The Book Club: Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand with Eric Daniels | The Book Club

Ayn Rand’s Atlas Shrugged, named by readers in 1991 as the most influential book after the Bible, is a novelized warning about the allure and evils of socialism. What happens when the most productive members in society give up? How much can be asked of them before they do? Who is left to support the rest? Michael Knowles and Eric Daniels take you through Rand’s prophetic masterpiece.
This episode was made possible by a generous donation from The Objective Standard Institute objectivestand...
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[@luisnater7936]

Atlas Shrugged I read it in High School. It was recommended by my best friend. When I read this book it open up my mind, it made me what I am today a proud conservative Republican and a proud retire vet.

[@miriambertram2448]

Got u beat I was 12 yo. ☺

[@violinhunter2]

You didn't learn much - your grammar is atrocious.

[@emmanuel8310]

@@violinhunter2 You only learn grammar in books, really?? 🙄🙄

[@bettersteps]

@@violinhunter2 Mariam didn't read it. It's obvious. Reading that book would help to improve anyone with their writing skills by default.

[@bettersteps]

@@emmanuel8310 If not a grammar book, where else would someone learn grammar?

[@SuperTuffgirl]

“Money is the barometer of a society’s virtue. When you see that trading is done, not by consent but by compulsion, when in order to produce you need to obtain permission by men who produce nothing - when you see that money is flowing to those who deal, not in goods but in favors - when you see that men get richer by graft and by pull then by work, and your laws don’t protect you against them, but protect them against you - when corruption is rewarded and honesty becomes self-sacrifice - you may know that your society is doomed.”

[@savvy1856]

Super Tuffgirl: Is this a quote or are these your own words? Either way, I love it.

[@rozannmoake8146]

Our society is definitely doomed. This is one of the best quotes from atlas shrugged. And there are a ton of great ones to choose from.

[@savvy1856]

@Tim White You know what's funny?...I'm reading "Atlas Shrugged" as we speak. But it's a looong book 😁

[@jasonk8775]

@@savvy1856 good news, you don't have to read it, just watch the news every day.

[@savvy1856]

@@jasonk8775 Thanks...But I finished it. Great book.

[@JR-ko1mq]

I regretfully admit, I was once a liberal. Reading Atlas Shrugged didn’t convert me. However, it did make me question my previously held beliefs. This led to my reading of authors like Thomas Sowell and Milton Friedman which did convert me to a libertarian/conservative viewpoint. In other words, Rand was my “gateway” to the right. I know Michael doesn’t care for her, but I think there would be fewer conservatives without her.

[@Ajourneyofknowing]

Thomas Sowell is discredited especially for his lies on slavery ironically

[@ballgang367]

I mean i hate to say it but if someone buys into Objectivism or likes Ayn Rand then they're not a conservative. The Radical Individualism and Secular Morality that Ayn Rand and objectivists advocate for are fundamentally at odds with conservative values. They advocate for abortion and the destruction of the family and call it "The Virtue of Selfishness.". They reject divine sources of morality in favor of deriving ethics from nothing but pure hedonism. They care nothing for maintaining cultural norms and traditions, as those are completely at odds with their self-centered system of morality. If you think that any of these things are even remotely conservative then you dont know what conservatism means.

[@JR-ko1mq]

@@ballgang367 thanks for your lecture bro.

[@JR-ko1mq]

@@Ajourneyofknowing I doubt you have ever read a word of Thomas Sowell.

[@Ajourneyofknowing]

@@JR-ko1mq - Must thy debate about his controversial statements about slavery and abolition

[@mustang607]

1984 and Atlas Shrugged are two great books of literature that warned us of what could happen before it happens.

[@jackmurphy7552]

Homage to Catalonia>1984

[@shieldwolfrh]

Could?

[@bettersteps]

I agree. I tell people, if you think 1984 was scary, try reading Atlas Shrugged. Scary accurate.

[@whousa642]

@Insert Name Here // By the time Orwell wrote 1984, he was not for the socialists and would mock them.

[@shieldwolfrh]

@Insert Name Here Yeah, that was before he wrote his book and opened his eyes to the evils of Socialism. What do you think INGSOC actually was?

[@Dragonrose36]

My Dad has told me that when he was a young man he was reading The Fountainhead and random strangers, seeing him with it, would come up to him and say, "You're reading The Fountainhead? Man, that book changed my life!"

[@siddharthadwivedi7113]

So true.

[@bettersteps]

I love this novel and have read it more times than I can remember. Once, I was on the last page, read it and closed the book. I thought, "What a great book." I opened it and began reading it again. I read that damn book two times in a row. What a masterpiece.

[@JB-ti7bl]

I'm the same way with Trevanian's "Shibumi". Read that thing maybe 6-8 times.

[@brendawallgren8354]

I did the exact same thing the first time I finished it. I immediately turned back to the first page, and started again.

[@rpjswish]

I have read once a decade since I was 18, about to start again. So much to ponder.

[@SwolllenGoat]

you might be the most boring person in all of recorded history

[@brendawallgren8354]

@@SwolllenGoat boring yes, but not a moron.

[@dremmelkiller]

Carving 7 foot atlas sculpture right now

[@euler010]

Do you have a web site? Would love to see pictures when it's done.

[@esmereldahipswitch]

Timely!

[@Sergingriverdam]

Same! Show us a picture of it, sounds awesome.

[@dremmelkiller]

@@Sergingriverdam Steven Kenzora facebook

[@ClickingHeads]

I'm like 13 hours into Atlas Shrugged and my God is making me depressed. I had to stop listening to it because there's way too many parallels with today's society.

[@shieldwolfrh]

There are plenty of Red States out there that might pass for Galts Gulch. Get there while you can.

