Atlas Shrugged
by Ayn Rand, Sophie Bastide-Foltz, Adrian Rand · first published 1957
27% recommend46% neutral27% critical
Why HN recommends it
Novel dramatizing individual rights, free exchange and a strike by producers against an overreaching state; readers value it for making Objectivism easy to follow and for prompting them to rethink their own views.
Common criticism: Some find it overlong, with prose and characters weighed down by philosophical lecturing
Summarised by Claude from recommending comments
The year 2005 marks Ayn Rand's Centennial Year.The astounding story of a man that said that he would stop the motor of the world-and did. Tremendous in scope, breathtaking in its suspense, Atlas Shrugged is unlike any other book you have ever read.“A writer of great power. She has a subtle and ingenious mind and the capacity of writing brilliantly, beautifully, bitterly.”-The New York Times
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Everyone who I know that's read Atlas Shrugged (including myself) turned into a selfish jerk for at least a month after reading it. God help us if the "Ayn Rand temporary jerk phenomenon" is unleashed through movie theaters all at once. It's a good…
on “With 'Atlas Shrugged,' Hollywood may have its first anti-bailout movie” ↗Atlas Shrugged A book I revisit every few years. It's taught me to be honest with myself even if the social norms aren't in alignment with I'm doing. It's also gave me a deeper understanding of my fellow man and why…
on “Ask HN: Which non-technology book has influenced you the most and why?” ↗The Fountainhead and Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand. These two books taught me the importance of being true to one's values and not sacrificing them under any circumstances. They introduced me to Individualism and Objectivism which have profoundly…
on “Ask HN: Books on specific topics that have applied to many areas of your life?” ↗…by a collection of political forces. Money is the primary lever by which pressure is exerted in order to execute political policy. I am not an enormous Ayn Rand fan, however there were a few parts of Atlas Shrugged I really did find very eye opening. The effete playboy of the series had a good one that I'll briefly include here to outline the importance of the core issue as it relates to the subtle strings of force…
on “Safari extension to hide Bitcoin stories on HN” ↗…"Good to Great" by Jim Collins And finally (and I don't want to turn this into a political flamewar, "grain of salt" applies here as well, etc, etc) but the book that had the most influence on me was "Atlas Shrugged" by Ayn Rand. Unlike all the others on the list above, it's a work of fiction, but I think it is the best at capturing and romanticizing the joy and euphoria that you feel when you build something that…
on “Can Entrepreneurs be Made?” ↗Despite Atlas Shrugged and The Fountainhead being amongst my favorite books, Ayn Rand always has me so polarized. Her moral philosophies and ability to write characters earns my unmatched admiration. But her blinding hatred…
on “Ayn Rand Mike Wallace Interview 1959” ↗I'll be upfront with my bias: I strongly agree with Ayn Rand's politics, philosophy, and worldview. Atlas Shrugged is my favorite book. I think Ayn Rand had integrity as a person, and she's one of my heroes. That said, I agree that the movie doesn't look great. I'll almost certainly go see it anyway, but I'm bracing…
Atlas Shrugged - Ayn Rand also, not a book but very good "The last question" Isaac Asimov [1] [1] http://www.multivax.com/last_question.html
on “Ask HN: What is the most mind blowing book you've ever read?” ↗…clarify, because I like The Fountainhead much more. But you make a very good point. The Fountainhead is the better book. It's better edited, the characters are better, and the plot is much more secure. Atlas Shrugged isn't nearly as good if you don't have Roark and Toohey and Dominique fixed in your mind, because Rand doesn't spend time making her characters realistic in Atlas. She just assumes that you can make the…
on “With 'Atlas Shrugged,' Hollywood may have its first anti-bailout movie” ↗I posted this on Pandalous, but since other people are posting answers here: I'm surprised that no one has yet mentioned any of Ayn Rand's works. I highly recommend Atlas Shrugged, The Fountainhead, and her many nonfiction books. For an academic perspective on these ideas, I recommend two of Dr. Tara Smith's books (she's a professor of philosophy at UT-Austin) - "Viable Values:…
on “Becoming "well read"” ↗…seems to take a very shallow, "soundbite" perspective. eg: to presume that the book opposes charity, advocates meanness or evil, etc. Near as I can tell, there is a huge cult who hates Ayn Rand and Atlas Shrugged, and the reason seems to be that her book clearly and logically demolishes the philosophy they espouse. They cannot address it honestly because that would bring up the actual issues in their philosophy…
on “Atlas Shrugged film to be released in 2011” ↗Read: Ayn Rand - We The Living Currently Reading: Ayn Rand - Atlas Shrugged Honestly loving Atlas Shrugged, but We The Living is easily my favorite book I have ever read. It has deeply affected how I think about life and I share many philosophical beliefs with Rand, would highly…
on “Ask HN: What is HN reading?” ↗…life The Bible (& The Gnostic Gospels) - I love the idea that Jesus was a real guy who (literally) petrified his childhood playmates because they "vexed" him by dispersing his anti-gravity water :) Atlas Shrugged - no excuses Self and Others - personal pyschology Seth Speaks - a lady channels an interdimensional being The Road Less Travelled - a psychoanalyst's memoirs Letters to a Young Artist - encouragement…
on “Ask HN: What are the books that changed the perspective of your life?” ↗Atlas Shrugged, by Ayn Rand. Really enjoying it. Interesting how certain times can shape the perspective of the roles of society, companies and government. Before that I read the entire Game of Thrones series. Not…
on “Ask HN: What books are you reading?” ↗I'm still looking for the discontinued Dutch version of Atlas Shrugged (also Ayn Rand for those who don't know) to give to people around me (many don't regularly read in English). It changed me, I think it can do wonders for insecure people that tend to efface themselves…
on “Ask HN: What book have you given as a gift?” ↗