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Post by TexJohn on Mar 27, 2009 8:23:06 GMT -6
Written by Ayn Rand - first published in 1957.
I first read the book 30 years ago. It was, and still is my favorite book. I read it again several years later. This is probably the only book I ever read twice.
A couple of months ago, I encouraged/forced my 15 year old son (Joey) to read it. He finished it just before our drive to Montana. I have enjoyed discussing the topics in the book with him as he read. Since my wife, Nancy has not read the book, I acquired an audio version. so during our 50+ hour drive to and from Montana she got to hear it. It was great to be able to pause and have brief discussions about different parts.
Joey has listed it as his favorite book on his FaceBook page.
It is a 1000+ page book dealing with the problems with socialism and government interference with industry.
It is a great read and extremely germane to the current economic situation. I thought this 30 years ago also.
"Who is John Gault?"
TexJohn
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Post by edie2u on Mar 27, 2009 9:58:30 GMT -6
I reread this book a couple of years ago. It is an excellent book and one of my favorites. I also enjoyed the Fountainhead.
It sounds like you are raising a kid who thinks, TexJohn!
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Post by New Mama on Mar 27, 2009 11:08:35 GMT -6
I also remember this book well. I read it in high school as well as Fountain Head and have been thinking of reading it again. I was reminded of it recently in an article that mentioned a marked increase in the sale of both these books. My mother was a huge fan of Ann Rand.
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Post by Chicago Jake on Mar 27, 2009 13:19:03 GMT -6
I've always wanted to read that book. Maybe now is the right time.
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Post by TexJohn on Mar 27, 2009 14:19:53 GMT -6
Jake - I really think you would like it. I have heard several people reference Atlas Shrugged or other quotes from Ayn Rand in the past few months in the media. (Mostly talk radio.)
If I were to re-read it today, I might have to look for the "BIG PRINT" version.
TexJohn
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Post by Christinko on Mar 27, 2009 16:29:07 GMT -6
But TexJohn, then the book would be even HUGER! Like many above, I've long had the book on my shelf waiting to be read. Fountainhead was cool when I read it as a kid.
Do others here re-read books? I reread Gone With the Wind (thus I know Ashley Wilke's first name) and Jane Austin books all the time. I have two romance novels I reread too. Then of course there's Bradbury & Asimov & Heinlein sci fi...always fun to reread after you've forgotten the details.
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Post by Chicago Jake on Mar 31, 2009 17:36:04 GMT -6
I picked up the book today at Borders so I can take it on my upcoming Hedo trip. The checkout dude looked startled. He said, "Whoa, another one? People are buying this book like crazy these days!"
When I got home, I checked Amazon.com's best seller list. The paperback edition is #29 on the list!
There must be something in the air. Or in the news......Jake
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Post by edie2u on Apr 2, 2009 10:09:08 GMT -6
Chris, I reread books all the time. I am waiting to reread the 'Hot Zone' (I loaned the book out right after I got it and am now waiting to get it back). I have read Gone With The Wind several times over the years.
Wow, that is pretty amazing after all these years.
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Post by Chicago Jake on Apr 2, 2009 10:55:17 GMT -6
Great books are meant to be read many times. It's fun to see how your perception of them ch-ch-changes over the years. I've read "Lord of the Rings" more times than I can remember, and always find something new. I have to re-read Zelazny's "Lord of Light" every decade or so. It keeps getting better.
I've even re-read books I disliked sometimes. I read "Dune" in my teens, and hated it. I was told, "Oh, you were too young. Read it again." Read it in my thirties. Still hated it. Either I was just as smart as a youth, or I'm just as dumb now!
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Post by Ardbeg... innit on Apr 3, 2009 6:30:09 GMT -6
Either I was just as smart as a youth, or I'm just as dumb now! I'll have to notify Beeb that we have another tombstone epitaph for you Jake ;D  |
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Post by Christinko on Apr 3, 2009 9:00:26 GMT -6
I loved the concept of the society in "Dune." I thought it helped me understand other people's cultures. That spitting at a person's feet (wasting your water for them on a desert planet) was a sign of respect fascinated me.
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Post by edie2u on Apr 8, 2009 23:22:09 GMT -6
I just reread "On The Beach" by Nevil Shute. It is the story of the residents of Australia (being the last surviving people in the world) waiting for a radioactive cloud to drift over Australia after a nuclear war.