[@markeyfarrell]

Read 'Animal Farm'.

[@JaketheJust]

It’s a depressing book, particularly when you have Rearden and Dagny trying to be productive and actually build something valuable to the world and profitable. It’s depressing when you see waste of talent, production and others go to waste by narcissistic parasites.

[@euler010]

Keep reading. It will teach you how to end this madness; it gave me hope.

[@goodbyebluesky5770]

@@markeyfarrell while you listen to "Animals" by Pink Floyd

[@epicureanmaster]

Before I never understood how we would even end up with people as deluded or narcissistic as the antagonists of atlas shrugged...until this year, and now I understand why they were so terrifying

[@martywilliard]

AMEN!

[@rozannmoake8146]

The governments of the world, absolutely including the United States government and the state and city governments have been that way for decades. It’s just being magnified now. A couple little stories from many in my experience...10 years ago it took a team of city government officials in northern Utah to study whether or not I should be “allowed” to open a gym because my bike rack had 5 slots and I was supposed to have 6 according to their rules. This was one of the things that caused a delay of over 3 months in opening. I had families who wanted to come to my gym who volunteered to put in the bathrooms for free with just the cost of supplies, but the city forced us to have “experts” do the terribly difficult job of putting in 2 toilets etc 🤪. It ended up costing over $30,000 for a job that should’ve been maybe $1,000 for supplies. I am done with them all. Just like hank rearden says... if they want anything from me they can come get it at gunpoint like the thieves they are. I will no longer be volunteering anything to them. I’m not getting their permission for anything including getting a license for anything from them. Extreme??? No. This is necessary. I don’t negotiate with thieves and terrorists.

[@jbr84tx]

Yes, and the technology they have today makes 'Project F' look like a mild toy.

[@johngalt5166]

Same, I actually disagree with a lot in Atlas Shrugged but love the book alone on its almost prophetic value.

[@ClickToPreview]

Altruism for NO REASON (or a misguided one) is DANGEROUS.

[@whatchaknowe]

I'm loving the book club. Atlas shrugged is one of my favorites.

[@jrlove1815]

I read it for the first time in 8th grade. One of the most thought provoking books ever. I read it again a few years.

[@allid6352]

started reading, then had to pair with the audio book because it was so long. I went through school as one of the first wave of students that was taught all things should be for the greater good and selflessness was valued... so when I first read fountain head and then atlas shrugged.. I was engrossed in the story that valued the individual and his selfishness. (and all the imperfection and drive that comes with it) I think reading this book the summer before I went to College saved me from the marxist doctrine the sociology class chalked on the sidewalk.

[@pelicanbird901]

The answer to Michael Knowles’ dilemma is in the very quote that he read at 19:52 - “If you asked me *for more than you meant to me*, I would not give it”. That is, I think, the key to her philosophy. When we pretend to love those that mean nothing to us, then it is not love at all. As a Christian, I fully agree with that. I read Atlas Shrugged at 19 years old. After the Bible, it is most definitely the most influential book I have come across. Thank you for this invaluable series. ❤️🙏

[@Ajourneyofknowing]

How both books are as polar opposites like the manifesto

[@pelicanbird901]

@@Ajourneyofknowing I came to faith much later in life. Ayn Rand was atheist, but I think she rejected religion because she believed it contradicted Reason. I find no such conflict in the Bible.

[@Ajourneyofknowing]

@@pelicanbird901 - “Contracted reason” just like modern atheists and even red communists view the Bible but they’re the bad guy somehow

[@pelicanbird901]

@@Ajourneyofknowing well, communists are bad guys because they take away everyone’s freedom for the sake of the ‘greater good’ which really is a class of elites that enslaves the population. Atheists are bad guys in God’s eyes (His words) because “A fool says in his heart: There is no God” so there’s that.

[@Ajourneyofknowing]

@@pelicanbird901 - That’s an oversimplification of communism governing let along not answering the point

[@nostorystagnates-ernieboxa5312]

People fall into the black hole of seeing Atlas Shrugged as just a battle of business owners, professors, musicians, and thinkers. It was also a celebration of the working class. The men and women that the Washington Swamp ignores. That's why this book changed the lives of so many working class people. The workers have a very important role in the background of the novel..

[@thebetatester800]

I'm about 2/3 of the way through. I have so many highlights in this book of ideas I've directly heard politicians express or sometimes almost verbatim use in their speeches

[@BitterLime90]

Wasn't Ayn Rand pro abortion?

[@damonhage7451]

@@BitterLime90 Yes.

[@bettersteps]

@@BitterLime90 What's your point?

[@notanotheraccount]

@@BitterLime90 no, she was pro choice. She thought abortion is a woman's right. She didn't try to persuade women to have abortions.

[@jimcook1747]

@@notanotheraccount So she was in favour of the availability of abortion, which is pro-abortion. The term can be used in different senses.

[@JaketheJust]

This is one of the first books where you read the businessmen, CEO’s, capitalists are portrayed as moral heroes

[@LRibeiro97]

Some of them. Remember that Dagny's brother was a CEO. The point it productive, intelligente people being the moral heroes. While people who care more about words, labels and feelings are the bad guys.

[@classyorange3362]

A true fantasy

[@Avidcomp]

What's another one?

[@EricGreniervideo]

Yeah we all know it’s the true hero’s are the welfare receiving drug addicts.

[@dickgrayson4325]

@@classyorange3362 lol, yeah, the real heroes are the criminals like Floyd. He has statues, bust, and murals. You should start praying to Floyd.

[@MiuSonata]

I first became interested in Atlas Shrugged because of the video game Bioshock. I like analyzing how fictional worlds come to be and applying their logic to what I see around me. Needless to say I've read both Atlas Shrugged and the Fountainhead, both are very fascinating whether you agree with Ayn Rand or not. If nothing else you will learn something from studying Rand's works, especially how to understand people.

