Why "Atlas Shrugged" Changes Lives

[@edcotterjr1926]

My girlfriend gave me this book when I was a senior in HS. It is the most important novel I have ever read. I just turned 69 in September.

[@nicholasneyhart396]

Nice I received a copy from my girlfriend last year.

[@douglaschilders915]

69 hell yeah

[@thehumblewolf]

Why?

[@chopses8391]

is it the only novel you ever read?

[@ksquidplaysminecraft]

69 years of brain worms. Get better soon champ.

[@thoughtgrenades]

i swear by my life and the love of it,that i will never live for the sake of another man, nor ask another to live for mine.

[@paolo2012]

I swear by my life and the love of it, this novel was only slightly better than 50 shades of gray.

[@MrGreekStelios]

@family lowe actually ayn rand argued that in essence love is the most selfish thing and it actually serves one's self.. In total contradiction to what you are saying... It's ayn rand 101

[@nidurnevets]

When asked how the Nazis could have done the cruel things they did, a Nuremberg prosecuter said they lacked empathy for others. How much money and power is enough?

[@joecombs7468]

lowe sooooo if you have worked hard and been successful then allowing yourself to be a doormat to people who care nothing about and only care about what material things they can take from you -- THAT is being empathetic? I don't think so. Your problem is you only look at the obligation of empathy as a one-way path. Empathy is both ways or it is not empathy, it is merely using other people for your own selfish means.

[@opreadumitru1]

what and who has the right to define what public good or right is? anyway? the state !!! the state / government is just a fictional abstract notion a shady middleman

[@e.j.keeley1899]

I grew up in a family where my mother had treasured copies of Atlas and Fountainhead that she gave me to read when she deemed me old enough to understand and appreciate them. I’ll always be grateful to her and find myself coming back to them, always finding something fresh and new. Thank you for this excellent introduction and synopsis of Atlas.

[@shawnknepper3442]

“Is a man not entitled to the sweat of his brow?”

[@viktorvondoom9119]

"No!" says the man in Washington! "It belongs to the poor!"

[@AR-ws1gr]

Shawn Knepper has been underlined by the government now

[@opreadumitru1]

monotheist religions are the root problem

[@nidurnevets]

No one succeeds without the help of others. If your parents thought only of themselves you might not have lived even a few days to become the big success you are.

[@Jonmal0ne]

@@emilandersen8628 Got me to tears :'D

[@optimusprimum]

This Book put into words scenarios I’ve legit been through and just didn’t understand. It gave words to beliefs I’ve had my whole life and didn’t know. It showed me through metaphor the mistakes I was making. This Book not only changed me it awoken me further.

[@TzUuup]

How so? Do you have an example?

[@EyeThreeGems]

I felt that way after the fountainhead

[@optimusprimum]

@@EyeThreeGems Like she wrote the book about you.

[@optimusprimum]

@@TzUuup John Galt is who I envisioned myself as a kid being by the time I became a man. Not literally as in I am that character... but like...The very description of the character was my “image” of myself...like they’re literally complete parallels... as a kid if you’d had asked me what my religion was, I probably would’ve just told you exactly what Galt was saying... but I got older and gave into the world, I surrendered that ideal and now it exists as a fantasy. When I read Atlas Shrugged it was the first time in a long time I felt so connected to it again... that deep inner personal belief in oneself. The idea you could do anything if you just “tried.”

[@JacobGrahamFit]

Me too

[@avro549B]

Any "businessman" who calls for his industry to be regulated is trying to rig the game in his favour. Regulators can be captured and controlled more easily than customers.

If the "regulators" are Republicans, then, yes, your statement is true.

[@avro549B]

See akdart dot com/lib71.html

[@avro549B]

KZbin won't permit URLs in comments; it shouldn't be hard to convert that string to one.

[@KingClickMusic]

"Republicans", because Republicans are the ones who are looking to subsidize the health and education industries? Grow up.

[@TheBlackBuddhist]

at the end of the day its all the same the two-party system is an illusion

[@BCtruth]

I found her works in my late 30s. When I read Atlas Shrugged, it felt as if someone had written the instruction manual for my life and I had just now found it after decades of living that way. It was incredibly inspiring. I only wish I had read it sooner.

[@freedomloverusa3030]

The same with me, at my mid 20s, when I was still in Cuba, it really changed my entire life.