I first read this book in high school (as it was required reading in one of the literature classes) and have read it several times over the years.
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Post by Ardbeg... innit on Apr 9, 2009 9:45:45 GMT -6
Another good book Edie, and one that was pretty faithfully rendered on screen.
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Post by Christinko on Apr 9, 2009 9:51:40 GMT -6
I'll read that On the Beach book eventually...sounds cool.....but I do want to know first what you learned from it. Do tell please!
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Post by Ardbeg... innit on Apr 9, 2009 10:06:03 GMT -6
For the most part its a "death with dignity" story of a society facing the realization that it has only months to live. Whether civilized society can maintain itself until the very end versus a descent into anarchy, and elements of acceptance versus denial.
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Post by edie2u on Apr 10, 2009 16:33:11 GMT -6
Well put, Gordon. ;D The author put a lot of thought into how the central characters handle their impending death.
I think I donated the book right before I left Florida. If I didn't I will send it to you, Chris. Of course, it maybe several months before I can check.
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Post by Christinko on Apr 10, 2009 17:27:31 GMT -6
I just started humming, "on the road again" in your honor Edie! FYI--in several months (July!) I'll be at a new address...in Calif. Whoo-hoo! Land of super high state tax....ack!
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Post by Chicago Jake on Apr 11, 2009 23:22:45 GMT -6
Hey, gang... I'm back from Hedo. I read about a quarter of "Atlas Shrugged" while there, which is pretty good for me (my lips get tired). I have to say that I already LOVE LOVE LOVE this book! Thanks for the nudge, TexJohn!
What's scary is how prescient the book is: given the events and the themes, it could have been written in the last few months. Sends chills up and down your spine.
However, this is also comforting: if these same worries (the government taking over industry and destroying all incentive to be productive) were active back then, and haven't totally destroyed us even after all these years, then maybe there is indeed hope.
Anyway, I'll reserve final judgment until I've finished the book......Jake
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Post by TexJohn on Apr 14, 2009 14:26:30 GMT -6
Jake - Somehow I thought you would enjoy the book.
I like that word "prescient". I have said how amazingly germane it is to the world today.
TexJohn
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Post by vbplyr on May 15, 2009 4:42:08 GMT -6
That book has always been my favorite - I don't know how many times I reread it, it used to be my "go to book" when I had nothing else to read. It's been a long time since I picked it up - I will have to go unpack more boxes and find it!
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Post by Chicago Jake on Jan 8, 2010 15:51:42 GMT -6
Did anyone catch John Stossel's show on Fox Business Channel last night? It was all about Atlas Shrugged, and how we are basically living the story right now.
If you missed it, it will be rebroadcast sometime over the weekend.......Jake
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Post by Robin Hood on Jan 15, 2010 21:09:21 GMT -6
I have to agree both "The Fountainhead" and "Atlas Shrugged" are in my bookshelf and to be honest... "Atlas Shrugged" is starting to look a little worse for wear, it is the book I just grab off the shelf whenever I travel. It has started many interesting conversations (and almost one fight) sitting in airports or on planes.
In addition to these two books, I have Kim Stanley Robinson's "The Mars Trilogy" (Red Mars, Green Mars, and Blue Mars) that are well read also.
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Post by Ardbeg... innit on Jan 16, 2010 6:45:30 GMT -6
Red Mars is one of the best works of scifi ever written in my opinion, Green Mars was a very worthy follow up, Blue... well, it sucked donkey dicks and was tossed in the recycle pile after the last word was read.
I have read many of KSR's books, both written before and after Red Mars looking for more of the spark he had in that book, disappointingly, its not there.
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Post by Christinko on Jan 16, 2010 13:36:39 GMT -6
Thanks for the Red Mars book referral! Looks good on Amazon. Just ordered it from my library! God, I love technology.
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Post by Robin Hood on Jan 18, 2010 14:29:28 GMT -6
Chris you will enjoy the Mars Trilogy, it is a fantastic read. Another book by KSR that I thought was good was Antarctica. It isn't as good as the Mars series, but still a fantastic read.
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Post by Chicago Jake on Mar 13, 2010 18:16:18 GMT -6
I did it! I finished Atlas Shrugged! Only took me eleven months. Great book, with many words of wisdom (and warning) for our time, and for all time.
A couple of shockers at the end, like Eddie Willer's fate, and Dagney's surprising use of force, but I think both made sense (and were even inevitable) when you think about them......Jake
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