And my bigpicture view is that on a scale of 1 to 10, atlas shrugged is at least a 7. The book is extremely long and does get become unnecessarily long and repetitive at points, but is still a good read nonetheless. It should not matter to a creator whether anyone or a million or all the men. Companies in atlas shrugged, the ayn rand novel, generally, are divided into two groups, these that are operated by sympathetic characters are given the name of the owner, while companies operated by evil or incompetent characters are given generic names. Atlas shrugged, all 1168 pages of it, was published on october 10, 1957, with a dust jacket designed by george salter and illustrated by rands husband. Atlas shrugged and the fountainhead were number 1 and 2 respectively on the modern. I just had to share with someone who cares that i have finished atlas shrugged in 22 days. I read the whole way through galts speech in one sitting.
About atlas shrugged cliffsnotes study guides book. My local used bookstore has so many copies they wont accept any more. The best price on the market for signed atlas shrugged. It is the story of a man who said that he would stop the motor of the worldand did. Atlas shrugged peopled by largerthanlife heroes and villains, charged with towering questions of good and evil, atlas shrugged is ayn. Ayn rands atlas shrugged rare books experts at bauman. If you like atlas shrugged, youll almost certainly like the fountainhead by ayn rand, or her anthem if youre looking for a shorter one. Those ideas come across, scene by scene, in the film adaptation. However citing a translation has the advantage that it indicates how many words are required to.
Atlas shrugged has sold around 7 million copies since it was published, which puts it at around half as many copies as the hitchhikers guide to the galaxy. Sales of atlas shrugged increased following the 2007 financial crisis. Atlas shrugged is divided into three parts, with ten chapters in each part. Atlas shrugged 1957 is a mystery story, ayn rand once commented, not about the murder of mans body, but about the murderand rebirthof mans spirit. The atlas shrugged book club begins, polarized but polite. Atlas shrugged shows that rational thinking is mankinds survival instrument, just as the ability to fly is the survival tool for birds. In atlas shrugged, she shows that without the independent mind, our society would collapse into primitive savagery. Atlas shrugged is a book by the russian american writer and social philosopher ayn rand. Her first real success was the fountainhead rejected by more than ten publishers before publication in 1943. The fundamentals of her philosophy are put forth in three nonfiction books, introduction to.
Atlas shrugged author sells 1,000,000 books in 2012. All four of her novels made the top ten of the controversial list of the. Atlas shrugged is one of the most profound books ive ever read. The best reason to read atlas shrugged is that it is culturally significant. Is atlas shrugged the second most popular book next to the. Atlas shrugged by ayn rand, first edition, signed abebooks. But to understand the authors sense of urgency, we must have an idea of the context in which the book was written. This is the story of a man who said that he would stop the motor of the world and did. This being the case, turning to atlas shrugged because you dont like the way things are going is the equivalent of diving for the centre of the fire because the frying pan got too hot. In atlas shrugged men who give their names to their companies all become strikers in due time. A good guy by definition is someone who agrees with her.
Atlas shrugged is the only one of rands novels to use chapter. I try to read 3050 books a year, ranging across the board and including a lot of psychology and sociology. The story is set many decades in the past and focuses on a rail executive who finds herself in a world where business leaders are disappearing. Atlas shrugged, a modern classic and rands most extensive statement of objectivismher groundbreaking philosophyoffers the reader the spectacle of human greatness, depicted with all the poetry and power of one of the twentieth centurys leading artists.
Please view the many other rare titles available for purchase at our store. With more than seventy books to her credit, and the. Rand follows the lives of societys movers and shakers firsthanders, in her words, and business men, scientists, inventors, and artists in her novel as they resist the societal pull to become. Rands unique philosophy, objectivism, has gained a worldwide audience. What is the genre of books like atlas shrugged and. It was first published in 1957 in the united states. Atlas shrugged hindi translation ayn rand archives tinycat. Get 15% off when you order 5 or more of this title for your book club. Published in 6 volumes, this historical novel includes 5 million chinese characters. It continues to sell hundreds of thousands of copies a year, more than 50 years after it was published and more than 30 years after the death of its author. We were on the train 20 hours longer than we should have been and all my electronics died and all i had was that book. After reading the fountainhead and atlas shrugged by ayn rand in 20052006, my life has been changed for the better.
The climax of the book is a 60 page speech in which remarkably little is said. Atlas shrugged by ayn rand meet your next favorite book. Simply enter the coupon code randatlas at checkout. As a kid, i read atlas shrugged three or four times, starting in sixth or seventh grade, all while attending catholic schools in orange county, california. Mar 14, 2014 atlas shrugged is a hugely popular book among american conservatives and libertarians who see it as a symbol of resistance to government tyranny. Thirty years after her death, novelistphilosopher ayn rand is still selling a lot of books, a million to be precise. An adaptation of part of the philosopher ayn rands controversial 1957 novel of the same name, the film is the first in a trilogy encompassing the entire book. Ive taught some extracted bits and pieces of atlas shrugged, but never the whole thing because teaching the entire thing is probably a violation of the geneva convention. There is a very good reason why there are always piles of six to ten copies of atlas shrugged in every thrift store and used book store in the country. It peaked at number 3 on december 8, 1957, and was on the list for 22 consecutive weeks. So i dont understand why ayn rands name and philosophy gets so much hate.
