Atlas Shrugged

[BellaPippin]

April 15th is the deadline for tax filing in the US

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AAAHHHH I see what they did there now. Giggity

 

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[Ubermensch]

I thought you were making a deeper, larger point.

Like the fact that Atlas Shrugged predicts modern-day America, with unfortunate parallels.

Leonard Piekoff, Ayn Rand's protege, wrote a book called The Ominous Parallels, the similarities between Nazi Germany and modern-day America.

Gun control.

Erosion of freedoms.

The mind-numbing repetition of the propagandist use of the term "freedom."

Who wants to be free and dumb??

I thought you were making that point, the over-arching point, the point that Ayn Rand truly made in Atlas Shrugged, the point that we are living in that moment right now, which is why the timing of the movie really intrigues serious students of Objectivism.

Thought you were making that point.

 

[jameslague]

I read Atlas Shrugged a few years ago and it made a huge impact on my life. Its definitely one of the best, if not the best, book I've ever read. Its lessons and philosophy are absolutely incredible and make perfect sense in my mind. Its one of the few books that I recommend for everyone to read when they ask me for recommendations. Its long, but I never wanted it to end. The time investment input in reading it was worth the output several times over. It may be one I read over and over throughout my life.

 

[brewster]

Liked Atlas Shrugged... but The Fountainhead is still my favorite. One of the first books I read on my self-development journey. I was of course, blown away and learned so many valuable things from it. Howard Roark was such an appealing character to me.

Damn. Reading this makes we want to go read both of these books again right now.

 

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[Rick Harrison]

Amazing books (all of them) and amazing author! Way ahead of her time, and unfortunate that many of her predictions and satire have rang true in our current economic state.

 

[Buickestate]

A long time ago ... should be required reading for all students.

Based on this I just ordered this book.....

 

[BlakeIC]

Based on this I just ordered this book.....

which edition? I am checking ebay and there is 3 different variations

 

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[Victor999]

Outline of John Galt's Speech

http://atlassociety.org/commentary/commentary-blog/3798-outline-of-john-galt-s-speech

 

[GailWynand]

I read it as a teen and I found that it clarified my thinking about why I wanted to excel at my goals--"In the Name of The Best Within Us".

The story is a good romance and a good political statement for the need for pay for your work as motivation. It basically spells out the demise of communist societies where the goal is to give everything to everyone in equal measure, despite the effort and abilities they put into it.

Many people don't like it because it tends to rant on for a long time about philosophy, sort of beating the dead donkey. Most authors now days try to keep the writing into the character's immediate plot line goal without breaks into what the author wants to say about things like philosophy. She, Ayn Rand, said it so much better in so many other places like chapter titles (above).

 

[Buickestate]

which edition? I am checking ebay and there is 3 different variations

https://www.chapters.indigo.ca/en-ca/Books/product/978045119114-item.html?

 

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[hellolin]

I thought you were making a deeper, larger point.

Like the fact that Atlas Shrugged predicts modern-day America, with unfortunate parallels.

Leonard Piekoff, Ayn Rand's protege, wrote a book called The Ominous Parallels, the similarities between Nazi Germany and modern-day America.

Gun control.

Erosion of freedoms.

The mind-numbing repetition of the propagandist use of the term "freedom."

Who wants to be free and dumb??

I thought you were making that point, the over-arching point, the point that Ayn Rand truly made in Atlas Shrugged, the point that we are living in that moment right now, which is why the timing of the movie really intrigues serious students of Objectivism.

Thought you were making that point.

If this is where your thoughts are going, the next book in the series is from erich fromm, the book is escape from freedom. Read at your own discretion because you might look at the world in a completely different way.

Can't believe The Ominous Parallels were written in 1983, and it is even more true nowadays. Freedom is not a thing for the light weight, in order for everyone to enjoy the fruit of freedom, everyone need to have a capabilities to handle it. With health care coming next as a right in this country, people are steadily giving up their own ability to decide their own future. We will eventually be on the way of Greece right now, happens to every single pinnacle nation in the past, why wouldn't America be excluded? We are witnessing that change right now. But I didn't know it was happening way back even in early 80's!

