Is Atlas Shrugged Worth Reading?

You guys really wanted a full review for this book, so here it is, despite me feeling super underqualified to talk about Ayn Rand's philosophy. What are your thoughts on Atlas Shrugged and Objectivism?

Where else to find me?

Outro song by Future James:

0:00 Intro + Disclaimer
1:03 What is Atlas Shrugged about?
2:45 Introducing the Capitalists
5:08 Jumping to the ending... (spoilers)
7:50 Who is John Galt? Philosophy and Atlas Shrugged
12:46 Is Atlas Shrugged Worth reading?

[zendanceprojectarchanharmo]

“There are two novels that can change a bookish fourteen-year old’s life: The Lord of the Rings and Atlas Shrugged . One is a childish fantasy that often engenders a lifelong obsession with its unbelievable heroes, leading to an emotionally stunted, socially crippled adulthood, unable to deal with the real world. The other, of course, involves orcs.” – John Rogers

[digitalphoenix]

I absolutely love your objective, and balanced approach to both extremes of the political systems in question. I had to dig a lot to find your channel (searching for atlas shrugged reviews), but you have a new sub for sure. Listening to you actually gives me some comfort, we're not all crazy (those being balanced and not extreme).

[DavidWiley]

Fun fact: I read this about 12 years ago, and enjoyed and agreed with most of her ideas. That fall I took a Philosophy course, and got my worst grade ever on a paper because I chose to write about Ayn Rand and the professor vehemently disagreed with her philosophies. He's probably long forgotten about me, but I'll never forget him and how his own biased opinion dictated how he graded things. I didn't make the same mistake on future assignments and ended up doing okay in the course...

[douglasscott]

The book is relevant in today's political climate, and is a great study of human nature and bureaucratic systems

[mornnb]

Victorian era factories weren't fixed by regulation. They were fixed by competition for labour driving improving conditions in factories. As economy grows demand for labour increases and companies must fight each other to gain the necessary skills and employees. Which results in rising wages and improving conditions.

[nedmerrill]

I think part of what Ayn Rand was saying was, you must trust your own mind and perceptions. Our rational mind is our only guide towards reality. It is wrong to let other people coerce you into what to think or what to believe. That Objective Reality exists. This is why she hated the philosophy of Immanuel Kant so much; Kant said that what you see was _phenomena_ and wasn't real, but was a shadow of _noumena, _ or true reality that we cannot have direct knowledge of.

[Kwippy]

There are two reasons why it may be worth your while to read this book:
1 If you seek approval and reinforcement of your selfish tendencies, or
2 If you seek to understand the minds of people like Ted Cruz for whom Rynd provides their "moral" compass.

[luuk]

It's such a good book. Not hard to read and grasping the attention. If you want an easier read then her Fountainhead is also good. In these book it's clear what you can do for you and what happens if you sacrifice that part for the collective disappearing into nothing.

[MaximilianMorkramer]

Beautiful, nouance. Thanks for the honesty

[Yesica]

11:00
"Ayn Rand doesn't seem to understand humanity. And I think that is the lacking part of Atlas Shrugged, is she creates these characters that are very much her philosophy as opposed to real people."

Yes! I can't tell you how many times I wanted to scream, "Real people don't talk this way. Real people don't act this way." I mean, the speechifying! How long did the JG speech last? An entire chapter? It just went on and on and on. It felt like it would never end. WE GET IT, ALREADY!

I'm not sure if I said this in a different comment, but she did change my view of cities. I grew up in Chicago but was enamored of The Country. I blame it on too much Little House On the Prairie, both the books and TV show. Obviously, that's all romanticized. It was a brutal life. I wouldn't last a week. I didn't know that as a child. I thought it was all Pa fiddling by the fire and eating sugar snow. I hated the city. Rand made me see cities as the amazing things that they are. People with skills took raw earth and somehow built roads, electrical grids, plumbing systems, buildings, yes, railroads - everything! - so that people could live more comfortably. Set me in a field and again, I would die in a few days. I think of that to this day, especially when I ride the train and see our skyline. For that, I do thank her.

Thanks for this. It brought back memories. I can't recall another book that I have hated and yet loved in about equal measure. I may torment myself by reading it again someday. Maybe. The thing is, the setup is pretty cool, as are some of the characters. Like you, I just wish they had been more better developed instead of being (mostly) cardboard cutouts to spout her speeches. This is one instance where I'd be open to some sort of remake/rewrite/reboot.

I'm no expert in Rand either. But it seems she couldn't make up her mind whether she wanted to write a novel or a political treatise. She tried to do both here and it shows. If she'd gone with novel and been way less heavy handed, it could have been different. At least it seems to anger both sides - those that wanted a novel and those that wanted a political treatise. That's some skillz, for sure. :)

[robertm]

In socialism, when you give the government enough power to distribute some of your wealth, it just happens to be the same amount of power to take all your wealth.
That it’s challenging is why you should read it.
Enjoyed your review though.

[EntertheBook]

I skipped the middle of this video and I will keep this on my tbr pile and may make this a mammoth read one year. Thanks for the thoughts!

[eddiecorado]

I enjoyed your objective approach, I’m finishing a couple of books but I wanted to start this book, as it’s been setting on my bookshelf for a year now. Considering I am interested in books with morals or philosophy in the background as a basis, I think I’ll start with one of her slightly easier reads. 1200 pages of political philosophical story telling seems overwhelming after reading a lot of other books on philosophy, religion and politics. 😂 Thank you! I look forward to reading it eventually, and same, I actually enjoy reading books that I don’t always agree with, a lot of times it keeps my brain ticking and interested.

[Indivisible_Individual]

Thanks for your unique dissection of Alas Shrugged. You are obviously very smart and took your time to understand the philosophy. As I’m sure you realized in making this video, there is a lot to unpack in her philosophy. I would suggest not writing it off too quickly, but maybe keep it in mind when you think of the problems of current events. Also, something to remember about child labor and exhaustively long working days early in the Industrial Revolution. The Industrial Revolution didn’t create those problems, it inherited them from a less capitalistic era in which poverty and starvation were the norm. In reality, the freedom of capitalism and the unleashing of individual creativity led to innovation, rising living standards and the elimination of child labor and the necessity of long working hours.

[streetcop]

I have read it multiple times because it's a well written story with interesting characters, that warns of allowing government to get too greedy. I have always ignored the Objectivism preaching in the Galt speaks chapter.

[attention]

Oh good! I am glad you did end up doing a review of this one. Though I do not agree with her ideas at all (and agree, extremes on both sides end in places no one should want to be in), I rarely hear people actually reading her. It is strange, because I typically agree with those who criticize her, but those same people will say they never read her. Haha. But, it is good to read the side you disagree with, it will strengthen your own beliefs. 😊

[KubikFineBooks]

We're proud of you for finishing this one 😂

[patrickkennedy]

12:05 You do understand, in the late game of the book, All of the Capitalist left the market. The Capitalist made thier utopia. And left us to suffer with the mouchers. Bow down to your freckles overloards.

[gregharn]

Regarding the title: Only if you believe you can & should run your life, better than anyone else could.

[designforlife]

And yet, almost all the great industrialists, innovators and creators that are alive share the traits of Reardon and Dagney