Is Atlas Shrugged Worth the Long Read?

[stand@desk]

I've wanted to read Atlas Shrugged for a long time but know its a a very long read at 1000+ pages. I thought that many on the Forums may have likely read the book.

Is it worth the time investment or should I stick to the quotes pages of Ayn Rand instead and save myself the trouble of going to the library?

And on a side note, is there a specific Ayn Rand Quote that is most meaningful to you and has stuck with you and formed your beliefs and ideals?

[jacob]

Ha! These "is it worth the read" threads are kinda funny to me. About 95% of the books I read are not worth the read. As for the last 5%, it might be that just picking up one sentence or a particular phrasing makes it worth the read. If I read a book which contains nothing I haven't seen before but which makes me think or rethink of a good idea, it was worth it.

So, yeah, Atlas Shrugged is definitely worth the read.

[riparian]

+1 for worth it.

[Felix]

As a bad example of armchair philosophy and a uniquely clear view into the heart of psychopathy, yes. Beware of the side effects. If you look long enough into the abyss, the abyss looks back into you.

[riparian]

Did anybody else read it and not get that it was about capitalism at all? I srsly just thought it was about codependence.

[Chad]

It's a fantasy devoid of reality, but it's worth reading because so many people talk about it.

However, if you only plan on reading one Ayn Rand book read "The Fountainhead." Her writing is far far better in it than in Atlas Shrugged. Plus, I have always thought "The Fountainhead" was more about being true to yourself, while Atlas Shrugged doesn't do that message well with it's ham-handed attempt to vilify 90% of the population.

As a bad example of armchair philosophy and a uniquely clear view into the heart of psychopathy, yes. Beware of the side effects. If you look long enough into the abyss, the abyss looks back into you.

+1

[Chad]

Did anybody else read it and not get that it was about capitalism at all? I srsly just thought it was about codependence.

I can see that, though I didn't when I read it. I saw the "greatness" of selfishness she pandered for a while, but more thought identified the gaping holes in her philosophy.

[Spartan_Warrior]

+1 Chad and Felix. As if the writing weren't bad enough, the philosophy behind it IMO is laughable to the point of parody.

I've actually been toying with the idea of writing such a parody, a sort of Atlas Shrugged in reverse--workers learn about ERE lifestyles, stop selling their time to buy useless garbage they don't need, the John Galts run out of wage slaves to exploit and the REAL "motor of the world" stops running. Probably won't write it, not my kind of thing. But I believe Rand's version is equally silly--and I say that as a writer of swords and sorcery fantasy and monster horror.

[Felix]

@SpartanWarrior:
1) http://www.amazon.com/Atlas-Drugged-Ayn ... 933&sr=8-1
2) http://www.amazon.com/Sewer-Gas-Electri ... 049&sr=8-1

[workathome]

I think her critique of human idiocy is really great. When it comes to her gold-plated fantasy world and fantasy sex life, not so much.

[jacob]

Hehehe, so socialism=codependency ... oh snap!

As it happens, Atlas Shrugged also functions as a litmus test of the reader's political beliefs. I have yet to see anyone who leans left have anything nice to say about it. Conversely, people who lean right tend to worship this book... until they get a little more life experience.

Keep in mind that the stereotyped characters (archetypes) are actually part of the Randian aesthetics where art is supposed to show ideal/perfect versions of some underlying concept. Interpreting the book like this makes it look more like the philosophical statement it is than a dystopian spacerock epic.

PS: I also like Fountainhead better. Fountainhead depicts an individual struggling against society. Atlas Shrugged covers the whole of society at once and this is very hard to do well.

[Felix]

So Atlas Shrugged tests for people who lean right and have little life experience ... sounds about right.

[Chad]

Hehehe, so socialism=codependency ... oh snap!

That would be amusing. Though, my first thought was Daggny and Galt.

[workathome]

Hehehe, so socialism=codependency ... oh snap!

That would be amusing. Though, my first thought was Daggny and Galt.

Hah! I misread his comment as "no socialism=codependency" at first and thought the same thing.

[jennypenny]

As it happens, Atlas Shrugged also functions as a litmus test of the reader's political beliefs.

I've never read Atlas Shrugged, but now I'm really tempted. It would be interesting to see what my reaction is since I tend to be completely neutral about political issues.

[Chad]

As it happens, Atlas Shrugged also functions as a litmus test of the reader's political beliefs.

I've never read Atlas Shrugged, but now I'm really tempted. It would be interesting to see what my reaction is since I tend to be completely neutral about political issues.

[skintstudent]

If you do read it, please do tell me whether there is anything new in John Galt's final speech. I lost the will to finish reading it! "If something is repeated often enough it becomes tedious" was the main message I took from Atlas Shrugged! Had it stopped 600 pages earlier I may have taken away the author's intended message.

Is Fountainhead any more readable?

[Felix]

You're not the only one who feels that way.

Yes, Fountainhead is more readable. Less redundant monologue and less cardboard-like characters.

[Seneca]

Like Jacob said, it's a great litmus test. Despite (or maybe in spite of) the protestations of certain groups, it's important enough in pop culture to be worth the read*. It's actually a pretty fast read for the length, not Tom Clancy 1000pg fast, not War and Peace slow.


(*Assuming like most on the site you read lots of books, and not one a year)

[Dragline]

Worth the read? Probably depends upon your other reading options. Certainly better than just not reading. As others have mentioned, Fountainhead is probably the more efficient approach.

On the other hand, just because you start reading a book doesn't mean you have to finish it. Or can't come back to it later.

A biography of Ayn Rand would probably be a way more interesting read, though. Here are a couple recent ones: "Goddess of the Market" by Jennifer Burns and "Ayn Rand and the World She Made" by Anne Heller. A good biographer will not only give you a summary of the subject's work but put it into context of what it means and why it was written. It might also tell you whether you want to invest the time in the 1000+ pages.

A little OT, but one of the best books I've read about philosophy in the past few years was simply a set of 12 biographical sketches: http://www.amazon.com/Examined-Lives-Ni ... 125000232X