[@peterlamont647]

How the hell did you get a copy of Atlas Shrugged in freakin Cuba?!?!! You'd think that would be verboten in a society that is antithetical to Ayn Rand's way of thinking...glad you did though.

[@theminuteman6211]

@@peterlamont647 many former communist dictatorships have opened up to the Western world. Even countries with so called "Communist parties" like Vietnam and China are more on the market leaning side of Socialism.

[@peterlamont647]

Cuba is very much still a communist country and they are still under an embargo. They still tightly control people's freedoms. I find it frightening that they have somehow lasted this long...maybe 1984 is possible after all. In any case though, in the long run, theft is not a valid method for running a nation. Blind theft is just how you get blind poverty. To your point though, countries like Vietnam and China have indeed seen just how fast they would all be starving and completely destitute and so they quickly made a crony-capital system under a dictatorship. The actual pure communist part didn't last very long and killed millions. Now they are just on a one way course with toppling over from being a top heavy government. Just like the soviets. Europe is actually on the same course...The US is as well, but not quite as fast.

[@dennardglover2848]

Illuminati- John Todd

[@wk3820]

For all the talk about how rigid Rand is, the key to her impact with the public is that her ideas can so readily be taken in whatever size bite the reader is willing. One reader might go whole-hog and accept everything verbatim. Another might settle for half. But both are made better for the experience. Had Rand wrote in such a way that her ideas were truly "all or nothing", it would have dramatically reduced her impact on our culture.

[@sybo59]

She actually did believe, correctly, that it was all or nothing. You’re clearly someone who “settled for half.”

[@URProductions]

@@sybo59 She's a human being, and therefore was not necessarily right about everything. I love Rand's work and believe full heartedly in my own self worth and self interest, but a lot of Ayn Rand's fans seem to regard her as the Mohammed of capitalism. I'm willing to recognize that she wasn't perfect, and neither were all of her ideas.

[@sybo59]

@@URProductions Most Objectivists disagree with Rand on non-essential things like some of her political opinions, or how she applied some of her core beliefs - but not on the core beliefs themselves. Can you name any part of her core philosophy that is wrong? You seem to simply assume it must have some flaws because it was created by a human, and that people who adopt them must be doing so on faith. You’re way off base.

[@ingramjd]

you missed the point, lemme help: "because it's mine"

[@azclaimjumper]

I'm highly amused by the fact that Hollyweird HATES Ayn Rand. Hollyweird hasn't made a move in decades that measures up to the substance of "Atlas Shrugged"

[@jasonmarch1983]

Most people don't like Libertarians/Capitalists in general they think we are uncaring because we follow the system in self interest yet we follow that because it helps the whole of society more. If you show me something better I'll jump on it but for now the data by far points to free markets

[@davee91889]

@@jasonmarch1983 Exactly! Besides, most of the people who disagree with Ayn Rand or us who read her just call her/us idiots with no other argument but feelings and misconceptions (I mean I hate Marx but that doesn't forbid me reading The Capital or his essays; true convictions hold tight!)

[@Onlymelan8e]

SOLAR POWER. QUIT KILLING EARTH WITH HER RESOURCES. SOLAR POWER. OR YOU ALL SUFER. EVEN YOUR BUSINESSESS

[@jasonmarch1983]

@@Onlymelan8e nuclear clearly the way to go more efficient and less pollution/cleaner than solar

[@Onlymelan8e]

@@jasonmarch1983 I agree. Less pollution but more chance of a catastrophe.

[@Torgo1969]

A great book, but I also recommend The Fountainhead. Especially for the character of Ellsworth Toohey, whose manipulative use of psychological bullying needs to be recognized by everyone if they are to defend against his type.

[@alhiddell6810]

I thought the fountainhead was better

[@bullterror5]

Why do you think it was written & how do you think she knows these things?

[@Torgo1969]

@@bullterror5 Well, Rand lived through the Bolshevik Revolution in Russia and she experienced these same types of people in the US in the 1930s.

[@gh7319]

Even as an atheist I'm tempted to thank God that such a dystopia as unrestricted capitalism would undoubtedly bring about simply can't exist in the real world. I understand and, up to a point, agree with the notion that hard work should pay but I know first hand that it often doesn't, plus such a world as is promoted in ultra-capitalist wet dreams such as this would both discourage and make virtually impossible the existence of charities. Last year I was working as a crab/lobster fisherman. I was working harder and longer hours and doing a more dangerous job for less pay than most others my age and many I know and grew up with to supply a luxury food sold almost exclusively to the wealthy. In late summer our boat suffered an unexpected breakdown which resulted in it being washed onto nearby rocks and being wrecked. The skipper/owner if the boat and myself were the only two aboard and we are only here today because of a lifeboat crew made up entirely of volunteers the form if the RNLI, a charity funded entirely by voluntary donations. So don't even bother telling me that the wealthy are somehow to be praised and that selflessness is somehow a bad thing.