 

[Mr.Donnerhuhn]

If this is where your thoughts are going, the next book in the series is from erich fromm, the book is escape from freedom. Read at your own discretion because you might look at the world in a completely different way.

Can't believe The Ominous Parallels were written in 1983, and it is even more true nowadays. Freedom is not a thing for the light weight, in order for everyone to enjoy the fruit of freedom, everyone need to have a capabilities to handle it. With health care coming next as a right in this country, people are steadily giving up their own ability to decide their own future. We will eventually be on the way of Greece right now, happens to every single pinnacle nation in the past, why wouldn't America be excluded? We are witnessing that change right now. But I didn't know it was happening way back even in early 80's!

I don't want to sound pessimistic with this, but a lot of people (at least in my millennial generation) just aren't that fantastic at much of anything. And it's WAY easier to say it's somebody else's fault and they should compensate you for any short-comings than to accept responsibility for your own situation. Think of people who weren't slaves, asking for reparations for slavery from people who didn't own slaves.

It's this weird collectivist/cultural marxist attitude where you'll be nice and protected and cozy warm in the iron-grip of the state, and everything will be nice and equal! When you're angry or upset, or feel wronged, it's a natural inclination to think it's because somebody else did something to you, or disallowed you from some opportunity; but thinking that maybe you just f*cked up and are currently bad at the thing you're trying to do is just too painful for people to accept.

The true price of freedom is the fact that when you're truly free, you are enslaved to the consequences of your decisions and actions/inactions.



"And the trees are all kept equal. By hatchet, axe, and saw."

 

[BostonHusky]

@Mr.Donnerhuhn, I agree. I think one of the biggest pitfalls of our generation is that everything is full of filler content, and everything is dumbed down. Even more so in America. People don't really have any tangible skill - because they don't really have the need (!) to get them. Until they get tired of their 9-5 jobs, that is.

Got the book! Will read it within the week. Thanks!

 

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[GlobalWealth]

Got the book! Will read it within the week. Thanks!

Hahaha

Good luck finishing Atlas Shrugged in one week....


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[BostonHusky]

I meant start within the week.

Not the first time I've been recommended this book... I believe it will be worth the 1100 something pages.

 

[Mr.Donnerhuhn]

Hahaha

Good luck finishing Atlas Shrugged in one week....


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this, I think even the audiobook is literally 70+ hours straight

 

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[jameslague]

@BostonHusky I'm excited for you! I want to read it again sometime. Truly a life changing book for me. Solidified alot of things I already thought to be morally right and redefined my perception of what the function of business in society really is, and the value they create.

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[Vigilante]

I just picked up The Fountainhead. I have a week in front of me full of rum punch and Cuervo, the churn of white propeller wash as the land yields to the Atlantic ocean, a beach chair waiting for my standing breakfast appointment with Ayn Rand, and a stiff tuxedo shirt rented for formal dinners with the love of my life. A beach cabana in Haiti, the sweet smoky air of Jamaica, and a Cuervo tour in Cozumel. We'll see how much of the book I can get through. The rum and Jamaican rhythm might get in the way.

 

[GlobalWealth]

I just picked up The Fountainhead. I have a week in front of me full of rum punch and Cuervo, the churn of white propeller wash as the land yields to the Atlantic ocean, a beach chair waiting for my standing breakfast appointment with Ayn Rand, and a stiff tuxedo shirt rented for formal dinners with the love of my life. A beach cabana in Haiti, the sweet smoky air of Jamaica, and a Cuervo tour in Cozumel. We'll see how much of the book I can get through. The rum might get in the way.

It's a good read. Much easier than Atlas Shrugged. It has similar ideals but not so philosophy heavy. Rum induced reading ahould be acceptable.

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[MJ DeMarco]

I just picked up The Fountainhead.

Holy shit so did I last week. I'm about 100 pages in. While I read it years ago, I doubt back then I truly understood the themes.