From the worlds largest selection of rare, signed and manuscript ayn rand in private hands. Atlas shrugged is the story of a man who said that he would stop the motor of the worldand did. If i like atlas shrugged and the fountainhead, what other. The popular author of atlas shrugged and the fountainhead has sold 1,000,000. Atlas shrugged is one of those books that divides its readers. The goal of this article is to provide a summary of the types of economic issues found in atlas shrugged. I believe that claim is a reference to a 1991 survey conducted by the library of congress of 2,000 book of the month readers, so take that as you will. Tremendous in scope, breathtaking in its suspense, atlas shrugged is ayn rands magnum opus, which launched an ideology and a movement. By 1984, its sales had exceeded five million copies.
It should not matter to a creator whether anyone or a million or all the men around him. Atlas shrugged by ayn rand, first edition, random house. The story in atlas shrugged isnt worthy of the length that its given and its basically the same speech repeated over and over, chapter after chapter. A million copy seller, henry hazlitts economics in one lesson is a classic economic primer. Atlas shrugged includes elements of science fiction, mystery, and romance, and it contains rands most extensive statement of objectivism in any of her works of fiction the book depicts a dystopian united states. Opening with the enigmatic question who is john galt. In all of her major novels, ayn rand presents heroes and heroines who are brilliant thinkers opposed to either societys pressure to conform or a dictatorial governments commands to obey. New spanish translation of atlas shrugged interview objetivismo. Atlas shrugged first edition ayn rand bauman rare books. To date, the book has sold 9 million copies, and that is only in english, not counting the hundreds of thousands of books sold in the other 30.
Apr 29, 2014 atlas shrugged no longer ranks among americans top ten favorite books. Since, then she has written several novels and cemented her place as one of the. Atlas shruggedcompanies wikibooks, open books for an open. However, i noticed that rand completely avoided debates. As for why they rail against it more than other poorly written and poorly conceived books, i think it has something to do with the fact many people come to her writings as impressionable teens, and for a couple of years they might buy into her thinking. Atlas shrugged project gutenberg selfpublishing ebooks.
To ask other readers questions about atlas shrugged, please sign up. Her changes then for the translation across media were similar to those made. Atlas shrugged is a hugely popular book among american conservatives and libertarians who see it as a symbol of resistance to government tyranny. This page contains details about the fiction book atlas shrugged by ayn rand published in 1957. The book opens with a facsimile and translation of rands pola negri. Introduction to objectivist epistemology by ayn rand. Atlas shrugged what were reading nowthought provoking, honest and insightful. Shop books ebooks kidsa million teen bargain books entertainment toys fandom.
It is the story of a manthe novels herowho says that he will stop the motor of the world, and does. It was with the publication of the fountainhead 1943 and atlas shrugged 1957 that she achieved her spectacular success. Atlas shrugged simple english wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Published in 1957, ayn rands atlas shrugged is set in a dystopian and impoverished united states, in a communist world system. Atlas shrugged author sells 1,000,000 books in 2012 irvine, calif.
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. If atlas shrugged were required reading for every member of congress and the obama administration, the current financial mess would end faster. Atlas shrugged is less of a novel and more of an excuse for rand to promote her ideology. This offer applies to only one downloadable audio per purchase. In 1958, ayn rand, already the worldfamous author of such bestselling books as atlas shrugged and the fountainhead, gave a private series of extemporaneous lectures in her own living room on the art of fiction.
What is a logical reason that the book atlas shrugged is. Im not a book reader and i have a learning disability. Apr 21, 2005 peopled by largerthanlife heroes and villains, charged with towering questions of good and evil, atlas shrugged is ayn rands magnum opus. Explore the themes in atlas shrugged the atlas society. There are two novels that can change a bookish fourteenyear olds life. Born february 2, 1905, ayn rand published her first novel, we the living, in 1936. Atlas shrugged is a mystery story, not about the murder of a mans body, but about the murder and rebirth of mans spirit. Find all the books, read about the author, and more. Tore boeckmann and leonard peikoff for the first time now bring readers the edited transcript of these exciting personal statements. Atlas shrugged, by ayn rand, is a philosophical novel. Doing what you like most without caring if people liked it or n.
Atlas shrugged is a trilogy of american science fiction drama films. Make this your next book club selection and everyone saves. Atlas shrugged is absurd but strangely compelling books. All our books are sanitized for your protection before mailing.
