Is Atlas Shrugged Worth Reading?

[@DavidWiley7]

Fun fact: I read this about 12 years ago, and enjoyed and agreed with most of her ideas. That fall I took a Philosophy course, and got my worst grade ever on a paper because I chose to write about Ayn Rand and the professor vehemently disagreed with her philosophies. He's probably long forgotten about me, but I'll never forget him and how his own biased opinion dictated how he graded things. I didn't make the same mistake on future assignments and ended up doing okay in the course...

[@AnneEWilliamson]

Gosh, I hate teachers like that. I mean, it's fine that he didn't like Ayn Rand's philosophy, but he should still grade his students by the quality of their work and not whether he agrees with them!

[@FidelTshivhasa]

lol!

[@Existomalus]

That's liberal "teachers" for you. They absolutely despise her with a vengeance

[@markpessoni2893]

That professor was correct

[@EarthSurferUSA]

@@markpessoni2893 And every dictator in the history of mankind does and did agree with you. You know that, right? Sue your schools son, while you still have some liberty to do so. They talked you (with the media in lock step), out of your own liberty,----even if at this point in time, you would not have a clue what to do with individual liberty protected by law, a brain in your head, and free enterprise in your hands (the citizens), where it started in the first place.

[@digitalphoenix72]

I absolutely love your objective, and balanced approach to both extremes of the political systems in question. I had to dig a lot to find your channel (searching for atlas shrugged reviews), but you have a new sub for sure. Listening to you actually gives me some comfort, we're not all crazy (those being balanced and not extreme).

[@BiH1980Sana]

Couldn't agree more. I was reading this book in which one of the characters deals with the effects of being raped and while yes, i understood her viewpoint, it just felt preachy and too extreme, the golden spot is right in the middle between rape and bodily autonomy.

[@AromielVonPleiades]

@@BiH1980Sana I thought it was rape, too. It isn’t. I didn’t realise until I was asked to reread it. It is, however, a reflection of the author’s sexual preference. And that’s way more common than most women would openly admit. Heard about 50 shades of grey? Top seller among women.

[@BiH1980Sana]

@@AromielVonPleiades @AromielVonPleiades hah i wasn't talking about the sex scene from the fountainhead. I just rephrased the main comment. They basically said that objectivism is an extreme and we should be in the middle. People are used to being oppressed economically so i made the same comment but with something everyone agrees is wrong: rape; to make the point that it is moral to be on the extreme on some issues. But yeah i was also thrown off when i first read the scene you were thinking of. The thing is: it wasn't supposed to be a healthy mindset by dominique, it represented her confusion/lack of clarity. On Howard's part he knew Dominique wanted him because of their previous interactions like inviting him to fix her (lamp or something? ) when it was clear there was nothing wrong with it (or did she tamper with it on purpose? One of the two). A healthy woman would simply come up to the man and talk to him. Also Howard forcing her into sex is not applicable to real world scenarios. It's a fictional setting where he knew what she wanted better than she knew herself.

[@nedmerrill5705]

I think part of what Ayn Rand was saying was, you must trust your own mind and perceptions. Our rational mind is our only guide towards reality. It is wrong to let other people coerce you into what to think or what to believe. That Objective Reality exists. This is why she hated the philosophy of Immanuel Kant so much; Kant said that what you see was _phenomena_ and wasn't real, but was a shadow of _noumena,_ or true reality that we cannot have direct knowledge of.

[@AnneEWilliamson]

True. She very much mentions characters like Dagny and Hank being guided by logic and reason, as opposed to emotion and lust for money as other characters like Dagny's brother Jim, who always tries to please everyone with the result of pleasing no one. And in that sense, I think she made a good point. Similarly, in The Fountainhead, she talks of how characters like Rourke don't let themselves be guided by mob mentality, but by their own judgement, with I think is so important.