[@Ajourneyofknowing]

Yes how people will both fanatically follow or revolt even to their own constructed utopia because there is so much more to the human condition

[@photobyjlm]

I started reading it for the same reason I watched the Cats movie - based on what I'd heard it sounded delightfully terrible. It's even worse than I expected in all the best possible ways - with the exception of those interminable rants that I'm assuming are meant to be climactic speeches and not just repetitive ramblings that go on for pages at a time. There's so much ridiculousness in this book, but I think the part that's made me chuckle the most - other than seeing the hilariously ironic passages that Amazon identifies as commonly highlighted - is when Galt gives his little lecture about how 'give' is a forbidden word after having to pay for something as simple as using someone's car - and then *immediately* gives her a cigarette. It's a small thing, but I appreciated how fitting it was.

[@arthurwright8827]

The drummer from the Canadian rock band Rush was a big Ayn Rand fan and 1 side of the “2112” album is based on “Atlas Shrugged.”

[@sergent40]

The book was on the suggested reading list for the economics class I took in college and I did a disservice to myself by not reading it. I finally read it in 2010 and flogged myself because my 19 year old self didn't read it as it would have made parts of my life make sense and would have been a guideline for a lot of the decisions I made and kept me from making a lot of mistakes.

[@YashArya01]

Love this! I'm curious to know which college and professor assigned this book in their econ course if you'd like to share.

[@sergent40]

@@YashArya01 I don't remember the professors name, its been 35+ years ago, the College is a small one in the hills of East Kentucky called Alice Lloyd.

[@eddiewillers1]

Rand was virtually unknown in Europe when I came of age in the 80s; only the cognoscenti knew of 'Atlas Shrugged'.

[@jbr84tx]

It has been either demonized, ignored or suppressed by mass media. They would prefer that no one ever hears about it.

[@kalburgy2114]

She was a big deal in the US in the '50s.

[@ORagnar]

I enjoyed Atlas Shrugged. I read it twice, and the truth is I loved John Galt's speech. It's full of gems, original ideas.

[@beckmc8939]

Me too. Halts speech is Rands whole philosophy in 50 page nutshell. Not for the lazy mind tho.

[@samlind8330]

Atlas Shrugged?? I've read books based on real/true events from the past but wow this book was written 65 years ago and describe what is going on today...we are currently living this book now.

[@Ajourneyofknowing]

Thanks to Trump

[@samlind8330]

@@Ajourneyofknowing GTFOH Troll

[@sabaof8]

Now non-fiction. I have read it 5 times.

[@lukesalazar9283]

For real

[@thomascunningham5483]

This book appears prophetic. For the sake of others and myself, I hope that this book does not portend the future, but I am concerned that it does. The world seems to be spinning out of control.

[@stevearchtoe7039]

My favorite character is the one who gets all the other oligarchs to invest in South American railroads and mines … only to have it all fail and then laugh at the oligarchs that followed his investment advice. Delectable!

[@DBRONCOSfan]

Good ol Francisco! Lol

[@beckmc8939]

Francisco D’Anconia! What a hunk!

[@jakepearce4949]

"What's your business?" "Copper-mining" "Huh? I mean, who are you?" "The name's too long to tell you. I'll tell it to your chief. Where is he?"... ... the guard said pleadingly, "Mister, can I ask you a question? " "Go ahead" "Who are you?" He answered in the solem tone of a drawing-room introduction, "Francisco Domingo Carlos Andres Sebastián d'Anconia" -Epic Francisco moment

[@Ajourneyofknowing]

We shouldn’t be held back by coal miners anymore energy development has moved on. How ironic especially Trump

[@ratedmighty]

I love Atlas Shrugged and Ayn Rand. They changed my life for the better. Great video. 👍

[@terencefenelon8012]

I actual read the book after a poli Sci course introduced me to Rand. Great synopsis of Objectiveness philosophy

[@patriotaz8992]

This book was my red pill. After reading it I couldn’t stop seeing government corruption everywhere.

[@LabelsAreMeaningless]

Wonderful discussion on Atlas Shrugged, best I've heard so far. I have to admit that the book has been my favorite for years, and I also questioned the egoist part of it at first. The way Eric clarified the position really clarified well, and I hope that helps others who have also questioned that topic. I'd also like to say that no one, no matter what they say, actually does anything that doesn't benefit themselves in some way. Including charity. It's a bitter pill most people reject instantly, until the person puts their distaste aside and looks at the literal reality of the situations. There is always a pay off, be it emotionally, mentally, physically or monetarily. Always.

[@EmilynWood]

"Treat others as you would want to be treated" benefits everyone. That's why it's called the golden rule.

[@Ajourneyofknowing]

@@EmilynWood - Religion so no says Rand

[@Ajourneyofknowing]

Because she is wrong & we need to work together like a colony for the betterment of everybody or else divided we fall

[@pelicanbird901]

@@Ajourneyofknowing seems to me you haven’t read Ayn Rand.

[@Ajourneyofknowing]

@@pelicanbird901 - the restricted section of my bookshelf

[@kroninn]

Atlas Shrugged is a huge book. Start with "Anthem". It only took me three hours to listen to it and its great.

[@dishman1966]

Interestingly in North Korea, the word I is frowned upon.

[@sandraelder1101]

I liked that one a lot.

[@alexanderbecker584]

atlas shrugged is probably the book that most changed my life. I have read it 3 times already. Kudos to Eric Daniels for his terrific explanation.

[@michaelsauer3783]

Since the early 80s, I have also read it 3 times and agree with you 100%

[@Mack-il9kl]

I read the Fountainhead too.

