's been hanging around the last 600 pages... and if even she can't live up to her own ideals... her own two-dimensional ideal... and falls so clearly on the side she believes errs, well, what is it worth?

So I gave up reading both books.

[UberDirector]

Because it's nothing more than a "moral" justification for the rich and powerful to abuse and exploit the poor and powerless.

Really?

So would you say that Hank Reardon abused his workers?

How would you classigy Dagny Taggarts relationship with her workers?

It occurs to me that all the people represented as successful industrialists all treated their workers better than those with failing industries.

[Samurai Drifter]

Because it's nothing more than a "moral" justification for the rich and powerful to abuse and exploit the poor and powerless.
That is not what Rand was advocating. She suggested that everyone live for themselves. "I will live for no one else, nor shall I ask anyone else to live for me."

In abiding by this principle, exploitation is impossible.

[Amuro]

Crossbone's just pissed because if he'd followed his dream to become a movie director, he'd have ended up homeless because he's not good enough..

(if you take that statement literally or seriously, you have my sympathies)

[Hara!]

I'm Objectivist

Son Of A ***** Altruist

Altruist Is Pig

Do You Want A Charity?

Do You Want A Social Program?

Altruist Is Pig Disgusting

Immanuel Kant Is A Murderer

****ing U.S.S.R.

[Illusions-chan]

Umm.. I've read Atlas Shrugged, Anthem, and The Virtue of Selfishness.

I loved Anthem for its simplicity and beautiful message. I thought it was very well written and the whole idea appealed to me.

However, I read Atlas Shrugged after and had to write a research paper about it. I ended up only using the first hundred pages for the paper because it is too big of a book. I mean, I understand the message, but I think Altas Shrugged tried too hard to put the message out there that you began to ignore it because it was repeated in too many ways, too many times. I felt like more than half of the book could have been edited out.

As for The Virtue of Selfishness, it was great when it was her own writing because it was non-fiction and therefore, there was no character drama obscuring or distracting from the message. However, as soon as her protege began to write, I thought it became skewed because his point of view is a little too different from hers. He tries to emulate her, but as I read it, I felt that he didn't totally agree with her, so his parts felt out of place.

I mean, I understand why some hate her work. But I think if you're going to read her work, read Anthem or Fountainhead. Atlas Shrugged is better skipped and The Virtue of Selfishness is only worth the read if you agree with her philosophy.

[Caine]

I find the book quite fascinating. I can't understand the following:
1) treatment of Eddie Willers. He is acknowledged as a worthy man, but he is left to rot
2) How anyone lives. If weapons like project x go awry, why not nukes?
3) the use of force. Nat Taggart never used force to build his business. He probably killed a man who stood in the way of his business, thus intimidating others to stand down. She defends the deaths of those on the train that inadvisably goes through the tunnel, and the beating of those who disagree with John Galt is tolerated.
4) What the strike accomplishes. I mean, is the end of the world really worth all that effort?