[@Yesica1993]

11:00 "Ayn Rand doesn't seem to understand humanity. And I think that is the lacking part of Atlas Shrugged, is she creates these characters that are very much her philosophy as opposed to real people." Yes! I can't tell you how many times I wanted to scream, "Real people don't talk this way. Real people don't act this way." I mean, the speechifying! How long did the JG speech last? An entire chapter? It just went on and on and on. It felt like it would never end. WE GET IT, ALREADY! I'm not sure if I said this in a different comment, but she did change my view of cities. I grew up in Chicago but was enamored of The Country. I blame it on too much Little House On the Prairie, both the books and TV show. Obviously, that's all romanticized. It was a brutal life. I wouldn't last a week. I didn't know that as a child. I thought it was all Pa fiddling by the fire and eating sugar snow. I hated the city. Rand made me see cities as the amazing things that they are. People with skills took raw earth and somehow built roads, electrical grids, plumbing systems, buildings, yes, railroads - everything! - so that people could live more comfortably. Set me in a field and again, I would die in a few days. I think of that to this day, especially when I ride the train and see our skyline. For that, I do thank her. Thanks for this. It brought back memories. I can't recall another book that I have hated and yet loved in about equal measure. I may torment myself by reading it again someday. Maybe. The thing is, the setup is pretty cool, as are some of the characters. Like you, I just wish they had been more better developed instead of being (mostly) cardboard cutouts to spout her speeches. This is one instance where I'd be open to some sort of remake/rewrite/reboot. I'm no expert in Rand either. But it seems she couldn't make up her mind whether she wanted to write a novel or a political treatise. She tried to do both here and it shows. If she'd gone with novel and been way less heavy handed, it could have been different. At least it seems to anger both sides - those that wanted a novel and those that wanted a political treatise. That's some skillz, for sure. :)

[@AnneEWilliamson]

Yes! John Galt's speech at the end was like 100 pages! I mean, like really? Way too much! And while I like both country and city for different reasons (I grew up in the country, and now live in the city), I think there is a romanticization of the country without understanding how wonderful the city is. And I agree that Rand tried to create both a novel and a political/philosophical work without really blending the two. Thank you for your wonderful comment!

[@EntertheBook]

I skipped the middle of this video and I will keep this on my tbr pile and may make this a mammoth read one year. Thanks for the thoughts!

[@AnneEWilliamson]

I hope you enjoy it if you read it! It certainly is an interesting read.

[@EntertheBook]

@@AnneEWilliamson I feel confident I will someday!

[@Indivisible_Individual]

Thanks for your unique dissection of Alas Shrugged. You are obviously very smart and took your time to understand the philosophy. As I’m sure you realized in making this video, there is a lot to unpack in her philosophy. I would suggest not writing it off too quickly, but maybe keep it in mind when you think of the problems of current events. Also, something to remember about child labor and exhaustively long working days early in the Industrial Revolution. The Industrial Revolution didn’t create those problems, it inherited them from a less capitalistic era in which poverty and starvation were the norm. In reality, the freedom of capitalism and the unleashing of individual creativity led to innovation, rising living standards and the elimination of child labor and the necessity of long working hours.

[@MaximilianMorkramer]

Beautiful, nouance. Thanks for the honesty

[@KubikFineBooks]

We're proud of you for finishing this one 😂

[@eddiecorado1635]

I enjoyed your objective approach, I’m finishing a couple of books but I wanted to start this book, as it’s been setting on my bookshelf for a year now. Considering I am interested in books with morals or philosophy in the background as a basis, I think I’ll start with one of her slightly easier reads. 1200 pages of political philosophical story telling seems overwhelming after reading a lot of other books on philosophy, religion and politics. 😂 Thank you! I look forward to reading it eventually, and same, I actually enjoy reading books that I don’t always agree with, a lot of times it keeps my brain ticking and interested.

[@zygi22]

Problem with altruism is not that you want to help people. It’s rather that you’re punishing the good for being good.

