FReeper Book Club: Atlas Shrugged, Afterword and Suggested Reading

A Billthedrill Essay | 15 August 2009 | Billthedrill

[OldNavyVet]

Bravo! And, Thank you.

[CottonBall]

Anyone with a working mind, looking at the state America is in today should either cry in despair or be mad as hell and be ready to fight!

I vacillate between the two.

BTW, from another thread about cows, I was thinking that since you are from Wisconsin, you have to have the state mascot, don't you?

[BamaGirl]

Thanks so much for all your hard work and dedication on this! Like many others on this thread, your analysis was something I’d look forward to all week. I am so sad it is over.

I suppose the most direct way to show my thanks is to make sure I buy your book when it comes out! :)

Thanks also to all of yall regular commentators, r-q-tek86, stylin_geek, StillThinking, .... I’ve learned so much from all of you. Yall make FreeRepublic a wonderful place.

[gracie1]

Thank you for a job well done. I may not have posted every week, but I dutifully read the thread each week. I know so few people who are familiar with AR, it was good to get further insight from others. Good luck with your agent and I hope you get published.

[Diana in Wisconsin]

Well, we have two. The Whitetail Deer:

And Bucky Badger shoveling snow, LOL!

[Tired of Taxes]

Thank YOU, Publius and BilltheDrill, for all of your work in this book club.

I bought Atlas Shrugged from a used book sale, and it looked brand new. The previous owner probably never opened it. Then it sat on my shelf for years. In January, when reality began to mirror Atlas Shrugged, there was much talk on the radio and elsewhere about starting book clubs to read it. But, none that I know materialized. You made it happen. If you hadn't, I never would have found the time to read this book. This book club was very successful, especially considering the size and all the challenges of this story.

I may have disagreed with a few of Rand's statements, but her theories on economics affirmed my beliefs. And, ironically, I learned more about morality from this book - more specifically, self-respect and the moral obligation we each have to look out for our own self interests. In a way, Rand is hitting people over the head with this big, thick book - knocking some sense into us. I always believed in the value of individualism, but I never understood the moral obligation behind it.

Thank you, again. Looking forward to another FReeper book club, but I'm sure you need a break after this one. ;-)

[Tired of Taxes]

And good luck on the new book. Please let us know when it hits the market.

[Taxman]

This text caught my eye upon a second reading:

“. . .looters. Their methods are law. They are secure in the knowledge that their enemies are law-abiding. They flatter themselves that they are equal in virtue to the producers as all are merely thieves. They feel superior to the producers as they are the more successful thieves. In a world where all economic activity is theft, success in thievery is the logical summit of society and the rightful task of those who sit there.”

A statement which most accurately describes Obama and his followers, IMHO. And, some Republicans, sadly.

These modern day looters mean to destroy us, and if we sit idly by, they will.

As part of our commitment not to sit idly by and let the looters win, my wife and I will attend the September 12 March on Washington.

Will I see any of you there?

Google “09.12.09 March on Washington” for more info.

[Mad-Margaret]

You and Billthedrill have been brilliant with your analysis of Atlas Shrugged, and I sincerely hope that your efforts are published. I know that I will be reviewing these threads in the future to gain a better understanding of Rand's work. Thank you so much much.

Just a thought. Would Rand's harsh treatment of the Wet Nurse, Cheryl, and Eddie been easier to take if any of the super heros had met a similar fate?

Thank you again. I especially look forward to reviewing these threads during the winter when there aren't the usual distractions of the too short summers of Michigan.

[TradicalRC]

Just a footnote about Miss Rand from her libertarian nemesis, Murray Rorhbard.

To wit: Mozart Was a Red

[WVNight]

Thanks for all you’ve done.

[mick]

That is at least true with me. I ran into business and personal problems that required time and travel.

So I am a few chapters behind. Reading your posts weeks after they were posted made me reluctant to add to the discussion so late. That may be true for others.

Your work was intellegent and perceptive to the highest degree. Really outstanding. And an asset to this site. Well done guys and good luck in the publishing venture.

[definitelynotaliberal]

What she said

I added you, whoda, because you have also contributed greatly to my knowledge of American history. I thank you all so very much.

[Tailback]

I’d just like to echo the kudos given to you by others. While I only lurked and didn’t participate in the discussion, I have to thank you both for the great job and time contributed to this book. I first read Atlas Shrugged years ago and your insight reinforced many of the feelings I experienced during that journey.

Cheers!

[ExGeeEye]

bookmark

[Lynne]

Thank you so much for all your hard work. I started quite late and didn’t comment, but I read every thread and every comment. I enjoyed the analysis and insight and I look forward to the next book. Hopefully, I will start it timely and be able to keep up and comment.

[MtnClimber]

Saturday morning does not seem the same without a new Atlas Shrugged thread!

[Publius]

This is the first Saturday I didn’t have to get up early to post a thread.

[MtnClimber]

I was wondering how much time it took to put together the post for each chapter? They were very well done.

[Publius]

For me, I could get a post ready for a particular chapter in 8 hours or so. Billthedrill took longer for his contributions, I suspect.

The hard work was to marry my and Bill's contributions for the book and then apply a meat axe to the combination to make it work. That took a lot of iterations for each group of ten chapters.