Atlas shrugged debuted at number on the new york times best seller list three days after its publication. Buy atlas shrugged book online at low prices in india atlas. This is the story of a man who said that he would stop the motor of the worldand did. Atlas shrugged peopled by largerthanlife heroes and villains, charged with towering questions of good and evil, atlas shrugged is ayn rands magnum opus. This book is the 203rd greatest fiction book of all time as determined by. This is surprisingly because it is a horrendous book containing cardboard characters, over necessarily long speeches, absurd plot lines and at least 500 pages more than it needs. Mar 12, 2011 atlas shrugged has sold around 7 million copies since it was published, which puts it at around half as many copies as the hitchhikers guide to the galaxy. Mar 24, 2015 atlas shrugged is a novel of ideas, a suspense narrative based on rands philosophy of objectivism. The mind is the source of wealth to begin with, atlas shrugged masterfully depicts the role of individual initiative and creativity in economic progress. Published in 1957, ayn rands atlas shrugged is set in a dystopian and impoverished united states, in. Book fine, bright dust jacket with only minor wear, tape repairs to verso. Dagny taggart, vice president in charge of operations for taggart transcontinental railroad, seeks to rebuild the crumbling track of the rio norte line that serves ellis wyatts oil fields and the booming industrial areas of colorado.
I do, intermittently, go sideways in the quest of finding something as perfect like you are doing, asking for recommendations, readin. The theme according to rand is the role of mans mind in existence. If youre not familiar with the novel, it depicts a. Atlas shruggedstructure wikibooks, open books for an open. If, for instance, he were to list a copy of atlas shrugged on facebook, he can already imagine the 100comment firefight it would degenerate.
Looking for books similar to 1984 and atlas shrugged gamespot. Rands fourth and final novel, it was also her longest, and the one she considered to be her magnum opus in the realm of fiction writing. This is a list of the novels over 500,000 words published through a mainstream publisher. Atlas shrugged mass market paperback september 1, 1996. Atlas shrugged is a ridiculous book whistling in the wind. In these short, engaging videos, philosopher david kelley, a script consultant on the movie trilogy, plays excerpts from the films and discusses their philosophical meaning. Chapter 1 the theme summary eddie willers, special assistant to the vice president in charge of operations of taggart transcontinental railroad, is accosted by a bum on the streets of new york city, who asks him, who is john galt. Atlas shrugged is the second most influential book for americans today after the bible, according to a joint survey conducted by the library of congress and the book of the month club. Rand sold her first screenplay in 1932, but nobody would buy her first novel we the living 1936 a melodrama set in russia. Atlas shrugged no longer ranks among americans top ten favorite books. The fundamentals of her philosophy are put forth in three nonfiction books. It was rands longest book and the last fiction book she wrote before writing nonfiction.
Atlas shrugged includes elements of science fiction, mystery, and romance, and it contains rands most extensive statement of objectivism in any of her works of fiction the book depicts a dystopian united. Personally, ive found nothing satisfying after reading these two. Services millionaires club affiliate program business services education services gift cards. The popular author of atlas shrugged and the fountainhead has sold 1,000,000 copies of all of her titles in 2012. No book is included in this listing, however we may have the original book available for sale in our store under a different listing. Ayn rand wrote fountainhead first to establish what is called virtue of selfishness. The book is well written for what its trying to accomplish and i agree with some of the points. There are two novels that can change a bookish fourteenyearolds life. For sale is a brand new facsimile reproduction dust jacket for the 1st edition of atlas shrugged by ayn rand. Follow along as industrialist hank rearden and railroad executive dagny taggart struggle to keep the country afloat and unravel the mysteries that confront them. Atlas shrugged and the fountainhead were number 1 and 2 respectively on the. The books were written when socialism was spreading and the capitalism was being looked down upon.
Atlas shrugged is the only one of rands novels to use. A fine copy of the book in a slipcase with only marginal flaws. A towering philosophical novel that is the summation of her objectivist philosophy, ayn rands atlas shrugged is the saga of the enigmatic john galt, and his ambitious plan to stop the motor of the world, published in penguin modern classics. Considered by many to be ayn rands greatest work, atlas shrugged is a long, procapitalist novel in which ayn rand sought to portray the ideal man and his effect on society. Published in 1957, its a dystopian novel, centering around dagny taggart. Atlas shrugged is an impassioned defense of the freedom of mans mind. Like brodeur, sell lists his books other placesebay, amazon, abebooks, facebook, and at his own website. I read atlas shrugged on a train from virginia to florida and back again. Working part time as a screenwriter for hal wallis productions, she began her major novel, atlas shrugged, in 1946. Rands fourth and last novel, it was also her longest, and the one she considered to be her magnum opus in the realm of fiction writing. The characters are prone to burst out in long winded speeches at the drop of the hat. Book summary the story of atlas shrugged takes place in the united states at an unspecified future time.