[@carlranger8060]

Great rebuttal. There has to be a middle way. To much altruistic Govt and you get the stripping of individual rights as seen in the light of the pandemic. Supported by do-gooders and no argument was to be brooked.

[@ZZ-bt2jr]

The wealthy aren't to be praised by default. James Taggart and all of Washington are wealthy characters and regarded as highly immoral by Rand's intention, partly because they don't practice equal trade, they want things given to them. The wealthy you're describing match that description. Rand doesn't say to regard the wealthy as heroes, but rather that those who invent, create, work, earn, are heroes. Rearden understood that without his employees he couldn't pour steel, he valued them and paid them according to his reasonable judgement of their value, which came out to be more than any union in the nation. His employees were also good, hard working people who believed in fair exchange and EARNED their pay, they weren't the type to milk the clock or push blame. Just wanted to point that out. People like Rearden don't exist though, and if they do, they don't make it to the top, not anymore. Because the modern businessman has been taught his whole life how to work the system. The modern businessman is a collectivist who uses government friends, purchases government friends via lobbying, to get what he wants. The modern businessman does not believe in fair exhange, he believes in getting ten times the value of his production, and he gets it often times with his own form of anti-dog-eat-dog system, such as how gas stations don't compete anymore. They've all raised their price and are keeping it there, so that they can all enjoy higher profit. It's not as filthy as using the government to force you to buy gas, but it's still a form of collectivism, because the modern businessmen aren't interested in innovation, they're interested in making as big a fortune as they can on the least quality, most basic product possible. They aren't interested in advancing their product, or competing. They'd rather focus so solely on profit that they would rather make a failure of a product that should shame them, their company, and their employees that make it; and they use teams of psychologists to figure out the best way to sell their inferior products. The modern businessman is a sleazy slimey worm who doesn't want to work, doesn't want to create, invent, or make their product the best in the world. No, they want to be as completely inferior as possible, while still pulling the biggest profits that should belong only to real quality. This is where Rand's philosophy gets interesting, because she seemed to believe that a devotion to profit and creating value for shareholders PROVED that you were an innovative thinker, a hard worker, and that you had a brain, but we see today that the modern innovative thinkers have found a way to be inferior scum, making inferior scum to sell for the highest profit possible. It clearly takes a lot of thinking and inventive ideas to manipulate the psyche to actually buy worthless products, but that doesn't mean these scum makers are heroes. The world truly started declining when the real thinkers, the real innovators, decided to stoop to the level of inferior competitors and started making inferior products that are built to fail intentionally. Nothing I've heard, read, or learned of Rand and her ideology made an exception for inferiority. Her heroes are built on taking pride in superiority. As for selflessness being a bad thing, it would be bad for those volunteers, and you. It would be bad for them to risk their lives for no reward solely because they believe it's expected of them to be promoted up the social ladder. Most people can tell when someone is being charitable for clout, or because they believe they're supposed to be, and in those cases its pointless and hurts themselves and those they're helping. Themselves because they're not taking into account their own needs and risks. The ones they're helping because they should see no value in anything being done for them that the provider didn't actually want to do for their own enjoyment, and because they usually don't plan on reciprocating equal value. If those being helped planned on paying the helper somehow, that would be a little different but it would still need to be purely because they want to pay the helper, not because they're expected to. If those needing help had already decided they would somehow pay anyone willing to help with an equal value to the help they're receiving, and those willing to help are helping because it brings them joy, they take pride in it, and believe they deserve to be paid, that is the ideal situation.

[@howlingdin9332]

Objectivism doesn't raise any issue with private, voluntary charity; only the kind in which people are forced to contribute as a moral duty. And no, the wealthy are not to be praised. The productive are to be praised whether or not they're wealthy. John Galt is framed as the epitome of an ideal man in Rand's world, and (SPOILER): he works as a day laborer for a railroad in order to sustain himself without violating his principles. He's not wealthy.