[@attention5638]

Oh good! I am glad you did end up doing a review of this one. Though I do not agree with her ideas at all (and agree, extremes on both sides end in places no one should want to be in), I rarely hear people actually reading her. It is strange, because I typically agree with those who criticize her, but those same people will say they never read her. Haha. But, it is good to read the side you disagree with, it will strengthen your own beliefs. 😊

[@AnneEWilliamson]

That's true. I feel like so many people talk about her philosophy without actually having read her books, so I'm glad I was finally able to read Atlas Shrugged and The Fountainhead!

[@Kwippy]

There are two reasons why it may be worth your while to read this book: 1 If you seek approval and reinforcement of your selfish tendencies, or 2 If you seek to understand the minds of people like Ted Cruz for whom Rynd provides their "moral" compass.

[@robertm1122]

In socialism, when you give the government enough power to distribute some of your wealth, it just happens to be the same amount of power to take all your wealth. That it’s challenging is why you should read it. Enjoyed your review though.

[@bettersteps]

You should keep a copy of the book you're reviewing displayed on a shelf in the background.

[@SzymonAdamus]

A good summary and review, addressing the most important issues of the book and explaining in a meaningful way the extreme position and views that Ayn Rand presents in this book. It's not surprising that such an extreme approach and idealization of capitalism appeals to modern "business bros".

[@puma8185]

great take

[@farmlyfe857]

I don't think she protrayed the capitalists as perfect. I looked at Hank affair as showing his flaws showing that he was not perfect. And quite often someone successful in business their personal life suffers or isn't the same level of perfection as their business life. Same with dagney her personal life was a mess. Also Hank was ok with her sleeping with Galt. He didn't care as their time together was over. He had said first they will come for my metal then they will come for us (something like that going from memory it's been years since I last read it). And he lost dagney already in the story.

[@MrBartusek]

nice breakdown, thanks, i will never read this, bioshock will have to be enough

[@PeterErikson-rd5tj]

Thanks. -- Your Summary makes it possible for me to try reading AS. without being. Totaly Lost , frustated and confused. --- Studying her Interviews She Came off as being extreme right wing, Masculine and mildly Psychotic. 🗣

[@EarthSurferUSA]

Read her philosophy book "Philosophy, who needs it?", no longer on YT. You will then understand how man should live. By the way, define "right wing". If it is nazi and Left is communism, (probably still the most agreed opinion), they are basically the same ideologies. But they, line many political words and phrases, have no objective definition. The definitions change over time, and over geography. This is why, when we talk with each other using these phrases and words, we don't actually know that the other guy/gal is saying (undefined works have different meanings in our heads), and our conversation becomes "unintelligible" , as we bump into each other in a political fog. Yea, I learned that from Rand too. We can see that.

[@PeterErikson-rd5tj]

right wing. =. selfish Republicans. who. want. everyone to be. Alone w/ no. help. for. elderly, disabled , children, no. student grants for college , Rich People keep. more of their. winnings. Blue. collar people Built all the Cities, Hospitals , Highways , roads, Raolroads Airports ,Infrastructure , etc. that the rich use to make money.

[@designforlife704]

And yet, almost all the great industrialists, innovators and creators that are alive share the traits of Reardon and Dagney

[@gregharn1]

Regarding the title: Only if you believe you can & should run your life, better than anyone else could.

[@EarthSurferUSA]

Short, and as moral as it gets. :)

[@Carlos-ux7gv]

I love how your critique on pure capitalism is that it doesn't work because those capitalists are not ruthless, logic people devoid of emotion. 😂 By the way, I think the book is very palatable... as long as you skip one chapter that is 6 hour long (the speech of John Galt in the radio).

[@Yesica1993]

About to hit Play. Thank you. And/or, I'm sorry. :)

[@AnneEWilliamson]

Ha, both are applicable. And thank you for watching!

