Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand

[cringepop_offline]

This story seemed to be a tribute to the people that 'move' this world. As Ayn Rand discussed in her introduction she wanted to make a story about what happens when the 'movers' of the world go on strike due to a parasitical nature from mediocre people who hide in the name of virtue for humanity. Part one you get the feel of the world about to slip into a dystopian one however, the protagonist characters you meet are still trying to keep society going despite the bureaucracy and laws being made to obstruct their work as industrialists. The antagonist view the industrialists as greedy, inconsiderate, who have no spiritual value many are socialites and politicians. Part two is my favorite as it holds philosophical ideas about currency and money while also showing how harmful it is to allow meritocracy to disguise itself as virtue for humanity. The dystopian world creeps in with a drop of a totalitarian law as a result of what the antagonists of the story wanted without quite knowing or understanding. Slowly the genius of the world begin to mysteriously disappear and business as well. While that all happens the antagonists of the story are still wondering why things are getting worse, while the few protagonists left are trying to uncover the mystery of where all the bright minds have gone to. Part three is a mix of wrapping the story up as well as a lengthy philosophical break down on morals, living, and logical codes to a successful society.

 

I enjoyed this whole book as the take away instills a way out of meritocracy. Some things within this book were a bit extra to my liking. There is a love triangle which I am not a huge fan of but reading more about Ayn Rand it seems like something she likes to do within her stories as well as her personal life suggests. The ending was ok, I am picky about endings though. I feel like it was a bit rushed as she seemed to try to show what happened with one character but left an implied feeling to it, then back to the love triangle. I felt like Ayn Rand could have focused more on what the world looked like after all the destruction.

 

This is my first review I was not sure where to post this, also feel free to give me tips.

[lunababymoonchild]

Looks good to me and a longer and more detailed review than I can muster. Thanks for that and welcome to the forum.

 

I've been toying with reading Ayn Rand for a while and never gotten around to it. This review will put it further up the list.

[cringepop_offline]

@lunababymoonchildThank you for asking me to leave a review helped give me motivation I appreciate that. Yeah Ayn Rand was one of those authors I would hear about and when I picked up Atlas shrugged I did not think I would be interested but she has some good hooks in her story telling. Reading Atlas Shrugged was spontaneous for me it just sort of happened.

[KEV67]

I read one of her other books, The Fountainhead. Her hero was an architect who designed well thought out, functional buildings, but without any frilly bits. He would absolutely refuse to design Doric columns, or arches or leaded windows. He did not have any friends, although he had a mentor. I think he did cop off with some blonde beauty, almost as uncompromising as himself.

[cringepop_offline]

@KEV67I defiantly want to read Fountainhead but I like to take breaks from authors especially after Atlas Shrugged. From what I gathered about Fountainhead it seemed to delve into social contracts, capitalism and socialism being the main subjects of that book. I need to check on here if their is a review of Fountainhead if not you should write one I would greatly appreciate it.