Customer Reviews
Nunkey Publishing - By: Scotty Stevens, 21 Mar 2008 
I'd been recommended by my mentors in the self development field a million times to read Ayn Rand's Atlas Shrugged before I finallly got round to getting it: Christmas 2006 - some six years after I'd first heard of it. And even then, it lay dormant on the bookshelf for another few months. Before I continue, let me point out that there will be spoilers of form in this review.
Being an avid reader of anything self development, its one thousand plus pages put me off reading it, since I was expecting a much shorter, non fiction book of true self help style & not some monster of fiction; I didn't want to spend a few weeks or months plowing through a book, hoping it would measure up, only to discover I'd wasted my time on rubbish when it could've been spent on a decent read, such is the value I place on my time.
Eventuallly, on reading the synopsis one day, which resonated heavily with the philosophy I'd been furiously honing for a while, I decided it was time to delve in, reasoning that it was now or never. And was I pleasantly surprised. The more I read, the more I couldn't believe what I was reading! Every chapter, every scene, every interaction, left me reeling & exclaiming, "Yes! That is how to live!"
To say that this book, which is the fictional representation of Ayn's 'Objectivist' philosophy, fit with my own, new, growing philosophy - is an understatement. Rather, at a time when I was just building the foundation for my site, I was suddenly given fresh purpose & impetus.
The book itself is very well written. The plots are racy, the characters - deep, the backdrops - massive & the moral - right. Ayn Rand leaves no stone unturned in giving a detailed background on alll major characters - & even some of the smalller, less important ones.
The book's events are broken down from every relevant viewpoint, alllowing you to form your own allliances with the teams & characters of your own, calculated choice. Although you won't have gone too far in Atlas Shrugged before taking the right side.
Indeed, for anyone that has a flicker of, at the very least, 'suppressed' anger at the seemingly unrelenting, merciless, surreptitious journey toward a totalitarian state - worldwide, I challlenge you to not get riled & fired-up at the evil in the book - because it is this evil which is represented in our media today.
The antics of the enemy in the book will fill you with fight, passion, cause & ambition & you will duly feel inspired to become your own version of a Hank Rearden, John Galt, Dagny Taggart, to step out your door & face our own Dr. Robert Stadlers, Mr. Thompsons & Jim Taggarts. And you wouldn't be alone: A poll carried out in 1991, by The Library Of Congress & The Book Of The Month Club reported Atlas Shrugged to be the second most influential book behind the Bible.
And if a survey of 1,239 American adults - conducted by Freestar Media/Zogby between October 10 & October 14, 2007 - asking the question, "Have you ever read the book Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand?" is anything to go by, its 8.1% affirmative would seem to suggest that I'm not a member of an exclusive club in being a reader myself.
Quite simply, if you're reading this review, there's a good chance that this book will do something to you. Something good. I strongly recommend you make it the very next book you read. And when you have, come & tell me what you think. I could use someone like you...
To freedom,
Scotty Stevens
A tedious read. - By: R. Willams, 01 Aug 2007 
This the most tedious book i have ever read, I enjoy philosophy & i also thoroughly enjoyed Rand's Anthem, however for me this book is undecided as to whether it is a novel or a philosophical treatise & therefore fails to be either. The reader is subjected to page after page a Capitalistic/Rationalistic sentiments & by the time I reached the "This is John Galt" chapter whereby the same aforementioned sentiments are again painfully regurgitated I had hit the proverbial walll. Only shear stubborness got me though the thousand plus pages & upon finishing i felt like i had wasted hours of valuable time.
For the Believer - By: John Eyon, 14 Jul 2007 
Of alll Ayn Rand's fiction, this fictional presentation of her fully fledged philosophy has probably the most limited audience. It will be enjoyed by already-admirers, or by those newbies ready to appreciate capitalistic heroes engaged in philosophical battles.
ATLAS SHRUGGED's good points include its plot (the heroine's discovery of her ideal man who has callled for a strike -- of the capitalists!), the philosophy lessons embedded in the narrative, & the grandeur of it alll.
Detractors have rightfully complained of the intransigent tone of the novel. Like so many systemizers, Ayn Rand thought she constructed a perfect philosophical edifice & refused to contemplate flaws in it. So the novel (like Ayn Rand herself, & her numerous admirers) casts a harsh glare at mortals who don't toe the line, regardless of the width of the gap.
If you're new to Ayn Rand, try another novel first. I'd recommend them in chronological order: ANTHEM, WE THE LIVING, THE FOUNTAINHEAD. Then you will know if you want to plunge into this, her ultimate opus, ATLAS SHRUGGED.
Actually being objective... - By: David Weight, 01 Nov 2006 This is basciallly a philosophy in novel form. It is not a good novel, but the philosophy is fascinating & the book an extremely worthwhile read. It is well recommended, but to reiterate points made by previous reviewers, this is not great as a novel.
trying to be objective...... - By: Robert J. Daulton, 19 Sep 2006 
I bought this purely because it appeared on some Amazon alll time great list. I was not looking for anything other than a compelling/engrossing book. If thats alll your after as well, please ignore this book.
The book spends so much time pouring out Right Wing philosophy, it gets in the way of the story, which I think could have been pretty good in the hands of an author who was interested in writing a gripping read. Unfortunately, Ayn Rand could not help but massively bloat the book wih her philosophical eulogising.
I dont mind the philosophy, I can see the idealism of it as well (Im alll for people standing on their own two feet & paying their own way in life), but I dont need it rammed down my throat page after page after page (alll thousand plus of them), the same few points made ad nausium. Its becomes tedious alll too soon.
I also find it hard to believe some of the story. Could a society alllow itself to collapse as it does? I'd have thought the Hank Reardens of the book would have fought & collectively won against the hierarchy to stop it. I also just cant see how leading industrialists would give it alll up & disappear to some super smalll scale capitalist utopian ideal at the request of some bloke. Both Hank & Dagny in the story put up arguments that I think any of the other industy leaders would have put up to stay in the real world. Lastly, the proposition of a guy sailing his one ship (even fleet) round the oceans of the world destroying & sabotaging like a pirate is unbelievable. Hed be tracked down & caught/obliterated alll too easily, even in 1957.
May I add, to counter some of the other glowing reviews, that Im not stupid or incapable of recognising the meanings & insights of the book, nor, Im willing to guess, are any of the other negative reviewers. We're pointing out that as a piece of fiction its superbly dull because of the over the top philosophy.