[@oscarpine4735]

It’s good to see some common sense in this comment section. Humans are not made for the pure selfishness rand proposes

[@johnnynick9115]

​​@@oscarpine4735Actually humans are naturally selfish. It is part of human nature. Selfish only means concern for self. The word has no moral connotation. Being responsible for oneself is admirable. Children are naturally selfish. Sharing is a learned socialization attribute. Most children are taught to share.

[@z0h33y]

I loved Atlas Shrugged, especially the D'Anconia parts, but it was Anthem that hooked me. Its a fantastic dystopian novel in my opinion, and even tho its not as monumental as Atlas Shrugged - it still manages to deliver its message just as powerfully to the point that i feel like its way too overlooked when suggesting dystopian works. In school we read Fahrenheit 451, Brave New World, Lord of the Flies, and 1984; and its really surprising to me that Anthem wasnt also in that list of required reading during school - in fact none of Rand's books were.

[@sweetgrassprincess]

Atlas Shrugged sheds light on the corruption of the government that is walking fast forward to 1984. Rand is showing how the government is making us the sacrificial lamb's on the government's alter of the bottomless pit of greed and a thirst for power at any cost. It is not in the service of the government to expose the details of how the government is striving for wholesale slavery.

[@fredslick643]

The highest tribute to Ayn Rand, is that her critics must distort everything that she stood for in order to attack her. She advocated reason, not force; the individual’s rights to freedom of action, speech, and association; self-responsibility not self-indulgence, and a live-and-let-live society in which each individual is treated as an END, not the MEANS of others’ ends. How many critics would dare to honestly state these ideas, & say “..and that’s what I reject?”

[@JEFF9K]

Atlas Shrugged is 100% distortion. A preposterous, evil, anti-Christ fairy tale intended to be taken as political fact.

[@JEFF9K]

The base of the Republican Party is the "Religious" Right. These people should be made aware of the fact that Republican economic policies are anti-Christ.

[@JEFF9K]

Objectivists are right-wingers by almost all measures.

[@JEFF9K]

Show otherwise!

[@JEFF9K]

The biggest and most important differences between the left and right involve economics. The economics of Atlas Shrugged are totally right-wing.

[@realityisreal3928]

This book changed my morals and ethics as a 20 year old. It has served me well all my life now as a 64 year old. Atlas Shrugged, along with the Gulag Archipelago by Solzhenitsyn, are IMO the best books ever written.

[@alcidesyfedra1381]

I'm from Venezuela, I'm 32 years old, I read Atlas Shrugged 6 years ago, Gulag Archipielago 3 years ago... Living here, in this tropical-socialist madness helped me understand better these books, I'm so thankful to Ayn Rand, because her books gave me better tools to face life here, and leftist clowns I have to deal with very often. Your comment catched my eye because you are exactly double of my age and talked about these 2 books, that I loved so much.

[@napoleonbonaparteempereurd4676]

@@alcidesyfedra1381 Ayn Rands ideal world would fuck most Venezuelans over as looters. Keep that in mind.

[@a.gabbey5569]

@@napoleonbonaparteempereurd4676 how so?

[@peterlamont647]

Pretty sure Napoleon is asserting that the poor are looters. Of course, if he is, then he completely misunderstood the entire book and the underlying philosophy to a _staggering_ degree.

[@peggyfranzen6159]

The same.

[@MIKE0o0o0o]

You can read all the comments, not a single one comes close to what can be considered a rational argument against objectivism, that tells a lot.

[@guitarhausdoesntknowwhatac3285]

+Mike Mota Fitting, considering that there is nothing rational about objectivism.

[@guitarhausdoesntknowwhatac3285]

npina Much like how the sky is blue and gravity is one of the 4 major forces binding the universe together, the evidence is obvious to anyone who spends more then 30 seconds thinking about it.

[@guitarhausdoesntknowwhatac3285]

npina That's the point: it doesn't take a genius to see the obvious, which is that objectivism falls apart when you factor in that humans have evolved to function as a society and that the strongest societies are ultimately the ones that flourish. The novel Atlas shrugged attempts to deny this by constructing a ridiculous world in which the majority of the citizenry is incompetent and only a handful of captains of industry are able to hold things together, wheras the reality is that if those people wandered off they'd be replaced by someone else, and so on and so forth until the heat death of the universe. Further, it doesn't take into account what happens to the gulchers and their uber-society when they suddenly have to do all the work for themselves. Theirs no factories to mass produce steel, no farms to feed their numbers, no mechanics to repair broken equipment or any of the other myriad "moocher" jobs that Rand considers comtemptable and as such you wind up with this scenario: angryflower.com/348.html Also: Galt was a looter.