[@MrRWF2004]

If capitalism is to improve the lives of all people in the society, the corporate companies won’t be firing left and right once they don’t meet the financial expectations of the financial year.

[@Martin_Twomey-MTM_Productions]

Just one comment Anne, Stalin's USSR was never a socialist state, it went straight to communism - with tragic results. The closest we've seen to socialism are Scandinavian states that later adopted Social Democracy or Democratic Socialism.

[@AnneEWilliamson]

Nazis called their party "National Socialism." The Soviet Union literarily is called "The Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic." So yes, socialism has been tried. Now, you can argue that the ideal of socialism has never succeeded or been satisfactorily accomplished, but you cannot argue that Russia wasn't a socialist state.

[@Martin_Twomey-MTM_Productions]

You are right about that Anna yes, I guss I'm alluding to the evolution of the word and it's variety of applications in current times.

[@joshuabrown5130]

The problem is that forced Socialism is unjust and Socialism has gone way too far. Most people pay astronomical tax rates of 30, 40, 50+ percent which is absolutely insane. They also get robbed via "inflation tax". 50% tax is basically 50% slavery as half of the fruits of your labor is taken by force. I do believe there needs to be some some governance in communities but absolutely nothing like we have anywhere today. @@AnneEWilliamson

[@rainphantom]

Congruence what a dangerous thing

[@EarthSurferUSA]

I like the part when Rand said: "Man had no rights before individual liberty protected by law. We will find out that when individual liberty is gone, we will have no rights at all." Ohhhh wait! That was her non fiction philosophy book that we never read, or probably never knew existed. It sure was not discussed in your philosophy ciyrse (I will not correct that one because spell check tells me only "cybersex". How "progressive"), a because even if they bad mouthed it,---some would read it to see the contrast. Ayn Rand was the best philosopher who ever lived. And since abortion is a big issue again, she could in the election on, (I disagree with her on abortion, from what little I have found of her opinion. Sen thought life begins at birth, but i say it starts at inception,--------------and we should be more responsible.

[@jasperburchfield2028]

Lately I started thinking that maybe Ayn Rand isn't so bad and maybe I should read Atlas Shrugged and find out. But after hearing your description of her book I have realized that she is just as horrible as I imagined, so I'm not going to bother reading any of her books. Thanks!

[@nikdonic]

you will not end up in victorian era society in capitalism without rules, there is concurrency and people will go when they get better payment or treatment, in socialism it looks like it is for people but people doesn´t have a motivation to inovate because they can´t make a money with their idea

[@lout160]

As someone who was damaged by being raised in a cult, getting my hands on Atlas Shrugged helped me find a foundation for deconstructing from their ideology. No, the writing isn't compelling, the middle ground is non-existent, all the characters are one dimensional and in singular purpose. However, I think the lack of complexity helped me find a more solid foundation to connect with reality in a way that removed intention from the equation and highlighted effects. It kind of served as a factory reset for my sense of self and direction. Rand never intended for the book to be published, writing it was more of a coping mechanism for herself to try and make sense of the world as she had experienced it. It was her husband who really took the lead in having it published. While the basics of objectivism are pretty useful for someone who had programming that skewed the perception of reality, for those who had their critical thinking skills nurtured in their upbringing, It may not be anything profound.

[@Carlos-ux7gv]

Her characters lack a lot in complexity but the story is abundant in realism. If not for the lack of railroads, she might as well have based the story on my country. Right down to the argentinian playboy selling fake mines to the government.

[@ГришкаСергеевич]

I think you should take the time to learn more about socialism. Based on the way you talk about it, it seems like your understanding is limited to capitalist propaganda, including misconceptions about the Soviet Union.🤷‍♂️

[@AnneEWilliamson]

@@ГришкаСергеевич What misconceptions? Can you give me an example? I studied the Soviet Union in college.

[@GeorgeBuck-z5k]

it is all bull

[@hayteren]

Congrats. You discovered fiction.