Atlas Shrugged- The greatest book in the world!

[tedrulez]

Boring static characters

As a writer, I get a bit sick of her static characters. She likes to set up two polar opposites and then let them have their way with each other. There is no middle character that could swing either way, and she doesn't seem to care. In Rand's view, a person is born as either a perfect creator or a perfect looter. I've read "The Fountainhead" and am reading "Atlast Shrugged". For some reason, I get the feeling that I know everything that is going to happen. She prides herself on living a life similar to that depicted of her characters, but I often wonder whether or not she spent it in fantasy, repeating the same thing for thousands of pages.

No man can live up to her standards. I get tired. I get addicted to things while I'm fully conscious of the fact. I can't so easily jump to conclusions on the purpose of my life because I fear I might fall into the same trap she has.

 

[bcboyee]

should i read......

should i read For the New Intellectual by Ayn Rand before I read the Fountainhead and Atlas Shrugged? I havent gotten a copy of the other two , but i work in a bookstore and have For the New Int..... in my hand.... It seems to be a summary , or introduction to all of her books......

So should i read this before i read the other two?

 

[Tiandan007]

Her Philosophy ?

Can someone tell me what the fuss is about with her books? I've heard of them but never picked one up. Can I get a brief synopsis on what one book is about? Why has it changed your life? Thanks.

 

[LionFox]

I'm reading Atlas for the first time thanks to this thread, and I must say, I find it to be one of the better novels I've read in a long, long time.

I think it's very ballsy the way she defends her beliefs and attacks socialism in just a straight-forward matter. I can't remember a book that beats you over the head with it's theme on every page, relentlessly.

Although, I do agree with Chicago_one about it being culty. But then, what philosophy isn't?

But, I definately see the valid reasoning behind her ideas such as
living for your own self-intrest. In fact I highly agree. I've always answered the question What is the meaning of life? by saying life is about ME, so I dig her work. That being said, Rand carries it to
it's most extreme, but logical, conclusionn, I think, in part, for artistic principles.

 

[Ricky]

It is a damn long book. I'll buy it after I finish the other 3 books I'm reading now in addition to my college classwork.

 

[Capitol39]

It's a great book. Plus, I find Ayn Rand incredibly sexy.

 

[Tiandan007]

Atlas Shrugged

Can someone on this board tell me what's so great about this/her book (s) ??? You don't have to write a report, I'm curious because I never read any of them. Thanks.

 

[Ricky]

Go to the bookstore and take a look at it. Unless you have alot of free time or don't have anything else to read currently, you might want to get the Cliff notes.

I've read some pretty long books (Dostoesky's Crime and Punishment and many other books that are close to 1000 pages, Steven Kings the Stand). But this one has very fine print and is ~1000 pages.

 

[Jack Lance]

Jack Lance

okay, u r right chicago#one about me dismissing u as a communist just because u object to her writings. i concede it was a bit "if u r not with us, u r against us"

but u call her as the leader of a cult (what defines a cult? that's just rhetoric) and from ur posts it seems that u don't really understand her philosopy although u seem to imply u do. Rand's ideas were completely anti-Hobbes, contrary to what u said.

Rand said in her writings that she doesn't want her readers to follow her blindly. Instead, she wishes readers to develop a rational philosophical framework so they can make up their minds and formulate their own philosophical ideas and not become so easily influenced by other people's ideas. Rand was a champion of individualism, she wanted people to think objectively, not be forced to think by the point of a gun.

And you say that Rand's writings were poorly written. Hey, do u expect her to be Shakepeare? She was Russian and English wasn't even her first language, so I think she did quite well churning out her books.

I don't think George Orwell was any better with his political writings either. Did u know the most read books by the ruling authorities in the Soviet Russian era were Orwell's writings, because he wrote how to manipulate the people and stay in power, although that wasn't his intended purpose.

Rand wants us to see that the world is a place where u should live for ur own happiness and u can control ur own destiny instead of letting other people control u.

America's economy grew at such a surprising rate in the first 200 years because it prospered in a free economy without taxes and a highly regulatory & fiscal policy driven government. Being a non-American, I'm just surprised how Americans could have forgotten the reasons why they fought the War of Independence and how they could have allowed their governments to enroach upon their freedom.

Anyway, that's just my contribution to keep this thread alive.

I'd like to hear ur philosophy on life chicago#one...I'm open to any new insights. i might even join ur cult one day...kidding.

 

[Jack Lance]

As a writer, I get a bit sick of her static characters. She likes to set up two polar opposites and then let them have their way with each other. There is no middle character that could swing either way, and she doesn't seem to care.

Well, she is trying to make a point u know.

But that's not entirely true. In "We The Living", the characters' identities and philosophies change...polar opposites switch sides and the man you believe is the hero ends up a loser.