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Atlas Shrugged Week 1: Ch 1-2

lludwig

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@Primeperiwinkle Can you let us know in this thread when the new thread is created? Or at least comment in your first thread? Thanks
 
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Primeperiwinkle

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@Primeperiwinkle Can you let us know in this thread when the new thread is created? Or at least comment in your first thread? Thanks

I actually change the links in the first post on every Friday but I’ll post too so you get the alert.
 

Primeperiwinkle

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I actually change the links in the first post on every Friday but I’ll post too so you get the alert.

That wasn’t clear. Let me try again.

There’s a post called I’m Reading Atlas Shrugged and You’re invited.

In THAT thread I change the first post every week to add the link to the new thread in the schedule.

I was hoping that everyone who decided to read with us had commented on that thread.. so they would see the whole schedule which looks like this..

SCHEDULE
Part One
November 1st ~ Atlas Shrugged Ch 1-2
November 8th ~ Atlas Shrugged Ch 3-4
November 15th ~ Atlas Shrugged Ch 5-6
November 22nd ~ Atlas Shrugged Ch 7-8
November 29th ~ Atlas Shrugged Ch 9-10

Part Two
December 6th ~ Atlas Shrugged Ch 11-12
December 13th ~Atlas Shrugged Ch 13-14
December 20th~ Atlas Shrugged Ch 15-16
December 27th~ Atlas Shrugged Ch 17-18
January 3rd ~ Atlas Shrugged Ch 19-20

Part Three
January 10th ~ Atlas Shrugged Ch 21-22
January 17th ~ Atlas Shrugged Ch 23-24
January 24th ~ Atlas Shrugged Ch 25-26
January 31st ~ Atlas Shrugged Ch 27-28
February 7th ~ Atlas Shrugged Ch 28-30

I don’t want to have fifty threads all popping up at the same time because wow that would get messy but I don’t see a way around it other than to just ask everybody to try and only comment on that weeks thread.. hm.

I really don’t want to change the link on the schedule, find the last weeks thread to post “I just put up a new post!” AND post a new one...

I’m sorry I can’t make it any easier but there’s absolutely no way I can stick to a specific time to post on Friday, either. I try to get things done early but there’s always a chance that I’ll be running late and post at the very end on Friday.

I guess the easiest solution would be to just check the schedule on that original thread on Fridays and see if the new week has been added.
 

Primeperiwinkle

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I've never read it before and only had this thread to clue me in to what I might be in for. @Primeperiwinkle , your brilliant recap of chapters 1-2 was what convinced me to give it a try.

I’m so happy to have you!! And THANK YOU. It is ridiculously hard to recap Rand!! Oy.. that freaking summary prolly took an hour to write. Sheesh.

I agree with everything you said. *HAPPINESS!!!
 
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Strategery

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Primeperiwinkle

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I love how much effort you're putting into this. You're doing an awesome job from where I'm sitting, homie. Very engaging thread

Thank you, I really appreciate everyone so much. I never expected this many ppl.. or how much support I’m getting. I really hope everybody ends up enjoying this book and the convo. Mostly I hope Dagny ends up not being horribly betrayed by Rearden while the Rio Norte Line gets rebuilt.
 

StrikingViper69

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Thank you, I really appreciate everyone so much. I never expected this many ppl.. or how much support I’m getting. I really hope everybody ends up enjoying this book and the convo. Mostly I hope Dagny ends up not being horribly betrayed by Rearden while the Rio Norte Line gets rebuilt.

Now that would be a plot twist! What about Rearden’s character makes you think he might do that??
 
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Fox

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Finally got to read all the comments here ha! - I just got it yesterday and caught up in one night ;)

The main theme I see so far: Leeches versus Producers

Basically people living off the current/past success of others but complaining about or mismanaging it.

James Taggart hasn't earned his position in any real way - he sees the business as someway to virtue signal to others he is a good person while his acts kill the very "golden goose" that makes it possible. He doesn't want to take any real action that requires risk and he resents others who show up his lack of progress - his sister, Rearden and Wyatt Oil.

Hanks family had me nearly shouting at the book ha! I think that chapter goes to show how much producers can be abused or misrepresented by others who both criticize them but also leech off their existence. That chapter reminds me of why I left Ireland - not my family but rather the overall general business vibe in the country is like that.

Another theme I see is of withdrawal. People of success/ambition wanting to put either physical or mental space between them and others (in particular negative/unambitious people). I got to start work here myself so I will add more thoughts later...

Great book so far!
 

lludwig

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Another theme I see is of withdrawal. People of success/ambition wanting to put either physical or mental space between them and others (in particular negative/unambitious people).

Yea I get that too it’s lonely at the top and you are in the minority with your views of the world.
 

Primeperiwinkle

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Now that would be a plot twist! What about Rearden’s character makes you think he might do that??

It’s all in the first two chapters. Taggart being a corrupt tree then later Hanks imagery is ALL shining, bright, flashing, curving, fast. I swear I think Rearden is going to be the lightning that destroys Taggart but I don’t know how. Plus.. he’s happiness that hurts.

