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kmthomas06's review against another edition
3.0
I have finally finished this book. I am still processing it. At the end of the day...I know the points she was trying to make. She hits your repeatedly over the head with them for over 1000 pages. Her characters are pretty much cardboard and interchangeable. All the good guys are the same; all the bad guys are the same. That's why in the end the romances she pursues are rather empty. It doesn't matter what guy the heroine ends up with; all three are basically the same character.
I started out enjoying the book; more than I had the last three times I'd tried to read it. It seems very timely in a way; a good reflection of what our government was currently experiencing. But it went off the rails pretty quick - going to extremes to prove a point which in the end was just sort of...well...deathly dull in a way. She goes on for pages upon pages about the same things in multiple characters. Skimming was resorted to - for once I'm not ashamed to admit it.
What drove me nuts about reading this book was you want to be able to debate with these characters. They are so black and white when reality is gray. A big dose of humility wouldn't be misplaced either but I guess in the context of the novel, they are supposedly that good. In their world, absolutes are the goal but like I said, I understand it but I don't like it and in the end, I didn't much care for the book either. I appreciate what she did as a writer which is why it gets three stars but overall, not a book I'll be reading again any time soon.
I started out enjoying the book; more than I had the last three times I'd tried to read it. It seems very timely in a way; a good reflection of what our government was currently experiencing. But it went off the rails pretty quick - going to extremes to prove a point which in the end was just sort of...well...deathly dull in a way. She goes on for pages upon pages about the same things in multiple characters. Skimming was resorted to - for once I'm not ashamed to admit it.
What drove me nuts about reading this book was you want to be able to debate with these characters. They are so black and white when reality is gray. A big dose of humility wouldn't be misplaced either but I guess in the context of the novel, they are supposedly that good. In their world, absolutes are the goal but like I said, I understand it but I don't like it and in the end, I didn't much care for the book either. I appreciate what she did as a writer which is why it gets three stars but overall, not a book I'll be reading again any time soon.
mmorganfw's review against another edition
5.0
5 star writing, character development, storytelling.
Less than 5 star for the philosophy.
Less than 5 star for the philosophy.
sisforsony's review against another edition
AWaiting another library copy of the audiobook
doesitcomeinabook's review against another edition
4.0
This was actually and weirdly useful.
The only bad thing I can find here is the tendency for some characters to over explain certain points. Then again, it is completely self aware, as John Galt admits.
The only bad thing I can find here is the tendency for some characters to over explain certain points. Then again, it is completely self aware, as John Galt admits.
maralisephoto's review against another edition
4.0
An almost erotic love affair with steel and mills, railroads and capitalism. It is heavy handed in rhetoric even for a dystopian novel, painfully long, dogmatic to an extreme, not even a little bit nuanced (any novel's fatal flaw imo), more of a morality play than a modern novel, AND absolutely, stunningly executed; a brilliant piece of complex literature. I don't know how the author can hold all those birds in her hand, but she does. And how.
If you both love and hate America, then this might just help you understand why. It is unabashedly fond of a free market economy and extremely critical of any religious or socially-minded manipulation of said economy. In other words, it loves American capitalism and hates the society upon which capitalism has flourished so successfully and for so long. The unraveling of the tension caused by the pull of these two ideas fills every page as it has filled the history of the American nation.
And there are winners. And losers. And although it's no mystery who they will be, walking away from the story would be like walking away from Promontory Point before the railroads met for the first time, like NOT buying that ticket to a Broadway show during a trip to New York, like never seeing the Grand Canyon. It would be, well, at least for an American, unnatural. And ultimately, unfortunate.
There's no lack of quotable quotes from this book, but here are two of my favorites:
"Your fear of death is not a love for life"
and
"To fear to face an issue is to believe that the worst is true."
If you both love and hate America, then this might just help you understand why. It is unabashedly fond of a free market economy and extremely critical of any religious or socially-minded manipulation of said economy. In other words, it loves American capitalism and hates the society upon which capitalism has flourished so successfully and for so long. The unraveling of the tension caused by the pull of these two ideas fills every page as it has filled the history of the American nation.
And there are winners. And losers. And although it's no mystery who they will be, walking away from the story would be like walking away from Promontory Point before the railroads met for the first time, like NOT buying that ticket to a Broadway show during a trip to New York, like never seeing the Grand Canyon. It would be, well, at least for an American, unnatural. And ultimately, unfortunate.
There's no lack of quotable quotes from this book, but here are two of my favorites:
"Your fear of death is not a love for life"
and
"To fear to face an issue is to believe that the worst is true."
kylebarn00's review against another edition
challenging
hopeful
informative
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
architmanek's review against another edition
4.0
Atlas Shrugged is a book that makes you think deeply about individualism, capitalism, and the role of government. Ayn Rand explores these ideas through characters like Dagny, Hank, Francisco, and John, who are determined, driven, and unwavering in their beliefs. The book is lengthy and filled with philosophical monologues, which might be overwhelming for some readers. The characters often feel more like symbols of Rand’s ideas than real people, and there’s a noticeable overlap in their personalities and ideals, which can make them feel less distinct. This might be off-putting for some, but it’s an effective way to convey the core principles of Objectivism. The central message about staying true to your values and the dangers of self-sacrifice for others comes through clearly.
However, the book can sometimes feel more like a philosophy lesson than a narrative, with certain parts reading more like lectures than storytelling. While Atlas Shrugged offers a lot to think about and challenges you to question your beliefs, it’s not without its flaws. The black-and-white approach to complex issues and the lack of emotional depth in the characters might make it harder to fully connect with the story. Despite these shortcomings, the book leaves a lasting impression and I’m sure I’ll be reflecting on its ideas long after finishing it
However, the book can sometimes feel more like a philosophy lesson than a narrative, with certain parts reading more like lectures than storytelling. While Atlas Shrugged offers a lot to think about and challenges you to question your beliefs, it’s not without its flaws. The black-and-white approach to complex issues and the lack of emotional depth in the characters might make it harder to fully connect with the story. Despite these shortcomings, the book leaves a lasting impression and I’m sure I’ll be reflecting on its ideas long after finishing it
madfil's review against another edition
1.0
(2002)
The only book I have no intention of finishing (having read a bit more than half). This bored me to tears. I conceded defeat after I realised that it would take me the better part of a decade (or two) to get to the end... ughh!
The only book I have no intention of finishing (having read a bit more than half). This bored me to tears. I conceded defeat after I realised that it would take me the better part of a decade (or two) to get to the end... ughh!
kurteff's review against another edition
slow-paced
I read this in the mid-2000s as a young teen with very limited Internet access – I had no idea who Ayn Rand was outside of Anthem, a book I really liked. Imagine the gut-punch I felt when I opened this tome of libertarian slop. Still not sure how I made it through this book