[@mr.p5782]

One of my favorite books.

[@phillipjohnson7583]

Please consider adding your content to Rumble. I rarely look to KZbin anymore but, enjoy your channel.

[@rustyschimelpfening3899]

The description of the people on the doomed tunnel train as true today as back then

[@RoadTripTravel]

My favorite book of all time, so brilliantly written.

[@BolverkrLimited]

I read this book about 15 years ago and I remember having a couple of reactions to it. First off, I really enjoyed it all the way up until Rand attacked Christianity. I also remember how my attitude towards my coworkers dramatically changed while I read this book: I have always had a strong work ethic and this book reinforces the virtues of such an ethic but it also denigrates those who do not... which is how it impacted my view. I started viewing my coworkers as lazy and started to shape my perception of them (their entirety or whole character) simply by productive output. Did anyone else have a similar experience?

[@ronnie8252]

I have through my whole work career

[@wc7zr]

I will say I had a similar outlook after reading the book, however I considered myself an under achiever. Growing up I was always creative, and for much of my upbringing I prided myself in my creative and resourceful potential. But when I started my career after graduating, I found that my creative abilities didn’t live up to my expectations bc, as a child of immigrant parents from Asia, that I was waiting for permission from others in order to go the distance. It’s difficult to explain. I find that many Asians wait for permission from their superiors in many ways in order to feel free reign to go the distance. This is something I’ve been trying to deconstruct since reading the book, that I don’t need to seek anyone’s permission in order to go the distance and do what I am capable of doing. While caring for others and having the support and love from those around you is a positive part of life, it inadvertently creates intrinsic subservience to others. Therefore I don’t think underachievement is always due to laziness (though a lot of the time it is due to that). That is the biggest thing I didn’t like abt the book. There was no concept of human growth. One was either born a doer or a moocher or looter. No single character grew or redeemed themselves, and therefore there was no idea that ppl have the potential to learn and grow. It’s either you are or you aren’t and that’s what you will always be, and that is not reality.

[@deadalready7467]

Great Guest. New found respect for Clemson. Great talk, absolutely love great books. Hearing “wise” people discuss them, adds to something incredible already. Many Blessings to All 🙏 🇺🇸

[@MollyOKami]

I've made it through Atlas Shrugged over 10 times (I pretty much stop counting by that point). Literally, the only books I've read more times are Kipling's The (First) Jungle Book and Alexandre Dumas' The Count of Monte Cristo.

[@karencarlsen1243]

I first read Atlas Shrugged as a teenager, 50 years ago. It really shaped my worldview. And later in life I read it again. It ages well. And just a few weeks ago I re-read the Count of Monte Cristo too!

[@alanab9674]

Recommend Victor Hugo. A favorite of Rand's.

[@kitchencarvings4621]

I've read it 3 times and listened to the audio version at least 20 times. I still find something new each time. I am always in awe of the writer. It is unlike any book you will ever read, completely unique.

[@ManWithNoShame]

@@kitchencarvings4621 why would you do that?

[@kitchencarvings4621]

@@ManWithNoShame, I still find something new each time. I am always in awe of the writer. It's unlike any book I've ever read. In addition to that, I've spent 30 years trying to understand Objectivism.

[@jakepearce4949]

Wow, religious conservatives admit Rand exists now? This is an improvement

[@hiredgoon13]

I've read it once, but have listened to it on audible (52hrs) 4-5 times, wonderful and scary accurate book. We don't talk of the movies

[@bettersteps]

Horrible movies. I love the idea of watching Atlas Shrugged on the big screen but it doesn't translate well at all. But, I think it would work very well as a tv or cable series.

[@Ajourneyofknowing]

@@bettersteps - Probably because her philosophy is a fantasy when applied onto the real world

[@rarelycold6618]

@@bettersteps a three season TV series would have been great

[@ScooterAKalldayy]

@@Ajourneyofknowing you mean the book of fictional characters where they create a weapon that vibrates things to death? The one where they do a James Bond extraction mission at the end and fly off to a secret valley?? No wayyyyy

[@007kingifrit]

@@Ajourneyofknowing like communism?

[@westleydeitchler1256]

