Atlas Shrugged

By: Ayn Rand

Narrated by: Scott Brick

Peopled by larger-than-life heroes and villains, charged with towering questions of good and evil, Atlas Shrugged is Ayn Rand’s magnum opus: a philosophical revolution told in the form of an action thriller—nominated as one of America’s best-loved novels by PBS’s The Great American Read.

Atlas Shrugged is the "second most influential book for Americans today" after the Bible, according to a joint survey of five thousand people conducted by the Library of Congress and the Book of the Month Club in 1991.

In a scrap heap within an abandoned factory, the greatest invention in history lies dormant and unused. By what fatal error of judgment has its value gone unrecognized, its brilliant inventor punished rather than rewarded for his efforts?

This is the story of a man who said that he would stop the motor of the world—and did. In defense of those greatest of human qualities that have made civilization possible, he sets out to show what would happen to the world if all the heroes of innovation and industry went on strike. Is he a destroyer or a liberator? Why does he have to fight his battle not against his enemies but against those who need him most? Why does he fight his hardest battle against the woman he loves? The answers will be revealed once you discover the reason behind the baffling events that wreak havoc on the lives of the amazing men and women in this remarkable book.

Tremendous in scope and breathtaking in its suspense, Atlas Shrugged is Ayn Rand's magnum opus, which launched an ideology and a movement. With the publication of this work in 1957, Rand gained an instant following and became a phenomenon. Atlas Shrugged emerged as a premier moral apologia for capitalism, a defense that had an electrifying effect on millions of readers (and now listeners) who had never heard capitalism defended in other than technical terms.

©1985 Eugene Winick, Paul Gitlin and Leonard Peikoff (P)2008 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Well worth the time - Well worth the thought

I read the Audible reviews prior to buying the book, and decided that this narrator was worth the try since the cost was half of the other choice. I was not disappointed! I loved the book, not because I agree with all that is in it, but because it makes me think. I am a serious Christian, and this book is written from an athestic view point. What is interesting is the chief premise, among so many, is that we must live by what is, or A = A, or what is, is. I have had my last several months captivated by analyzing this book's many ideas against A = A, when in fact A starts with "there is a God, who is Creator, who is the center of all things." Then one can take the ideas and determine if they really hold up to the real A that is.

The story brings out so many ideas that to list them is daunting, but if you want to have "story" provide you a place for working on, chewing on, thinking about ideas -- and especially those ideas that confront our economy, or governing ideas, and our postmodern age of "there is no absolute truth", then you will most likely enjoy this book. That the author lived through the early days of Soviet and communist rule gives a great deal of credance to her portrayal of the realities of what happens when Marxist ideas are implemented.

The narration was fantastic, in my opionion, contrary to what some have said. If you want to save money and wonder if you should take a chance on this version, I recommended it whole-heartedly. Some have said that Dagne, as the Operating Vice President of the railroad, is too breathy, but I felt the voice used by the narrator projected a very controlled power - an undercurrent of constantly sheathed strength.

Topics of discussion of particular interest and that are unusally well thought out were the unity of mind and body, the role of money, the necessity of the motive power of thinkers in the world, and the excellence of excellence. By definition, an atheist writing about A = A will leave out the most foundational A of all, that is God, thereby producing contradictions of a foundational, critical, and very serious nature. But even these contradictions are well worth THINKING on. THINKING, afterall, is the chief purpose of the book.

Good performance/story line, flawed philosophy

What made the experience of listening to Atlas Shrugged the most enjoyable?

For such a long, multi-character book, Scott Brick's performance was amazing.The story line was highly entertaining and amazingly prescient. The characters' long, thoughtful, philosophical soliloquies reminded me a little of Shakespeare's use of that literary form.The apparent underlying philosophy, however, was another matter. Ayn Rand went overboard with her emphasis on personal responsibility and personal success at the expense of equally motivated individuals. I agree with Ms. Rand regarding the need for each individual to be motivated to succeed. But she left no place for the truly needy. For example, little mention was made of young children, or of the aged and infirm. (I had the feeling they, and all others who failed to pull their own weight, would be left to sink or swim on their own.) And her confidence in the underlying goodness of human nature seems very naive. Rand's utopian Colorado Shangri-La was a prime example. As a Christian, I believe the Genesis account of the fall of man is a far more accurate explanation for the moral-social-economic decay we are experiencing.

Have you listened to any of Scott Brick’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

As good as it gets.

Great Book - long listent

This was an excellent book - considering it was written in the late 50's it has an uncanny prophetic nature. Some of the sections dragged in which the characters would give long drawn out speeches but all in all the book was great and I would definitely recommend.

Incredible

Ayn Rand is one of those rare, insightful people who understands what drives people and the impact of socialism on the moral values and motivation of people. In this book she shows how the growth of Socialism is a shift of responsibility from the individual to the political leaders who attempt to engineer society into their idealist view. This book shows you how when society shifts its responsibility from the individual to government, the burden ultimately falls on the successful and responsible producers of society. The shift of responsibility inevitably leads to a collapse of society when the responsible people can no longer shoulders the burden. In this book a strike of the producers in society is organized and the true nature of socialism is brought to the surface (force). This book shows the battle of the rational vs. the irrational and how the shift of responsibility to the government ultimately leads to chaos and declining moral values. There is no better book that gives you the insight into how both the conservatives and the liberals think and what the world would look like if either side had total control. This book is priceless.

Great book - my husband and I listened together

My husband’s complaint was that she spent much time on descriptive phrases - it did bring the reader to envision the scene however it took a while to do that...
It had much character development many people to have to keep up with - however, overall - it was what you would expect - very well written - very interesting read and very timely even though it was written many years ago.
We had frequent discussions about things revealed in the book and that was worth the time it took to read it (er listen)

A must for everyone

It's hard to believe she didn't have a crystal ball. So much of this story is or already has come to pass, I'm not sure you can label it fiction.

Changed my life....at 53

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

I don't think so. It's too personal. Too valuable, right now. I am not the same person that began the book.

Any additional comments?

i am a non-fiction guy and I could count the novels I've read on one hand,so, admittedly, I may not be a good judge in that respect. I don't recall a book so difficult to stop playing. Even after 60+ hours of listening, I was disappointed to hear, "the end". I understand its endurance.

Greatest ever

Would you listen to Atlas Shrugged again? Why?

Yes

What does Scott Brick bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Emotion and everything!!!

If you could take any character from Atlas Shrugged out to dinner, who would it be and why?

Dagne Taggard for being a true no nonsense human being.

Any additional comments?

Going to have a hard time topping this book. What to listen to next???

Atlas Shrugged is the greatest novel every written

What made the experience of listening to Atlas Shrugged the most enjoyable?

It made me realize that Objectivism is a philosophy for living on earth !

Who was your favorite character and why?

John Galt because he exemplified the ideal man .

What does Scott Brick bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Scott Brick shows the emotion of the characters.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Both!

Any additional comments?

Ayn Rands philosophy of Objectivism should be taught in schools,preferable in private schools !

listening in the car

I listen to audiobooks in the car. I had one issue with the narration which was that some of the characters were portrayed with a whispered voice which was virtually impossible to understand over road noise.