I could be making something huge out of this and be completely wrong but.. I don’t trust Rearden. I’ve read too many books where the descriptions of stuff directly correlate to the personalities of the character.
 
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Primeperiwinkle

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Finally got to read all the comments here ha! - I just got it yesterday and caught up in one night ;)

The main theme I see so far: Leeches versus Producers

Basically people living off the current/past success of others but complaining about or mismanaging it.

James Taggart hasn't earned his position in any real way - he sees the business as someway to virtue signal to others he is a good person while his acts kill the very "golden goose" that makes it possible. He doesn't want to take any real action that requires risk and he resents others who show up his lack of progress - his sister, Rearden and Wyatt Oil.

Hanks family had me nearly shouting at the book ha! I think that chapter goes to show how much producers can be abused or misrepresented by others who both criticize them but also leech off their existence. That chapter reminds me of why I left Ireland - not my family but rather the overall general business vibe in the country is like that.

Another theme I see is of withdrawal. People of success/ambition wanting to put either physical or mental space between them and others (in particular negative/unambitious people). I got to start work here myself so I will add more thoughts later...

Great book so far!

I hadn’t thought of it with producers and leeches.. that’s a really cool point.. and definitely withdrawal. I’m so glad you’re here man.
 

Fox

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I hadn’t thought of it with producers and leeches.. that’s a really cool point.. and definitely withdrawal. I’m so glad you’re here man.

Thanks for getting it started!

I actually havent read a fictional book in so long. Its been all theory, mindset, sales and management etc.

I have been looking forward to bed tonight so I can get back into the story haha!

#massivegeek
 

lludwig

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Thanks for getting it started!

I actually havent read a fictional book in so long. Its been all theory, mindset, sales and management etc.

I have been looking forward to bed tonight so I can get back into the story haha!

#massivegeek

Is it fiction? lol
 
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Bertram

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See, that's why I think of it as a "parallel universe" US in the 40s. Loosely based on U.S. in the 40s. But no mention of either war or the depression.
The parallel universe in Rand's fiction is technically called dystopian fiction. Dystopia - opposite of utopia.
Dystopian fiction first took hold as a genre in 19th century Russian literature.
Orwell, Sinclair, and others adopted it worldwide.
One branch evolved into science fiction and space fantasy, a genre which continues to be heavy on philosophical and moral questions (Planet of the Apes, Kurt Vonnegut, Margeret Atwood).
 
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Bertram

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Hank Rearden: Michael Fassbender
Dagny Taggart: Jessica Chastain
Jim Taggart: Jack Black?
Eddie: Matthew McConaughey
Rearden's Mom: Judi Dench

Addin real value to the discussion
Jim Taggert has to be played by Brad Pitt. Pitt is the greatest clown of our time. He takes a straight role and plays pure stereotype.
Check out Pitt in Tarantino's "Inglorious Basterds."
 
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Bertram

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I might be super wrong but I remember that in "The Men Who Built America" Vanderbilt actually starts building railroads to transport Rockefeller's oil. Later on the rail road bois turn on him and he's like "oh yea?" and he develops pipelines so he doesn't need trains.
Maybe it was just a little part of it though.
Yea, if you say so Aluminium Contributor (hilarious). I didn't read it. I think the second railroad network was fired up by Rockefeller while road networks and also transport trucks came up in the 1930s.
 
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BellaPippin

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Yea, if you say so Aluminium Contributor (hilarious). I didn't read it. I think the second railroad network was fired up by Rockefeller while road networks and also transport trucks came up in the 1930s.

Haha, it’s actually a very entertaining drama documentary I saw a long time ago, made by The History Channel :)

I only picked my actors/actresses based on their looks matching what I imagine while reading, acting skill played no role no pun intended :p
 

Bertram

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Finally got to read all the comments here ha! - I just got it yesterday and caught up in one night ;)

The main theme I see so far: Leeches versus Producers

Basically people living off the current/past success of others but complaining about or mismanaging it.

James Taggart hasn't earned his position in any real way - he sees the business as someway to virtue signal to others he is a good person while his acts kill the very "golden goose" that makes it possible. He doesn't want to take any real action that requires risk and he resents others who show up his lack of progress - his sister, Rearden and Wyatt Oil.

Hanks family had me nearly shouting at the book ha! I think that chapter goes to show how much producers can be abused or misrepresented by others who both criticize them but also leech off their existence. That chapter reminds me of why I left Ireland - not my family but rather the overall general business vibe in the country is like that.

Another theme I see is of withdrawal. People of success/ambition wanting to put either physical or mental space between them and others (in particular negative/unambitious people). I got to start work here myself so I will add more thoughts later...

Great book so far!
This comparison between the ambitious or woke, and those who just seem to have had their own internal flame put out, is right on. Lillian and Hank's mom have not only chosen to be aimless and insignificant, they actually elevate these qualities above the creative and effectuating energies of the businessman. There's no reason for the gulf between Hank and Lillian, except that her values require her to be so cultivated that she can't possibly have anything to perform on the world. She has to go so far as to reject the inner beauty of the Reardon alloy bracelet. She's detestable, but someone's put her up to being so narrow and invalidating. In conversation, her type (including unpleasant mom Reardon, Larkin) competes for helplessness.