[@guitarhausdoesntknowwhatac3285]

npina Congratulations on misssing the point entirely. Also not actually responding to the criticism of atlas shrugged.

[@guitarhausdoesntknowwhatac3285]

npina You know pedantry just makes you look like you don't have a leg to stand on right? My point was that it's clear (just like gravity and the color of the sky) that Atlas Shrugged (a novel which is meant to extol the virtues of objectivism) posits an utterly absurd universe in order for it's conclusion (the world collapses without the captains of industry to shoulder it's burden) to function. The reality (as roughly 10,000 years of recorded history will show) is that when people die they are replaced by the next guy. They may have been brilliant or incompetent, kind or cruel, brave or cowardly, rich or poor or a transfinite number of characteristics but ultimately society will go on. What may endure though, is whatever effects those people people have had on society. New discoveries in technology or art will allow future generations to become even better then the preceding one. Objectivisim attempts to argue against this by claiming that the only thing that matters is me. That I shouldn't be concerned about the world around me. That Social obligations are chains on me. That I am entitled to everything that exists. It is in short, the kind of thinking that people grow out of by the time they are Adults. TL;DR: angryflower.com/348.html Also: Galt is a looter.

[@anaghadesai4851]

I regret that i read this book after a 2 decades of my life .but iam very happy to read this .atleast now .

[@lanaashford2192]

This book changed my life at a young age. My hero's are strong intelligent productive people not weak takers

[@optima-nova772]

The reason why Rand to me is misunderstood is because those that argue against her reason argue it from a collectivist lens. Our society strongly pushes (knowingly/unknowingly) this kind of thinking in our media, education and community, so I do not blame them for continuing to think this way, but Rand is a wake up against that form of thinking. For if you can not view objectivism through that as an individual then you will never understand it. To those that do, I wish you life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

[@peterlamont647]

Actually Optima, try this: Next time you run into a person who says Ayn Rand was an idiot etc... quiz them on the book. You'll find that these anti-intellectuals in 99% of cases never even read it. After all, how would a moron have the patience for a long & thorough book in the first place?

[@geedee123]

She has made herself perfectly clear.

[@geedee123]

Peter Lamont wow, bro, easy on the pride

[@SimonaRich]

Absolutely my philosophy

[@50733Blabla1337]

Man this Rand cult is incredible

[@gregpoore2757]

I first read Atlas Shrugged when I was 17 and it changed the way I think about many things. I'm 60 now and some of her ideas are still relevant. Who is John Galt?

[@EarthSurferUSA]

I found if you read some of Rands non-fiction books, you will understand Atlas Shrugged and the Fountainhead much more clearly. "The virtue of selfishness" "Philosophy, who needs it" "Capitalism, the unknown ideal" Those 3 books, will give you the brain power to see the premise behind every word of those two movies, and be able to see the premise behind anything political that anybody says. (Does what they say come from communism of any kind, or individual rights?) Yes--with those 3 books---you for the first time in your life, you will be able to see the difference between collectivism/communism,---and your individual rights. Some darn good history in those books also, with something profound on almost every page. Here is one of them. "There is no such thing as "group rights", they do not exist. The only rights that exist are "individual rights", and we will find, that when individual rights are gone, there will be no rights at all." Not boring---not at all---if you love your own life.

[@opreadumitru1]

there is no real capitalism at least no in its pure form anymore Read also Frederic Bastiat works about economics and laws. Any government intervention in economics / in the market or social cultural values or marriage (lgbt/immigration/religion) etc. are not in alignment with true democracy true republican liberty principles. They should not promote or repress nothing just be neutral to societal,religious or cultural free time or activities values of individuals. Government's role should be to protect the national sovereignty and maintain a real and independent judicial system with maintain order and the respect for laws inside the nation. Like a referee in a football match being unbiased and non partisan. Of course this is a utopia the secrete societies or discreet societies political oligarchical plutocrat think tanks and shadow deep state will never permit this as it will be the end of their tyranical subtle power.

[@Chuck68ify]

That why the Founders put the Bill of Rights as Amendments, to highlight them. And to put government on notice that the Individual is paramount! Not organizations!

[@socksumi]

The only ones capable of exercising rights are individuals. Thus individual rights are the irreducible primary.