I first read Atlas in 1968 after 3 years in the altruistic Peace Corps in Ethiopia. Rand said in 1957 that if Atlas sold 50,000 copies, it would save the world. It sold about 9,000,000 and it saved my life. I realized that every productive person on the earth was a slave to their criminal governments, that this was the biggest problem facing mankind through the centuries, that it was a problem that interested me, affected me and mine and was a problem that I as a professional capitalist problem solver thought I could solve and I did so. I wrote 3 books, "The Illegality of Taxation and Regulation", "The Trade Party - The Future"' and "The End of Socialism, Fascism and Communism and the Birth of Capitalism", all of which were ignored. I sent out thousands of those books, letters to the media and politicians, and to friends and relatives, again all ignored. But that was all right. My attitude from the beginning was that of the Seabees, "The Difficult I Do Immediately, The Impossible Takes a Little Longer." In 1989, I got myself free from that slavery when I formed the first capitalist party in history, which I called The Trade Party, to differentiate it from the Force Party, which consists of factions of parties. There once was a famous bank robber named Willie Sutton. When he was finally caught, he was asked by a reporter, "Why do you rob banks?" Willie replied, as though that was the stupidest question he had ever heard, "That's where the money is!" If you ask a democrat, republican, libertarian, socialist or communist, "Why do you rob from capitalists?" their answer is precisely the same as Willie's. Capitalists produce wealth, fascists of all stripes, no matter what they call themselves, steal it and use it to bribe supporters. The identifying characteristics of fascism are extortionist taxes and regulations. Capitalists do neither. Capitalists earn and persuade and we live by trading solutions to each other's problems for fun and earned profits. All the governments in history have been and are fascist. There has never been a capitalist society. Capitalists have only been allowed to exist if they serve the needs of their fascist governments for food, clothing, shelter, wealth, and weapons. Yet all the progress in history has come from the thinking and efforts of capitalists. The freer we are, the most progress that is made. It took me from 1968 until 1989 to get myself free from slavery, THE DIFFICULT. Since then, I have tried to free everyone else, THE IMPOSSIBLE, but no one was interested in actually being free. Lots of people were eager to talk the talk of freedom but absolutely no one was willing to walk the walk. Why, in the land of the free and the home of the brave, is everyone willing to be slaves to fascists, left, right and center, but be afraid to fight back? Fear, ignorance and bribes! All governments have been terrorist organizations getting money and obedience through the inducement of fear in the hearts, minds, eyes and souls of their citizens. In testimony before the House Ways and Means Committee, former IRS Commissioner Donald Alexander formally admitted that the IRS was a terrorist organization. Capitalists are rewarders, not terrorists. I approach politics from a point of view different from every other human being on the planet. That means that it is an either-or situation - either I am crazy for thinking this way or all the other 8 billion people on the planet are stark raving mad for believing in, voting for or supporting fascism. I believe I am the one who is right. Change! I define politics as the study and practice of proper human relationships. Fascists see politics as the process of gaining and keeping control of political power which I define as the ability to harm the innocent on a massive scale and get away with it. Since this is only possible in or associated with government and since harming the innocent is always evil, no matter who has this power, the question arises, "Why do human beings need governments at all?" Each human being comes with a built-in government, his or her own mind, and develops a philosophy over time to guide it. Everyone's philosophy changes day-to-day as we learn. I look at the Taliban, Joe Biden, the southern border, the pandemic, rights, powers, education, constitutions, history, etc. and realize that I have already solved the problems. Or rather Ayn Rand has. I am just finishing up her work, along with millions of others. I am working on a 4th book with a working title of "The End of Governments as Men Have Ever Known Them". Every government in history has been an organized crime syndicate, an extortion, fraud, bribery and murder racket. Who needs criminals for anything? No innocent honest person needs criminals. I'm almost 80, suffer from Parkinson's and atrial fibrillation and could pass away or be killed by some fascist or content slave at any day and though i have not yet actually freed a single slave, I have done the necessary thinking and writing. I know how ideas work in a human's mind so I have put a lot of ideas in the minds of lots of people and all I have to do is sit back and wait for those ideas to work their magic. All fascists make the mistake of thinking that man is ruled by guns, goons and bribes, but man is ruled by ideas, not by force. All I can say is, "We never had to worry about any of it, did we?"

[@GeorgesGulch]

Yes! We named our daughter Francisca in part as a nod to Atlas Shrugged.

[@wendygodin2716]

Atlas Shrugged was supposed to be a work of fiction; not a f#@king playbook for the Democratic Party. But here we are. The audio book is awesome (and, truthfully, the only way I got through it). My husband and I have listened to it multiple times.

[@kraniasainz7208]

Yes!!! Thank you. This is my favorite book. It blew my mind when I first read it and every time after that

[@googletaqiyya184]

*By far the easiest large book to read! Loved every page!*

[@tonywilliams6428]

I love--love--the concept of Atlas Shrugged. It's brilliant. The execution... not so much. I think if a talented writer/filmmaker could get to the absolute core of the story, the essential essence of it, there is a great movie or series there (the three well intended films that adapted it a few years back lacked cohesion, let alone the craft necessary to make it happen)...

[@Stevarooni]

That's Ayn Rand for you. Brilliant but awkward.

[@TheTicktockman321]

Great point. She was a horrible writer but very intelligent and creative. I'd love to see Klavan take a whack at the basic themes of the book.

[@Redmenace96]

Today, 2023, you don't need to make a 2 h movie. The novel could be a Netflix Original, 2 seasons 16 episodes. Good luck finding a producer and distributor for a story that is anti- woke!

[@AkiraNakamoto]

@@Stevarooni I think Ayn Rand suffered from Asperger Syndrome. Everything matches between her behavior and the syndrome.

[@ThaFashionAssassin]

I got this book on audio. I’m going to have to listen again. But only after I listen to Speechless: Controlling Words Controlling Minds

[@verakleban7112]

Mad Men has brought me to Atlas Shrugged. I enjoyed it so much: it was slow summer and I worked at my empty school as it was the time for exams - most of all I enjoyed the love piece between Dagny and Hank. I was so in love with his character. I adore the notion of taking a personal responsibility for any actions. I believe people should seek and do good in life. But on the other hand some ideas in the book may be utopian. But nevertheless it is a masterpiece.

[@Redmenace96]

The guest, Professor at Clemson, was outstanding! fluid and understandable. Haven't read the book, but followed all his points of view. Well done, sir!

[@mynala110]

God bless Ayan Rand. And thank you for continuing her legacy and message. She was so prophetic.

[@C_Melvyn_James]

And she said in her interview with Phil Donohue that she saw value in the expression "God bless you" The sentiment is obvious.

[@iamchillydogg]

I don't understand why people have such a hard time reading it. Maybe because I read it last not first. My favorite book of all time is "The Virtue of Selfishness" it changed my life and is severely underrated and unappreciated.

[@erine.5680]

Mine too 👌

[@robertromero8692]

Whittaker Chambers' review of Atlas Shrugged was despicable. He actually had the nerve to equate her with the Nazis (as if a Jewish woman born in Russia could EVER admire Nazism), saying that she wanted to send people to the "gas chamber". Anyone who's actually read the book knows how ludicrous that comparison is. I quote from the Galt speech: “Whatever may be open to disagreement, there is one act of evil that may not, the act that no man may commit against others and no man may sanction or forgive. So long as men desire to live together, no man may initiate-do you hear me? no man may start-the use of physical force against others." That is DIAMETRICALLY opposed to the Nazi philosophy.

