A = A
good thing, compared to the current degernate ideogly.
Great post, especially the synopsis!
Atlas Shrugged is a thick book, but worth the effort. It has many redeeming qualities as far as how managing methods and how government policies fail. As well as how society should require individuals to make an effort because welfare doesn't help individuals or society when there is no participation by recipients.
bump to read later
(If you want on or off this list please freepmail me.)
Hank
"Atlas Shrugged", which I read for the first time at an early age, is still my favorite. If you haven't, you must.
Except for Rand's plot points of women giving themselves to the "ideal man" outside wedlock, I heartily endorse Atlas Shrugged.
It should be required reading in the publik skool system....but that would actually help society, wouldn't it? Oh well, so much for that idea
Mark
Bump for later reading. Thanks for posting.
With apologies to the religious, "Atlas Shrugged" is the greatest book ever written. I have read it and I have it on tape although it's very highly abridged. It's a timeless book, as applicable now as when it was written!
Celebrate Capitalism™ 2004
"For the love of freedom! And the glory of human creativity!"
Sunday, June 6 2004, is International Capitalism Day!
Worldwide rallies, concerts, debates, awards, street parties, workshops, fun and festivities!
We are used to the later New Deal programs like Social Security, but the early programs were truly scary.
(Posted by SauronOfMordor's 15 year-old daughter)
When I was younger, about 8 or 9, I found out what Communism was. I had heard about it from an older, Liberal friend, and thought it was a pretty grand idea. I told my dad about Communism, and how great it was, that everyone could work together for a common good.
Instead of arguing with me about what a flawed view this was, my dad handed me a thick book, Atlas Shrugged. He told me to read a certain chapter, entitled "Money". It was about a motor factory. So I read the chapter. And it blew my mind.
It made perfect sense. Communism would never, ever work. I just read that one chapter of the book at that point, but it stuck with me forever. After a few years, I read the whole of Atlas Shrugged, and loved it just as I had loved that one chapter.
This book has helped me through the years to take everything Liberals tell me with not just a grain of salt but a whole carton of it. I have never veered away from Capitalism and all it entails since.
It's still one of my favorite books, and I think everyone should read it at some point in their life.
Am I the only one surprised a Professor at Wheeling Jesuit University would consider using this text? Atlas Shrugged faily completely denies the existence of a creator and promotes man as God. Its a facinating read, but . . .
Thanks for the post, links.
aynrandfreak, I'm glad you liked the synopsis.
BipolarBob, Atlas Shrugged is a thick book, but worth the effort, yes; but it is not such an effort for some. My wife has read it dozens of times (but then she reads from five to ten books a week).
Zevonismymuse, My 29 year old son quotes this book constantly. Be proud!
gorush, "Atlas Shrugged", which I read for the first time at an early age, is still my favorite. If you haven't, you must. Yes!
P.O.E., Except for Rand's plot points of women giving themselves to the "ideal man" outside wedlock, I heartily endorse Atlas Shrugged. You are right. Wheat does not come without chaff, however.
Socratic, One-third of this book could easily be edited out ... no doubt, and it would have satisfied those whose attention spans hardly extend beyond the next "play" or sound-bight. For the rest of us, there is nothing in Atlas that is not essential to its fullest enjoyment.
musical_airman, It should be required reading in the publik skool system. Yes! I like you tagline.
KarlInOhio, Authors are the creators while editors are the looters and moochers ... Frequently, but not always.
Chu Gary, With apologies to the religious, "Atlas Shrugged" is the greatest book ever written. According to the Library of Congress, after the Bible, Atlas Shrugged is the most popular book of all time.
Fred Hayek, The Russian finance minister one time said that Rand should be required reading in universities. What a difference two decades make. It isn't, however, and Russia is going backward. Did you know, Rand did not care for Hayek?
Mr.Atos, More interesting is the fact that it is not [required reading for High School seniors]... and that Rand is never mentioned once in a typical American Lit. curriculum. Yes, a damn shame too. But do not expect American public school teachers to recommend their students read what will reveal their own uselessness to those students. Thanks for the always interesting comments.
KarlInOhio, While reading a book on the Great Depression, I finally realized what that the collapse described in Atlas Shrugged is essentially the depression without the Supreme Court stepping in to declare as unconstitutional early New Deal projects like the National Recovery Administration. The ridiculous projects, government bureaus, the businessmen happily going along with the program if it meant a chance to have the feds crush a competitor and even the names of the villains sound like the New Deal. Yes. The realism of Atlas is invisible only to those who hate reality.
beavus, It seems silly from the perspective of a woman, but it sure is a motivator for men to imitate the "ideal man". That should at least raise the caliber of men available; why would that be silly to women?
kittymyrib, But the problem of anti-business bias begins much earlier than high school. Saturday morning cartoons, after-school programs, and elementary school science texts push the enviro-nazi gospel that paints business as bad and enviro-nazis/government as saving the world, so children are brain-washed long before high school. Oh yes. How many parents are ignorant of that, and how many plunk their children in front of the great socialist propaganda machine, and then cannot figure out how their children ever got all those wrong ideas.
Zon, Though the polarity in college education is lopsidedly PC-status quo it wouldn't be if elementary education hadn't started that path. Yes. Thanks for the John Taylor Gatto links. A great man fighting a loosing battle. The problem is not how public schools are run, the problem is public schools.
Hank