[@CarpeMetus]

It speaks volumes to the lack of civil discourse in society these days. Instead of refuting opinions people disagree with they seek to silence them. I've seen perfectly reasonable comments marked spam because it hides them faster. Heck I've even been asked to "dislike" and "spam" comments on other videos by people who were starting a campaign to silence opinions they disagree with. It's sad really...

[@danevans6340]

Did Atlas even lift bro?

[@PuppiezRawesome]

nah, he shrugged

[@quidnick]

Yes, to achieve them gains.

[@peggyfranzen6159]

Hydraulic, pnuematic, and, honesty.

[@RodCornholio]

Yeah, saw it on a Van Halen album.

[@paolo2012]

Hysterical

[@chippledon1]

"Life,liberty, and the pursuit of happiness." - The founders knew this before Ayn Rand ever came along! Though I would quickly say that I do not in any way condemn Ayn Rand. On the contrary. She is simply and brilliantly reminding us! And we need to be reminded form time to time.

[@kofiofosu9051]

I understood her message far too late in life. It was the exact opposite of what I had been indoctrinated with. We can ignore her philosophy and declare it as “immoral” to our peril. This continues to happen with disastrous results.

[@1simo93521]

As a Britt who as has just read Atlas at 31. I have never read anything so world shattering to me as this book. It has changed my whole out look on life and shown me the socialist lies I was programed to believe my whole life. This book should be read by all British students. Thank you Ayn Rand for opening my eyes! I belong too no one but me.

[@nanoneuro]

Man is an end in himself.

[@nyestrovicpenchkofferberge3407]

Beautifully said bud

[@frankronnoco977]

@chandllerburse737 Without the men of ability (or the rich as you call them), there would be no plumbing to fix or garbage to dispose of.

[@cheeez9438]

To be honest, I put this audiobook on every morning before work and it helps my confidence in believing what I am capable of. This novel helps me when I wake up wanting to stay in bed, but gets me out and ready to work. “Act first. Keep it going. Feel later.”

[@PeterErikson-rd5tj]

This is a good way to use the book but don't swallow it whole thinking life is that simple and clear cut. People can bend a little and help each other out as well.

[@TheTektronik]

I was only on the third chapter of the book and I can tell that Ayn Rand puts the individual in a different light. The battle between the collective and the individual is clearly illustrated the book.

[@sweetgrassprincess]

After 2020 the words or Ayn Rand her words resonate with so much more meaning and truth.

[@breathebliss]

Nope, you're not alone. I, too, find this book also quite enjoyable and I'm 16

[@coaldoubt2879]

how about now that you've grown up a bit?

[@peterlamont647]

I knew it! hahaha! I knew the response would be some shill attacking his or her age instead of trying to refute an argument made by the author. These collectivists don't even understand basic logical fallacies let along the rest of logic.

[@stephenh.cummings2987]

@@peterlamont647 I just turned 16 and I love these stories as someone who loves railroads and business and even as someone who is learning some economics

[@geedee123]

So sad how such young minds can be perverted so easily. Actually no, young minds should be protected from this poisonous hate rant. Your parents should have protected you better, B; it’s their fault. I will pray for you to love Jesus-the way, the truth and the life; seek and promote Jesus instead of lost Ayn Rant.

[@geedee123]

@@David-Once, everyone has an opinion, and you have shared yours with clarity. Now, the hard part is comparing opinion to Truth. You are mistaken about True Christianity. Firstly, regardless of your definition of socialism, the biggest difference between world-governance and True Christianity is the presence and love of Jesus. But only a true Christian knows anything about that. Many measure a person not by how well or often they express their opinion, but by how they intend to Truly help others. You give the impression that your main objective is to defend Ayn R. with opinion, and ad hominem attacks against someone you know almost nothing about, and their religion. But the True Christian way is to help others in love, which I am trying to do here. My hope is that just one reader of these words wakes up to the reality that Ayn Rand was a deceiver who sent countless souls to hell. (How can you or anyone support someone’s work that inspired Hitler?) I love you and your precious soul, David, and so does Jesus-Him enough to die an excruciating death on the cross for you to live forever. Please don’t cheat your life by holding and expressing such a low opinion of True Christians (and, thereby, Jesus Christ, the True & Eternal King of all things). Learn to promote Jesus only, who Is the Truth, the Way, and the Life; and pay no more attention to your own opinions or those of A.R. Learn from Jesus directly through honest Bible study and sincere prayer, and you won’t have to pay attention to the plethora of “preachers” out there expressing their own opinions and harming the name of True Christianity. You can start with Matthew chap. 5-7, and chap. 11. Then your life will be rewarded after you die, and you won’t have to go be with Ayn & Satan forever. If you disagree then these words are not for you, but for that one person who reads this and repents from believing false teachers. I hope I did not offend you, my friend. May God bless you in every good way, David. He is so merciful and kind and willing to give you great and eternal honor. All glory be to God, and praises to the Slain Lamb, Jesus, the Eternal Living King of the Universe who is the only True, only Good, and only Holy One! Hallelujah!

