For starters, the writing is so poor that even as a young adult I found it trite, and Rand could not hold me in a suspension of disbelief. Libertarian bullshit. The Fountainhead had much more of a lasting effect on my view of individualism and self preservation.
Fuck John Gault ?

“There are two novels that can change a bookish fourteen-year old’s life: The Lord of the Rings and Atlas Shrugged. 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. The other, of course, involves orcs."

[John Rogers, Kung Fu Monkey -- Ephemera, blog post, March 19, 2009]”

It was years ago when I read “Atlas Shrugged”, and I hardly remember it, but doesn’t it present a libertarian perspective?

It’s one thing to advocate for altruism in other people, for punishing rich people, etc., but it’s a different undertakinging to approach society as it really is and try to understand how it works and why.

It’s the difference between an attitude of open-minded respectful curiosity—a desire to understand, and an attitude of envy, grievance, and greed. It’s the difference between actually helping produce real wealth and attempting to wrest money from other people.

Government is not your benevolent protector and provider. Government is a massive, mindless, feudal-like power structure whose only purpose is self-perpetuation and the forceful acquisition of money and power. Some government might be necessary but it must be kept carefully in check.

Good luck, I tried to read that piece of sxcrement 3 times. I have 5,000 hard covers and that's the only one I couldn't finish.

I actually find it hilarious that the right has adopted this as their book. Most of the book rails against government corruption and cronyism. It glorifies pure capitalism, but that is certainly not what r's back. Ignoring the dubious morals of not believing in helping others, the r's seem to have a reading comprehension issue. It explains their views on the bible and ayn rand.

The "greed" variable has been so misunderstood. When people describe her or her philosophy as such, they seem to imply that THEIR perspective is the "moral" one... as if altruism could not exist in Objectivism. Does one FORCE another to be a "giving" person?
Greed is meant to describe the natural desire to care for one's Self primarily....else, how could a person help others when he is denied his own welfare?

Hers is the antidote to collectivism.

Ayn Rand is dangerous and delusional. A brief primer on Atlas Shrugged:

[winstonsdiarydotcom.wordpress.com]

The "greed" variable has been so misunderstood. When people describe her or her philosophy as such, they seem to imply that THEIR perspective is the "moral" one... as if altruism could not exist in Objectivism. Does one FORCE another to be a "giving" person?
Greed is meant to describe the natural desire to care for one's Self primarily....else, how could a person help others when he is denied his own welfare?

Hers is the antidote to collectivism.

I was thinking the exact same thing the other day. Where are Dagny and John when you need them?

Atlas Shrugged formed an important role in my early adult life, but not for the typical reasons. I was enamored with her defense if intellectuals in this book. Because of my youthful inexperience, I overlooked her underlying economic message and bias. I became the secretary for the local college Objectivists Society, did an independent study for philosophy credit on her argument about Naturalism vs. Romanticism. It wasn't until I got older that I understood the defense of laizzez faire economics is flawed snd unsupportable. I still remember the book fondly and have read it more than once, but understand it differently now.

Afterall, "Who us John Galt?"

A damned nasty woman with a grasping greedy outlook....