Vanessa’s last login was Thursday, July 23 2009. « hide recent activity
Vanessa is planning to read The Interpretation of Dreams.
Vanessa rated Eclipse 6 months ago.
Vanessa rated Breaking Dawn 6 months ago.
Vanessa added Eclipse as a favorite 6 months ago.
Vanessa has read Eclipse.
Vanessa added Breaking Dawn as a favorite 6 months ago.
Vanessa has read Breaking Dawn.
Vanessa has read Dreams from My Father.
Vanessa is now reading The Host.
Vanessa’s last login was Thursday, July 23 2009. show recent activity »
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Welcome to Better than Starbucks! Look around, make yourself at home, start a new thread or dig up an old one or just read and jump in on the more active ones.We are honored to be one of your first groups!
Thanks!! I love books!...cat.
Yep .. though Atlas Shrugged is a little too contrite and long, it really does explain the "human spirit" in a wonderful manner ....
Wow I am impressed with the way people have gone about analysing Ayn Rand. I think one should read a book for it's own joy, rather than to analyse it and what it conveys like a typical psycho.Don't worry its a good book, you will enjoy it. Happy reading.
If you have not read Fountainhead then don't read this first. You have to read Fountainhead first (a very good read). Atlas shrugged is overwritten with the story and philosophy stretching alot at end.
Ayn Rand. Atlas Shrugged is not a good place to start Ayn Rand. Start with Fountainhead and don't miss Anthem. But don't read any of these books or any of Ayn Rand if you don't like to ask yourself where you stand and where the world stands. Yes, she had an agenda, at least all the evidence points that ways anyways. But, a good book is one that provokes you to think and grow. I read Ayn Rand now almost 15 years back. I have loved her writings, loathed them and gone a full circle to holding them almost in reverence.
I think Ayn Rand is a hoot. She was once very influential, and a highly valued friend of Alan Greenspan. No one reads her for her literary style. This girl wears rather leaden boots. She had an agenda, which at one time seemed radical, but now seems almost quaint. She thought altruism a deformity, and narcissism a healthy norm and this view was posited in economic and political terms. Hot stuff a long, long time ago.
Atlas Shrugged is the story of what happens when the men of the mind go on strike. It is a ownderful fictional read, but also incorporates Ms. rand's philosophy of Objectivism, which will definitely polarize any and all readers. Either you agree with her philosophy or not, no grey areas. She's not for everyone, but she's definitely controversial. The Socialists who do not agree with her philosophy will argue vehemently against her books, but people who believe in a rational existence for mankind will argue the opposite. Depends on your philosophy and sense of life. The first time I read it, I could hardly put it down for meals, work, etc. I read her books in an order suggested to me by a friend at the time, when I was in my mid-twenties, with The fountainhead before Atlas Shrugged. If you do read this book, I'd love to hear your opinions. Gary Lukatch
Ayn Rand has very one-dimmensional characters used as mechanisms to convey an agenda. The story is over-written, which is the main reason it drags out of over 1,000 pages. I read this book in high school when I felt closer to its Objectivist point of view. As a Progressive, (recovering Objectivist) I re-read this book (audibook, this time) and realised how much frame of mind matters when reading propaganda. :)
i'd suggest you take the fountainhead first.Ayn rand is pretty good in terms of character development. Atlas Shrugged isn't exactly the type you read in one sitting. it's long, can be tedious at times and IF you allow it, can be a vneue for you to ask yourself life questions
Atlas Shrugged is the first book that I stopped reading midway. I leave you to draw your own conclusions from that.
I really, absolutely LOVED it- one of my top favorites. I liked the grit and turmoil the characters go through to emerge victorious and the epic struggle between good and evil. The book is about how steely you are in an industrial world.Pretty thick at about 1100 page, need a lot patience !!Njoy!
I just got done reading other comments out of sheer curiosity. Maybe others will want to crucify me for this, but I do not particularly find objectivism that enlightening, or Ayn Rand very deep, or think you should read The Fountainhead first. Objectivism is simply Adam Smith revisited and put forth in the path of communism, a popular past time in 1920s US, but one that waned when the Great Depression occured. You could just read Anthem and understand Ayn Rand with ease, and if you have the patience to read a couple of repetitive thousand pagers, by all means read more of Rand. She was a phenomenon in her day due to the times she lived through, and her 'escape' from the USSR. In that context she may be seen as extraordinary, but the her contribution is small in my feeble mind's humble opinion.
Read Fountainhead first. Then U'll know if u want to rad Atlas shrugged. Fountainhead is a must. Happiness
It is a good book. As another commenter suggests it is best to read Fountainhead first. The author has some strong opinions about a few things based on her personal experiences and upbringing (if you happen to read about how Ayn Rand came up in life, its quite inspiring). But it gets you thinking about things rationally. In my case it has done more than that--so I am definitely a go for it! Have fun.
epends on whether you're in the mood for some fairly deep thinking and soul searching....this is a philosophical tome definitely not meant for light reading. A better thing to do (as another reader has anyways advised) is to first read 'The Fountainhead' and follow it up with 'Atlas Shrugged' . Btw from a personal perspective i can share that i read this book when I was 14 and since then i read it once a year so that's like 10 reads already! It's absolutely one of my life defining books alngwith The Fountainhead.
Sorry.... Dunno How my note got posted thrice :O
Ayn Rand has an altogether different and quite inspiring philosophy. Writing style of the author is also very captivating. Atlas Shrugged is a thought provoking book. However, its pretty thick. If you are sure you want to read that, go for it.Seems you havn't read other Rand books too. You can go for Fountain Head. If you get hooked to Ayn Rand's philosophy (which is highly probable)apart from the Architectural value, go for Atlas Shrugged too.