[@Murph_.]

The capitalists are not seeking money. They are traders, trading the products created through their minds and hard work, to other who have done the same, to get the things they need to continue their lives and livelihoods. Money is ONLY the exchange currency, not the means nor the end. These industrialists WANT to see their products improve the lives of every person in the world. They want to see it used in as many ways as possible. And they want to be given equal value. When others also produce things, they too want to pull the world up a notch with their products, and in exchange want something in return...

[@peterlamont647]

"NUH HUH! GOBERMENT MAKES ALL THE MONEY AND THATS WHERE RICH COME FROM BRAH. AND THEY HARE HORDING IT FROM ALL THE POORS" Sorry, I couldn't resist being the faux troll with a complete lack of awareness.

[@nightmare674]

“There are two novels that can change a bookish fourteen-year old’s life: The Lord of the Rings and Atlas Shrugged. One is a childish fantasy that often engenders a lifelong obsession with its unbelievable heroes, leading to an emotionally stunted, socially crippled adulthood, unable to deal with the real world. The other, of course, involves orcs." -John Rogers

[@b.w.1386]

I'm glad I'm not the only one to see this. Its like a capitalists wet dream of what they wished socialism was.

[@margerald1]

I love how every comments section involving Ayn Rand has the one leftist spewing this overrated quote over and over again because they have nothing of value to say. Cope harder you anti-intellectual Marxist.

[@diabolicallaughter]

Funny how seemingly every criticism of Rand (and Objectivism) I've ever read expresses a fundamental misunderstanding of her work. They say they've read her work, they say they understand it; but it is quite clear that they do not. Take, for example, their criticism that Rand "glorifies" selfishness, as if this is a bad thing. They claim that selfishness means something along the likes of "me, me, and only me, to hell with everybody else." This is *not* what selfishness means, and Rand knew this. That fallacious understanding/definition of selfishness does not hold up either linguistically or conceptually. Its proper meaning has been corrupted by centuries of bad philosophy and propaganda. These people are conflating selfishness (as properly understood) with solipsism/narcissism/hedonism. Sharing, for example, is an act of selfishness. I share with others so they'll share with me, and to build solid relationships. I don't share for the sake of sharing. I don't share to benefit another unless I too benefit. To say that it is better to benefit another than to benefit oneself, is to not value one's own life. Benefit is not a zero sum game. One does not benefit at another's expense. One's gain is not another's loss. Benefit and gain are mutual. If not, then you have something else.

[@aristotlegrumpus8102]

I have never encountered a critic of Rand who has actually read Rand, let alone understood her stuff. As you point out, they always claim to have read her, but some quick questioning reveals that they simply parrot a few catchphrases they've heard from others who never read or understood Rand.

[@Saephaan]

+Aristotle Grumpus they probably read their quotes from tumblr so don't worry.

[@Lehmann108]

I share with others because it is intrinsically "good", not as some sort of ploy to motivate them to share with me.

[@wings8099]

excellent point. i've always had a good feeling about rand and the deeper i delve into her work, the more i'm convinced that she had noble intentions. personally i think its a bit of an ego tussle, i guess some of us are just happy and okay with admitting that we like money and we like making it. there are people who want to believe that they're being altruistic because they care for humanity, and just dont want to admit that they're doing it for their own selfish reasons. i guess the supporters of objectivism are just honest with their emotions, and its something i respect. i hope more and more people will hop on over. i've gone through so much switching with my own political philosophies, and even devoted time and energy to volunteer work because I wanted to "help people". now looking back, i have no desire to do volunteer work. absolutely none. my life has gotten better ever since i started appreciating making money and i have no regrets. also as a woman, dagne is such an inspiration to me.

[@diabolicallaughter]

Nothing is intrinsically good. Why do you put the word "good" in quotes? Curious. Something is good or bad as determined by an objective standard. And it's not a "ploy." It's self-interest. It's fairness. It's justice. I refrain from theft and murder, not as a ploy to stay out of priosn, but because both are objectively wrong.