[@GiovanniH91]

This book changed my life forever. Watching you guys from Mexico 🗽.

[@RickMcCargar]

You need to understand "selfishness" as "altruism is bad" and why. Claiming some version of, "Ayn Rand thinks you should be selfish" is kind of an oafish take of a serious proposition. edit: I built a 3500 employee IC design / mfg company by age thirty, so I identify with some of the characters and ideals in that book.

[@SeriousMcnegative]

Rand's position seems more concerned with establishing a set of ideas/principles that are most conducive to human prosperity. Man would need to - by virtue of his self-conscious nature - conceive of his own prosperity and conditions that would assure it. Rand is saying men must agree upon a set of conditions that will allow 'man' to thrive: egoism amongst the many will create a 'meta-egoism' that will ensure the established values will propagate themselves. Man must consider his flourishing 'selfishly' in order to ensure the flourishing of 'man' as a concept.

[@shieldwolfrh]

If you want the "Lord of the Rings" version of Atlas Shrugged, read Terry Goodkinds Sword of Truth series, particularly Faith of the Fallen.

[@marchess7420]

The deeply religious, humble and self sacrificing theme of Tolkien is 180 degrees away from the atheistic and narcissistic Rand

[@susanpumphrey354]

Yes! I was wondering if anyone out there was a Goodkind (RIP) fan. I made it through Atlas Shrugged once (skipping the 63 page monologue, yes, I'm "one of those" LOL) but Faith of the Fallen I've read many, many times and it's amazing how much you can make sense of the world today looking at it through the eyes of Nicci and Richard.

[@sandyvanburen]

I live in socialistic Europe. When I finished this book, I cried. I'd recognised SO MUCH. I even see highly educated people around me going 'on strike' through getting menial jobs and not contributing what they might have because the government makes it nearly impossible... It's so sad.

[@beckmc8939]

You are not alone in your heartbreak.

[@Ajourneyofknowing]

Yeah blame the continent for your sadness

[@pelicanbird901]

Talent is wasted in the US as well. So heartbreaking.

[@sandyvanburen]

@@Ajourneyofknowing Surely you've misread my words. Let me spell it out: I blam socialism.

[@TheNaturalCause]

"WWWWWAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA ALL THE PROBLEMS IN THE WORLD COME FROM SOCIALISM (even though you more than likely don't know what socialism) WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA WE NEED RAW CAPITALISM AND NOT THIS SOCIALISM BECAUSE PEOPLE TELL ME THAT WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA". Seriously what you sound like.

[@esmereldahipswitch]

I've always been curious about this book so I'm thrilled I'm thrilled to have this content.. Nice to have intelligent Conversation and dialog. I'm sure it will be very relevant.

[@21s]

Awesome to see Eric here!

[@Indivisible_Individual]

Great and accurate analysis of the greatest modern philosophical novel written to date

[@robertromero8692]

The video keeps emphasizing the length of the book, as if reading it is some kind of chore. I've never thought of it that way. It's quite readable. Ayn Rand expressed her ideas in a very lucid manner.

[@Dragonrose36]

One has to read Rand the same way one has to read Victor Hugo (which comparison I'm sure she would appreciate): slowly and thoughtfully. I joked to my husband the other day that Rand's novels are what you get when you cross Hugo with Dostoevsky.

[@robertromero8692]

@@Dragonrose36 Speaking of Hugo, I tried to read Les Miserable, and I couldn't finish it. He would go into LONG side narratives about French history, and it was just too much for me. Rand has been accused of being palaverous in her writing, but I didn't find it that way. It was all a description of her philosophy.

[@katharinesantana7147]

I just got all of Rand’s books. This school year is going to be great.

[@lisabehe4546]

This book was published the year before I was born. I first read it at age nineteen and I've read it at least once a year ever since. Each time I get more out of it. I read it again last month and it struck me harder than ever because of what is going on in the US and the world. #AtlasShruggedIsNowNonfiction

[@barneyboyle6933]

Currently reading it for the first time and I’m only about 1/10th of the way through so far, so I can’t watch this just yet, but I dropped by to leave a Like 👍

[@bettersteps]

Don't watch this video. It will ruin the book for you.

[@brendawallgren8354]

@@bettersteps I wouldn’t say ruin it, but it will give away too much info. Either way, most people that read it, do so more than once, and there’s a reason for that. Even after you know the story, it’s such a rich story that the next reading just reveals things you didn’t notice the first time.

[@bettersteps]

@@brendawallgren8354 People do read it more than once but you can only read it for the first time, once. Watching this video give everything away. All of the suspense and mystery disappears. Would I ruin a movie for you if I said something like "I won't tell you everything but, he was a ghost throughout the entire movie." or "This won't ruin the movie but, he's Lukes father."

[@Ajourneyofknowing]

@@brendawallgren8354 - kzbin.info/www/bejne/bKPTl2Z9mMZ4fdE

[@SeriousMcnegative]

Finally! Loved this book! Dagny Taggart is the woman feminists wish they were and fear to meet! The sixty-page long slog through John Galt's rant was so laborious but besides that the characterisation of Taggart's enemies was brilliant.