Your point is right, withdrawal is the major dynamic at the book's beginning, but I think that more deeply this withdrawal is really a systemic social entropy. Lillian and others in the social elite even withdraw from themselves. Lillian has no sexual energy. This entropy sucks in whatever vitality their marriage could have had. Their conversation contains nothing but contrived feelings.

The woke people, titans by comparison, are resistant to this gravitational pull of existential entropy.

Question how did this widespread human nature take hold?

I suspect it's going to be in part the fault of that corner of society which Ayn Rand lost no love for, and vice versa, the liberal deep state and its effete, false intellectuals.
 
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lludwig

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Jim Taggert has to be played by Brad Pitt. Pitt is the greatest clown of our time. He takes a straight role and plays pure stereotype.
Check out Pitt in Tarantino's "Inglorious Basterds."

He was once attached to doing a movie version. Not sure what part.
 
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Bertram

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lludwig

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BizyDad

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Ah well, spoilers gonna spoiler...
 
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Primeperiwinkle

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Ah well, spoilers gonna spoiler...

Hm. It doesn’t seem like any spoilers are happening.. then again I have utilized a magical and powerful button on the forum called “Ignore”.

You know the one? You push it and then no matter how much somebody desperately cries out for or incessantly demands attention.. you don’t notice.
It’s nice.

I highly recommend it for this book discussion. :)
 

Primeperiwinkle

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Hey Beautiful Ppl, the next chapters are available for discussion here.

Onwards and Upwards! Squeee!!
 
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Brian Suh

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Finally got to read all the comments here ha! - I just got it yesterday and caught up in one night ;)

The main theme I see so far: Leeches versus Producers

Basically people living off the current/past success of others but complaining about or mismanaging it.

James Taggart hasn't earned his position in any real way - he sees the business as someway to virtue signal to others he is a good person while his acts kill the very "golden goose" that makes it possible. He doesn't want to take any real action that requires risk and he resents others who show up his lack of progress - his sister, Rearden and Wyatt Oil.

Hanks family had me nearly shouting at the book ha! I think that chapter goes to show how much producers can be abused or misrepresented by others who both criticize them but also leech off their existence. That chapter reminds me of why I left Ireland - not my family but rather the overall general business vibe in the country is like that.

Another theme I see is of withdrawal. People of success/ambition wanting to put either physical or mental space between them and others (in particular negative/unambitious people). I got to start work here myself so I will add more thoughts later...

Great book so far!
THe main thing I got from ayn rands book is living life through YOUR eyes and not the opinion of others. In fountainhead, Roark didnt give a F*ck about academia, but the other character (forgot his name) played by the books and in the end was a total failure and frankly, a little bitch. Roark won the world.
 

Vigilante

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To all. Please allow these threads to stay on topic as many people are following this study. Take the sideshow to the sidelines please.
 

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She hears a brakeman whistling what he tells her is The 5th Halley Concerto but she later verifies that Halley never wrote a 5th Concerto at all. (This is spooky or is the brakeman Halley?!?!? I don’t know!!!!)

I still can't make any sense of this scene. What the heck is it? The more I think about it, the more random it seems. But it can't be random. It seems like it might be important.

Even though Dagny is half-asleep while she hears Halley's 5th Concerto, she is not dreaming. The brakeman himself says he was whistling Halley's 5th. Then he gets all serious after she says Halley didn't write a 5th... and moves on. ??? [The brakeman can't be Halley - didn't the book describe the brakeman as being in his late teens?]

This scene seems like it is something from a sci-fi book or supernatural thriller, but that's not what we're reading.

So... what is this?

Anyone have any guesses? Am I making too much of this?

I just can't (yet) see how it fits in with anything else in the book so far...
 
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Primeperiwinkle

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I still can't make any sense of this scene. What the heck is it? The more I think about it, the more random it seems. But it can't be random. It seems like it might be important.

Even though Dagny is half-asleep while she hears Halley's 5th Concerto, she is not dreaming. The brakeman himself says he was whistling Halley's 5th. Then he gets all serious after she says Halley didn't write a 5th... and moves on. ??? [The brakeman can't be Halley - didn't the book describe the brakeman as being in his late teens?]

This scene seems like it is something from a sci-fi book or supernatural thriller, but that's not what we're reading.

So... what is this?

Anyone have any guesses? Am I making too much of this?

I just can't (yet) see how it fits in with anything else in the book so far...

I think it’s another mystery to prime us for wanting answers AND a way to give us insight into Dagny’s romanticism without mentioning sex or diminishing her character in any way. A love for music conveys softness or longing.. Halley is the spirit of the age? The background music? And his 5th concerto is hope that everything will be better?!?

I don’t know either dude. Lol. Grasping at straws.
 

ChrisV

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Sweeeeeeeeeettt... I'm glad everyone is reading this book. Any Rand's philosophy is so in line with the Fastlane philosophy.
 

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