Thus far after only 2 hours of reading I find myself nodding my head going "Yes! Yes!"

 

[LibertyForMe]

The Fountainhead is one of my favorite books. I feel like the characters aren't quite so black or white like they are in Atlas Shrugged. Roark faces a lot of setbacks that are more relatable. Also, I really loved the fact that he just does what he wants, irrespective of the money. Lots of people try to say Rand is all about money and greed, but really I feel like the Fountainhead was more about being greedy with your own life and not spending it how other people think you should.

 

[Raoul Duke]

I picked up Atlas Shrugged & The Fountainhead yesterday. I look forward to reading them. Thanks for the recommendation @GlobalWealth

 

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[Jonathan Boyd]

On pg. 600 of Atlas Shrugged, and forgot that the Fountainhead was on my list. Thanks for the reminder!

Atlas Shrugged is indeed eye opening.

 

[MitchC]

Just finished atlas shrugged, I couldn't believe the negative thoughts on it when I googled it, I started thinking is there something wrong with me for loving and agreeing with this? But I didn't care and here I am back where I belong and all is well, there are still some responsible people in this world. Maybe we on this forum can buy an island and create Galts Gulch one day

 

[OldFaithful]

I too found that "Atlas Shrugged" & "The Fountainhead" were hard to put down. I followed them with "Anthem", "We the Living" & "Capitalism: The Unknown Ideal". All excellent reads with distinct purpose in writing. "Anthem" was an interesting view of a dystopian future. "We the Living" was an excellent insight into the history & future of Socialism. "Capitalism" is of course a treatise on what Capitalism really is...not what we are told that Capitalism is today...and how it differs from various other social structures.

Now I've got 2 more to put on my list: "The Ominous Parallels" & "Escape from Freedom". Thanks!

 

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[Delmania]

Just finished atlas shrugged, I couldn't believe the negative thoughts on it when I googled it, I started thinking is there something wrong with me for loving and agreeing with this? But I didn't care and here I am back where I belong and all is well, there are still some responsible people in this world. Maybe we on this forum can buy an island and create Galts Gulch one day

There's nothing wrong with you. It's just that objectivism and her views on capitalism are hard for most people to swallow. Also, Rand wasn't what I'd call a positive role model. She justified cheating on her spouse and believed smoking cigarettes was some kind of noble action. She also criticized people who didn't accept her beliefs verbatim. Luckily, you don't need to like someone to like his thoughts on the world.

To your last point, I think it's very healthy for people round out their world views. I'd recommend Meditations by Marcus Aurelius. It helps to take the edge off Rand's personality that shines through her books, and helps to remind you that you can pursue your own happiness without having to be an a**hole to other people.

 

[OldFaithful]

Meditations

I started this one, but found it prohibitive to finish. I'm glad you did.

 

[Delmania]

I started this one, but found it prohibitive to finish. I'm glad you did.

Can you elaborate on that a little? Meditation is basically a primer on stoicism.

A bit more accessible guide is this: http://www.amazon.com/dp/0195374614/?tag=tff-amazonparser-20

 

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[OldFaithful]

Can you elaborate on that a little?

Forgive me, it's been a couple years since. If I remember correctly, the author switched subjects frequently, which caused me pain. I suppose I have a 1 track mind. There were also frequent references to historical people/events that were not on the tip of my tongue. I was stopping frequently to use google/wikipedia to better understand the thought being conveyed. It just became laborious and I moved on.

 

[Delmania]

Forgive me, it's been a couple years since. If I remember correctly, the author switched subjects frequently, which caused me pain. I suppose I have a 1 track mind. There were also frequent references to historical people/events that were not on the tip of my tongue. I was stopping frequently to use google/wikipedia to better understand the thought being conveyed. It just became laborious and I moved on.

That makes sense. The translation I have actually has a large section introducing Marcus and his life, and has a lengthy footnotes section that helps to understand that. I think the other book I posted is a bit more accessible. It's just learning about stoicism, and how that can help you stay calm while storms rage around you.