[@Ajourneyofknowing]

Yeah the one why submits herself in the role playing way

[@rarelycold6618]

@@Ajourneyofknowing I certainly hope you aren't shaming Dagny for her sexual enjoyment

[@Ajourneyofknowing]

@@rarelycold6618 - Thy will when it contributes to rape culture & such extreme cases like Keith Raniere

[@rarelycold6618]

@@Ajourneyofknowing nothing I said implied a lack of concent, with voluntary interactions being the basis for the book. Do not try to make the comparison to rape

[@Ajourneyofknowing]

@@rarelycold6618 - You got nothing to refute what the rest of us know

[@revtmyers1]

Interesting you would mention the potential tension between the and Christians, which I agree because most Christians believe only what they are taught versus studying, but as a Christian myself with a degree in theology I had no issues with this book at all.

[@stevenw5013]

I had to have the Cliff's Notes on hand when I read Atlas Shrugged. This conversation had some great insights that I hadn't thought of before.

[@JohnBdog]

The best book report ever. Thank you Messer's Knowles and Daniels.

[@davedammit5404]

Fantastic dialogue and review of Atlas Shrugged. Brilliant!

[@jorhanson8583]

When I see someone advocating for modern American socialism, it reminds me of the story of the 20th Century Motor Company in the book.

[@shannonhawkins3296]

“The world is falling apart.” Yes it is… but it was prophesied in the Bible. It’s not really falling apart, it’s falling into place.

[@albionicamerican8806]

Yes, because we live in a world where people own slaves, they are attacked by mythological monsters, they ride horses into battle and they fight with swords. Revelation reads more like a bad fantasy novel than a prediction of life in the 21st Century.

[@robertjohnson5838]

I started the book after breakfast, and after the first 20 pages knew that Eddie Willers was me, and I needed to be something better, and read the next 300 pages in one sitting, only stopping when I heard the dinner bell and thought at first it was the lunch bell, but didn't realize I'd been so absorbed that I didn't HEAR the lunch bell, then felt my stomach growl, and decided to stop to get dinner. What a ride!!!! I would not be the MAN I am today had I not read Atlas Shrugged. I may not be John Galt, ever, but it's been a long time since I was merely Eddie Willers. In the early 1990s The Library of Congress discovered that after the Bible, this was the book folks said had changed their lives more than any other book. By the Obama Administration, it was the most widely read novel in the history of man.

[@yankeetango]

Oh man, it's been years since I made the slog through Atlas Shrugged. This brought it all back to me.

[@HaIsKuL]

Now this is an episode you can't afford to miss

[@isaackellogg3493]

They don’t just find the motor “on an abandoned research bench.” They find it in abandoned factory which has been thoroughly looted, stripped of all its chattels, except for this motor, which has been left untouched, judged by the looters as worth less than the CEO’s custom glass shower curtain with the naked mermaid on it.

[@selbstbestimmt]

Suggestion: The Fountainhead with Michael Malice

[@jayt88779]

This book really shows you the compartmentalized nature of a country going through the motions mindlessly. The "Who is John Galt?" line expresses it perfectly. It acts as an unspoken truth behind each and every action. During my second read-through, I paid careful attention to the "altruist"-types.

[@trevorschaben1815]

Normally, when Knowles mentions anything about Rand, I find myself yelling at my windshield. This time, Daniels did a nice job of making my points.

[@TheBridget272]

Oh, Atlas Shrugged. So much of it made me nod my head and say, "Yes and amen!" And then I get whiplash switching from nodding to shaking my head, saying, "No, that's way off!" What a ride. Maybe I'll read it again in ten years.

[@MillennialForChrist]

Next, please do "Animal Farm" by George Orwell!😁 I read and studied this when I was in 8th grade (now in 20s).

[@JB-ti7bl]

They already covered 1984, with Dave Rubin. Another Orwell so soon?

[@MillennialForChrist]

@@JB-ti7bl Oh, I missed it! Will have to look for that one.

[@LordFinai]

Bioshock is still a more realistic view of this philosophy.

[@dannycaplan6614]

I wish they had discussed Dr. Robert Stadler, who is the most interesting and tragic character in the book, in my opinion.

[@Natedoc808]

Animal farm, 1984, Atlas Shrugged were required reading when I was in middle and high school

[@nooneshome8746]

If I'm not mistaken, the game Bioshock is based on Atlas Shrugged.

[@OceanAce]

Would you kindly tell me more?

[@nooneshome8746]

@@OceanAce ok, in the game, business magnate Andrew Ryan built a city underwater which is named Rapture. That place is an isolated utopia of science and arts that follows an unethical morality, specially when they discovered a serum that will grant anyone some sort of meta abilities harvested from children.

[@careyhendersonvocalstudios5429]

​@@nooneshome8746 He was referencing the game. 😉

[@justiceplay_s]

Just read it this year was so worth the read

[@johnstroll1]

Was an awesome episode mike! I watch your show all the time as well as many other conservative channels. As an atheist I was always felt a bit uncomfortable discussing politics and religion with religious people in the past. I always thought there was so many differences that the point was moot. I've come to the realization however over the years that many of the people I thought were looking out for our best interests have a certain degree of moral flexibility zero belief in philosophy let alone ethics. People have become agnostics not just in the belief in god but in almost every part of life. That I am not on board with in any way shape or form.

[@geoffreyfield6686]

Just downloaded from Amazon. Have heard so many mentions, has to be worth the read. Thanks.

[@kerryriggins3227]

Great interview and in-depth synopsis of both Ayn Rand’s philosophy’s and how they may apply to so many of our world’s personal & professional ideologies.

[@jonpierson559]

What is really amazing is that there was a time, not really that long ago, that Hollywood would make a movie based on an Ayn Rand book.

[@lulupain18]

I heard of this book by playing Bioshock. I did not know it was so interesting. I now want to read it.

