Atlas Shrugged

[hulahips]

has anyone read atlas shrugged?? I would like to read it but it is sooooo long??

[graciegirl]

has anyone read atlas shrugged?? I would like to read it but it is sooooo long??

This may be helpful.

Atlas Shrugged FAQ (http://www.noblesoul.com/orc/books/rand/atlas/faq.html)

Ayn Rand is usually worth the effort.

http://www.noblesoul.com/orc/bio/biofaq.html

[allus70]

Have someone else read it to you...listen as you take a walk or relax in your lanai..as in an audiobook. You can purchase it or borrow it for free.....FLP - DIGITAL MEDIA LIBRARY - Atlas Shrugged (http://freelibrary.lib.overdrive.com/11FD4387-142E-4D3F-A480-C13BD66DF014/10/392/en/ContentDetails.htm?ID=708C295A-CA7E-49ED-9929-7D229641FACA)

[clod]

Can be easily confused with current events. Sounds more like 2012 than 50 years ago.

:BigApplause::BigApplause:

[jblum315]

I read it about 100 years ago. Not easy reading

[Parker]

Very interesting concept. I've read the book and my husband listened to the abridged CD version. We both agreed that it was lengthy and dull at times. But persevere dear reader and you will be rewarded with political insight you might not otherwise have obtained. There's a reason such an old book is still spoken of and quoted so often today.

[Silky]

It's a great book with Ayn Rand's philosophy. Read it when you have lots of time to thoroughly enjoy it.

Silky

[ducati1974]

I agree with previous responders- it can be tedious at times but all in all it was a very worthwhile read. Certainly the longest book I've ever read. Some people feel its all about the rich getting richer but I prefer to think its about the go-getters, thinkers and hard workers making the world go round. A great read about human nature about how some people will rise only to a certain level and some will persevere beyond. You will certainly make parallels to today. I've since gotten a Kindle and I'm not so sure I like it as much as reading a real paper book! I might be switching back.

[Midvale]

has anyone read atlas shrugged?? I would like to read it but it is sooooo long??

You may want to start with "We the Living" as a Rand introduction; much easier reading and much shorter. Then move on to "The Fountainhead" or "Atlas Shrugged".

[collie1228]

Rand can be boring at times, but as the other posters said, you may find many parallels in today's world. Her "looters" and "moochers" are alive today, and the "parasites" are still at every level of our political system. I loved her novels, but if you have any liberal leanings, you probably won't. She was a true capitalist who believed in personal responsibility above all else. And there is nothing subtle in her writings.

[JimJoe]

It is a Long book.. well over 1,000 pages.. and I could just not do it with the hard cover or paperback.. print just too small.. So I bought it as my first ebook.. read it on my laptop, and loved it.. by adjusting the fonts to BIG.. and enjoying the highlighting, dictionary features, note taking, sharing insights from the internet, I not only enjoyed AS, but I learned that ebooks are the only way to go..
If you have trouble reading small print, go to amazon or barnes and nobles, download their free app for your laptop or desktop, start an account and try out a free book. If you like it, read AS on your computer or dive in with an ebook reader.
AS is long, but I found it interesting and actually an easy read. Read a review or two to get a flavor for the plot lines and characters, keep some notes or highlighting as you go, and it is a reading experience you will not forget.
JJ

[BarryRX]

I read it when I was just 17 years old, and at that time it was hugely influential in my life. The philosophy behind her writing is rational self interest. In other words, she believed that our purpose in life is to pursue our own happiness. As I've gotten older, I have found that philosophy to be a little simplistic, but also believe there is some truth in it. I never found either The Fountainhead or Atlas Shrugged to be too tedious, and in fact have reread both of them a number of times through the years.

[redwitch]

There are some books that I will re-read over and over. Atlas Shrugged is definitely one of those books. The first time I read it was I was about 14 and I re-read it about every 5 years. I will admit that now I skip a lot of the beginning -- it is a slow start, but the tedious beginning is important in meeting the characters. Also on my list is Stranger in a Strange Land by Robert Heinlein, which I discovered about the same time (also a slow start).

[hulahips]

well thanks everyone!! I do have paperback and print is small so maybe I will puchase a large print book and try to make it my summer read!!

I do so much want to read it and then we can discuss!!

[chuckinca]

Atlas Shrugged is a piece of cake to read after reading Ulysses!


.

[mac9]

Chuckinca, How I do agree with you! But, both were worth it.
I somehow can't get into the EBooks. I want to smell the paper and feel the book and hear the crackling of the spine.

[Barefoot]

I read it about 100 years ago. Not easy reading

I also read it about 100 years ago, and I remember I loved the book. Sadly, as is often the case these days, I can't recall much about it. Time for a reread.

[graciegirl]

I also read it about 100 years ago, and I remember I loved the book. Sadly, as is often the case these days, I can't recall much about it. Time for a reread.

Me too Bare, I just won three of Ayn Rands books on Ebay for less than ten bucks including shipping.

I will soon be smarter..

I hope.:1rotfl:

[Pturner]

Like others, I read Atlas Shrugged about 100 years ago, and then again about 15 years ago. It's an intricate novel and provocative treatice in one. So, while long, it needs careful reading lest subtleties are lost.

Thought it was one of the best books I ever read, though some of her views are quite extreme and simplistic. For example, the book amplifies her belief in selfishness as the ultimate virtue and altruism as irrational.

The notion that conservatives would like her and liberals not-- I dunno about that. Her objectivism cut both ways. Yes, she was the ultimate Laissez faire capitalist and rugged individualist who favored minimal government. She was also an atheist and was pro choice.

[wannab]

A hundred years ago when I read it, I was very young and impressionable. Since than, I have discovered the Social Contract and developed a conscious! Yeah, I'm a card-carrying liberal (and probably vote democratic too).

[Chuckw]

I have read the book at least 8 times and I have the unabridged audio book, which, as I recall, runs about 64 hours.... I have been trying to get my wife to read it and have been unsuccessful so I thought I would try to get her to listen to it as we were driving... She got through two discs and it simply did not interest her. Oh well...

Part II of the movie will be out this Fall (before the election) I did not feel that Part I did justice to the book, but who would want to see a 60 hour movie?

I don't think that the theme of the book will ever get old because the dynamics of the clash of the producers/takers will probably never change.

I do not believe that it is possible to read this book without thoughts of the current political environment in the world today.

A most enjoyable read.

[hulababy]

same with how to kill 11 million people. can't read it without thinking about current political movement. I will get through this book sometime. It's been sitting on my bookshelf and I want to read it, it's so just sooooooooo long!!

[Villages PL]

I checked out a DVD from the Villages Library. It was part I. When I brought it back I tried to put a hold on part II, but they told me they only had part I. So that was the end of that. I can't say that I was disapointed because it wasn't an easy movie to follow.