Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand

**Chalet** · July 30th, 2007, 07:09 PM

I've always wanted to read this book. I bought it for a long flight. I just started to read it. Someone please tell me that I should stick with it and why. It's over 1000 paperback pages. I loved the Fountainhead and read it twice.

Help!

**burnt_toast** · July 30th, 2007, 07:19 PM

Ooh, it's a long one - and I think the Fountainhead is significantly better. i've read them both several times and Atlas Shrugged is very similar, but somehow more painful and dense (I've never made it through the 70 page radio address in AS...)

good luck, I can't really give you a good reason to stick with it other than if you liked the Fountainhead you are bound to find many similarities in character and theme so might find some love for it as you go along...

**missbazilb** · August 1st, 2007, 10:11 AM

I am about halfway through it, and I started it in March. Usually I read a book in a day or two, or at most a week. I don't know, I find that she just repeats herself over and over again a lot, almost beating us with her theories. I don't know if I'll finish it, but I'll try.

I didn't read the fountainhead, but I saw the movie on TCM about a month ago, and it struck me as very similar to AS, only with buildings instead of trains.

**nwgirl** · August 1st, 2007, 01:58 PM

I've read the Fountainhead numerous times. Have never been able to get through AS. I too read a book in a couple days. Not this one.

**marina** · February 2nd, 2008, 05:53 PM

I don't know if anyone actually reads that 70p speech.

Anyway, I read the book and was completely enchanted by the content in my early 20s and totally revolted by my early 40s, if that gives you any indication. A lot of people outgrow their Ayn Rand fascination.

There was a great movie about her life starring Helen Mirren a while back. What a loser of a bitch! It's worth seeing.

**JamieElizabeth** · February 2nd, 2008, 06:02 PM

Originally Posted by marina

What a loser of a bitch! It's worth seeing.

Loser of bitch?!?

Ayn?
I've tried reading this book, but can't stick with. I end up jumping through it, and opening random pages. Some of it is very dull.

**MissDecember** · February 2nd, 2008, 06:26 PM

I found it excruciating and couldn't get past the first 100 pages.
I love The Fountainhead though.

**marina** · February 2nd, 2008, 07:57 PM

Originally Posted by JamieElizabeth

Loser of bitch?!?

Ayn?

Yes indeedy, she was horrid. She was a genius, and felt that normal rules did not apply to her.

The movie was titled, "The Passion of Ayn Rand." Eric Stolz and Julie Delpy were also featured. It was based the on writings of one of her much younger and handsome students (with which she had an affair) and his long-suffering wife.

**qwerty** · February 2nd, 2008, 08:10 PM

I had no problem reading through Fountainhead. For Atlas Shrugged, I did the audiotape which was very well done. Fantastic story but for some reason I could never get past pg. 247 each time (twice) I tried to read the book.

**pacific breeze** · February 2nd, 2008, 09:37 PM

I think she was a mediocre writer and as for her politics, they were somewhere to the right of Mann Coulter. 'Nuff said.

**McJag** · February 2nd, 2008, 09:58 PM

I hated it.

**JamieElizabeth** · February 2nd, 2008, 10:30 PM

Originally Posted by marina

Yes indeedy, she was horrid. She was a genius, and felt that normal rules did not apply to her.

The movie was titled, "The Passion of Ayn Rand." Eric Stolz and Julie Delpy were also featured. It was based the on writings of one of her much younger and handsome students (with which she had an affair) and his long-suffering wife.

Oh, okay. Yep. I know that she dated a psychoanalysis who is based in LA to this very day. nathanielbranden.com He has books about self esteem and romantic love. Supposely she is his inspiration, and they were lovers.