Book Review: Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand

I can't even begin to tell you how much I didn't want to read Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand. It felt like a mountain that I would never be able to climb. But then, I realized that life is about overcoming challenges and reaching your goals.

'Cause baby there ain't no mountain high enough
Ain't no valley low enough
(not even Galt's Gulch)
Ain't no river wide enough
To keep me from finishing Atlas Shrugged!

Atlas Shrugged is the longest book I have ever read in my life. And I can officially say that I finished the book, and I'm glad I read it! In this book review, there will not be too many spoilers because I want to encourage you to embark on the reading journey of discovery like I did. I hope that I can convince you to try reading Atlas Shrugged for the first time or to pick it up again after it has been sitting on your shelf for years. Whatever you do, keep chugging along and don't give up!

CONNECT WITH STEFFI

#AtlasShrugged #AynRand #WhoIsJohnGalt

[paytonmcdermott]

I have objectively concluded, using sophisticated analytical methods, that this book is best read as satire.

[ratcheteight]

This book changed my life. The way I view society, person, government, myself, mystics and many more

[IndSovU]

I've read the speech twice and the book five times. Those ideas are embodied in the actions of the characters.
The average American "earns" about two million dollars in a 40-year career and gets to keep very little of it. Taxation is theft. Ragnar was right.

[oggarbagetea]

You ever say "who is John Golt?" in a normal conversation just to check if anyone else has read this book? Probably just me 😢

[jermaineconcern]

I just finished it last week, never thought i could ever finish it either. But i did 100 pages a day. Couldn't put it down. It really shines in 2020

[ohla]

I'm still reading it and I haven't picked it up in months. Congrats to finishing it, I'll get to it ;)

[rickvannorman]

I've read it at least a dozen times over 40 years; every time I find new connections and details. If you're interested in the ideas, the best place to start is with
Robert Tracinski's 'So Who Is John Galt, Anyway?: A Reader's Guide to Ayn Rand's "Atlas Shrugged" '. It is a series of essays which pull apart the various threads and connections of the novel in ways that I am still discovering. But, to anyone else reading this, DO NOT READ TRACINSKI'S BOOK UNTIL AFTER READING ATLAS! You've been warned!

[frankbalk]

Yes, when I read the book the 1st time, I struggled with the first 100-150 pages, wondering why my friend had insisted I read the book. But I had promised, so I stuck with it. Once I got past that point, I couldn’t put it down. Since then, I got the unabridged audio book, and have “read” it a couple more times. I had never heard of Ayn Rand, , but I now own several of her books. The uncanny thing is how precisely, she predicted the future 70 years ago, with all the hows and whys. When I read it the 1st time 35 years ago, I was astounded at how easily you could read or watch the news and superimpose characters in the news with characters in the book. I could see for certainty what was going to happen simply by projecting into the future from the book. I have one problem with the book. Everyone raves about those who stood up to the bad guys, when in fact, they hid out and created a world separate from that of the bad guys. They were saved by John Galt. What will our world be without a John Galt. The closest I’ve seen in those 35 years is Donald Trump, and he failed by not making sure he would get re-elected. It’s looking very much like we’re screwed.

[MrQabalist]

Dagny only got frisky with the most talented men. She wasn't messing with people below her.

[grandpasquishy]

At the beginning of the book, it asks "who is John Galt", but after reading the book all I can say is "Where is John Galt?"

[singaporeghostclub]

I’m listening to the Audible version which is read by Scott Brick.

Worth the time.

[malenor]

I read Atlas Shrugged at 16 and didn’t struggle with it at all.

[tagenksu]

I'm the opposite, usually I get bored of books and don't finish them, butI never got bored reading this, I liked it the whole way through.

[EdmundSnyder]

Now for a completely different Ayn Rand (same philosophy, different style), please read the much, much shorter Anthem that we discussed.

[amber]

Hey Steffi, have you ever heard of OCON? If you like Ayn Rand’s works and philosophy, you should definitely look into going! It’s a conference centered around objectivism and you learn so much and it’s so much fun. And you meet so many people who are also into these ideas. It truly feels like Galt’s gulch in a way. My husband and I have gone the past two years and we always look forward to it!

[LeoOnealProductions]

I dreaded reading the book once it arrived because of its length. Once I got warmed up after Francisco's speech, I went on reading one hundred pages a day and soon enough I finished. Not without flaws, it was worth reading!

[jims]

Thanks for the reactions, Steffi. I read the book in college many years ago and consider it the most influential books of my life. It's been a long time but my memories are of the business discussions--the principles, modifications, and resultant outcomes. I thought the inspirations for it were brilliant

[jchan]

I just finished Atlas Shrugged last week and I see the Ron Paul poster in the background. =)

[AlokJha]

Read Fountainhead really love the book but lost interest many times while reading and somehow I finished.
Now thinking to read atlas shrugged but dont know how much it will take to finish.

[JohnnyGrateful]

Love your review of the book. I've been reading it for like 3 years and still haven't got to the speech part. You inspired me to keep going!