[@forddon]

I have a lot of respect for William F. Buckley Jr. and Whittaker Chambers...If you're a leader of the conservative movement, Atlas Shrugged may seem like a lot of idealogical boilerplate, but if you're a young person trying to aquire a world view for a succesful life, Atlas Shrugged is the best place to start

[@n.m.patterson7630]

I've read this and watched the movies

[@BigOldScout]

I read the book. The problem was getting through the love story between Hank and Dagney. What people overlook is there was a Railroad Cartel, and Dagny was against it. It was clear to me that Ayn Rand was also not a fan of the Cartels.

[@TheBridget272]

Dagny drove me crazy with all the men fawning over her. And when she landed on John Galt, all the other men were like, "It's okay. Just loving you is privilege enough, even if you don't love me back." Eye roll! Lol. But Hank did crack me up when he said he'd met John and he didn't blame her.

[@dcrog69]

When I saw this posted 3 weeks ago I knew it was time to finally embark on the journey of atlas shrugged. Though I did cheat and listen to the audio form of it. I am so glad I did. While it is quite wordy, and took me three weeks to finish it, I thoroughly enjoyed it,and want to thank you for giving me the little push I needed to start it.

[@lindamusser7370]

I taught Anthem along with Animal Farm to freshmen in high school. I showed The Fountainhead to my American Lit class. Atlas Shrugged was beyond their ability.

[@NathanSlaymaker]

Good review & commentary, as ever, Michael. Now When are you gonna do Witness by Chambers?? It's possibly one of the most important pieces of non-fiction of the 20th century, never more relevant than today! I'd love to hear you dive into it! 🙂

[@wolflarson71]

Great book. Movies were an abomination.

[@johnmicheal3547]

Agree. The movie just mangled the story.

[@sepporautavirta2077]

Book is shit. Movies are better.

[@linuxman0]

I've never had the patience to sit down and read a 1200 page book but, I learned that the motivation behind Ayn Rand's philosophy as well as that portrayed in Atlas Shrugged was motivated by what she saw/experienced in Soviet Russia (and perhaps, what she didn't). This book is, amongst other things, a celebration (or even a romanticism) of capitalism. At the same time, it is a manifesto of Ayn Rand's understanding of what it means to be human. Listening to this explanation of the book, I am more intrigued by it than ever. I thought a movie was made out of this.

[@somedandy7694]

"I left it as I found it. Take it: it's yours"

[@erpollock]

This book was the event of my 16th year. If only I had read Milton Friedman instead! But I never even watched his TV program! He was outside my awareness. But Ayn Rand was a fascinating writer of a truly suspenseful story. At 16, I was hers! I went on to her nonfiction books like For the New Intellectual. And of course, having read Rand, I knew I deserved to be that new intellectual. She flattered the reader with her identification of virtue with intellectual acceptance of her ideas. She was a period of my life that came to an abrupt close when I learned facts about her personal life that I could not accept and that was in impossible conflict with my moral principles.

[@Maksimiliantius]

It's funny. Ayn Rand would've hated both Prager and Knowles.

[@mikeg2482]

Hello Mr. Knowles. You stated (around 14:50) that according to Ayn Rand "selfishness is THE virtue". I think that Rand and Objectivism describe selfishness as a virtue that is junior to or downstream from the virtue of rationality. Ayn Rand originates the philosophy of Objectivism with three axiomatic fundamental concepts: existence, identity, and consciousness. Every attempt to disprove these axioms will ironically demonstrate a proof in favor of them. Rand then integrates and builds upon these axioms while identifying the nature and function of human consciousness. The nature of human consciousness is predominantly identified as "volitional", and it includes two key ideas: 1) A volitional consciousness causes and requires a person's existence to be governed by their ongoing choice amongst options for their thinking activity and their behaviors. 2) The individual owner of a volitional consciousness can allow it to sit idle, while its owner chooses to be aimless, passive, stagnant, fogged out, etc. The owner also has the choice to be active, productive, engaged, focused, purposeful, etc. Living productively and actively is not automatic - it requires choice and effort. This identified nature of a volitional consciousness causes and requires the application of "rationality", which is THE fundamental virtue within Rand's philosophy. Rationality is the primary human action applied to #1 and #2 described above. The virtue of selfishness relates to two key concepts: a) One must first create and maintain a "self" in order to be selfish, and many people skip on doing this. A self has an identity, a knowable character, a defined purpose, a direction, an aim, a set of guiding principles regarding what is good/bad and right/wrong ... along with thoughtful reasoning that the person has for "Why?" and "What for?" to justify their own adoption of each of these elements of their self. We can recognize a selfish person because we observe them living in a manner that expresses a self ... "this is who I am, and these are my commitments, and here is the value that I am generating". A person who is selfless is tyically living 2nd-handed by copying others, deferring to others, or living through others, and they are typically more aimless, loafing, passive, or continually malleable without real convictions - they cannot be selfish ... because they are choosing to not have a self nor sustain a self. b) Selfishness describes all normal survival activities including ... breathing, eating, movement, sleeping, earning, communicating one's needs and ideas, etc. The person values their own life, and this is demonstrated by their own continual actions to selfishly feed, protect, defend, and express themselves. "Lack of selfishness" is a form of self-sacrifice and a form of suicide.

[@robertromero8692]

It is incomprehensible to me that people would say it's "good" to suffer in a loveless, passionless marriage (IOW, devoid of what it means to be married). The irony is that Dennis Prager is on his third marriage.

[@robertgriffin6049]

While these thinking men may be necessary I can guarantee you that without the farmer's it all falls apart , without the truck driver delivering the food it all falls apart , lets not forget about all the humble people that make it possible for these thinking men to do their thing . It's those humble and quiet people which are the true pillars whose backs we stand upon...

[@whousa642]

In fact the novel says that in the first page.

[@jamesalexander8872]

My favorite part of the story is when the Comet needs to run, but all the power to the tracks and lights is out, the railway workers and their families bring lanterns to light the tracks