I finally started reading before the weekend, and I find myself 100 pages into the book already.
Tis book is considered one of the greatest political tracts ever written, and is taught in American colleges. If only a wider audience could be reached.... but with talks of an upcoming Atlas Shrugged movie in 2009, starring Angelina and Brad, this novel could make a huge resurgence.
It is brilliant, illustrative and engaging. Written in 1957, the ideas it promotes are more relevant than ever.
The themes of work, accomplishment and the right to pursue individual happiness exists through every chapter.
The set of characters are all deeply engaging and well portrayed.
The sense of pride that the honest entrepreneurs gain through hard work and success are best shown by the attitudes of Dagny Taggart, Hank Rearden, Francisco D’Anconia and Ellis Wyatt. All of them accomplished executives in the mining, railroad or metals industries.
Ayn Rand also inserts many dishonorable characters and charlatans into her story;
James Taggart, the incompetent executive, as well as the bickering and parasitic socialite family of Hank Rearden are all entirely concerned with other people's affairs and how a society ought to make individual sacrifices for the common good.
Ayn Rand certainly had a fierce intellect. This book will make many readers appreciate the individual and their freedoms above any ambiguous concepts of society.
It's a good back overall, and I enjoyed it, but there are some speeches that drag a little - including one in the finale that frankly, I skipped pages over.
ReplyDeleteWhen writing stories, one of the rules for writers is, "show, don't tell"... Rand spent most of the book showing us her message through her character's actions quite well - but then she thought she'd have one of her character's tell us for good measure. It's like she tacked on an essay at the end of the story.
You'll know which part I'm talking about when you get there :) Still worth reading though...
If you skipped Galt's speech, you can't say that you read the back. Or even the book. You wasted your time and it shows.
ReplyDeleteIt's not a religious text, so lighten up... the book could have done with some editing (sacrilege, I know).
ReplyDeletei agree fleeced - favela is showing religious fervour, which ironically is everything Rand railed against. Galt's speech is crucifyingly dull.
ReplyDeletei would be interested to see how you enjoy the book, jono. i found it fascinating but also very poorly edited. it should have been cut back by at least 75%.
I'm only up to Page 120, Chapeter 6. Just after the party at Hank Rearden's house for his wedding anniversary, where Antonio shows up and stuns Jim Taggart by boasting of his failed investment in the San Sebastian mines.
ReplyDeleteThe mockery was delicious, he tells Jim that he was only following Jim's principles - that profits are bad, that employing people is the main purpose, that the public good was served :)
Ah yes - Antonio is my favourite character in the book... I loved his money speech as well.
ReplyDeletejack - not sure if I'd say 75%, but yeah, some editing certainly wouldn't go astray.
I remember South Park having a go at the book as well - and they are mostly libertarian (even if they don't like being pigeon-holed with the label). Of course, Rand hated libertarians, so...