[@robertmaxa6631]

I just started listening to the audiobook. We'll see what I get out of it.

[@tombehnke9058]

This was excellent. Atlas Shrugged did change my life. Favorite book

[@pedrozaragoza2253]

Extraordinary woman Ayn Rand. A true genius.

[@oldschool7207]

The looters are firmly in control. They carefully avoid going too far in any single step. I wish real life was like this story line so that we could actually fight back.

[@optimusprimum]

It is. Pay attention dude. The trans movement, BLM, „Love is Love“, George Floyd, gov over reach, Atlas shrugged is the real world.

[@tBar9223]

This book put words to what I’d always felt to be innately true. The message is more important than ever, as western politics is currently full of James Taggarts!

[@Wesley196148]

What is needed is for society to drop the pretense of pure selflessness, or altruism. Every heroic, sacrificial act of kindness has an element of adding to one's virtue, or self interest. "Look at me, I'm helping poor people...I'm better than you." Fine, if it gives you meaning..But call it what it should be: Enlightened Self Interest.

[@scottranger89]

The seduction of greed is powerful and never satisfied.

[@minorityofone1510]

Especially by Politicians who have few limits to their ability to steal from the taxpayer.

[@reneschaefer4027]

Nice speech. Atlas Shrugged was the book that motivated me to leave my country Germany and move to Switzerland.

[@Starbuck32123]

What's happening in europe that switzerland is the best country?

[@reneschaefer4027]

@@Starbuck32123 Switzerland has the lowest tax rate and it has tax competition between the Kantons (counties). Different tax rate in every Kenton and there is direct democracy.

[@alhiddell6810]

@@reneschaefer4027 but isnt it very difficult to move there ?

[@reneschaefer4027]

@@alhiddell6810 no if you are German and can proof that you have a job in Switzerland it is easy. But know I live in the UK and I am financially free anyway with my property investments there.

[@alweneels868]

@@arend050F xXxX! cxxxxAad

[@davee91889]

I'm 17 and reading Ayn Rand and I feel grateful and amazed.

[@01amare]

Happy 18th birthday

[@robertmiller1270]

Finally read Anthem & wept.

[@vzshadow1]

This is the most important book I ever read.

[@radcow]

It just seem communism reverse to me

[@leonpope861]

Because of the Bible I can grasp the lessons in Atlas Shrugged 😏😎🤓. The HILARIOUS thing most people in this so called christian country named The United States of a America are biblically empty and misguided when it comes to the depth of the bible literature. This includes the so called experts! The Holy Spirit is the only One who can fathom and help you reach the depths of the lessons and guidance the bible possesses!😎🤓🔥♨️

[@geedee123]

Have you ever heard of the Bible? That ancient book is infinitely more important than the words of a spiritually blind false-intellectual. You’re missing out. Read the holy scriptures and pray to Jesus for eternal life.

[@richardclay4158]

Then read Middlemarch for God's sake.

[@thursoberwick1948]

Read more Tolstoy and Dostoyevsky. I'm sure Ayn Rand did, in the original Russian.

[@jimda4910]

The Cornerstone it's all built on. "I should and must retain ownership of my efforts."

[@rickharms1]

I read it in college, 1973. Changed my life.

[@kab0ky]

How so Rick? Thanks

[@smorre4004]

@@kab0ky It makes you view the world differently. People in need do not deserve the fruit of labor of other men. Altruism forced upon people by the government or other powers is morally wrong.

[@greekgold4808]

@@smorre4004 So what shoud you do let them die? And what about the buisnes owners are they deserving of the porduct of 1000s of others labor?Not to mention the monopolistic prectices of big buisness that ultimately supress political and personal freedoms. Not all citizens are born into equal economic status and a large majority of them have no way out, souldnt we use the state to help andsave the lves of those whoneed it? But inorder to do hat we need to end couruption and buyouts from corperations.

[@smorre4004]

@@greekgold4808 Nothing's stopping people from doing charity. Business owners own the means of production, the things that create wealth. His employees can buy their own means of production to create wealth for themselves. States don't help, they just steal from other people and take it for themselves, only giving crumbs to those in need. Your corruption and buyouts are possible because of big government.

[@avalonjustin]

There is much to be learned from this. How important is ambition, and where does it fit with the needs of poor people in society?

[@Chuck68ify]

I read it in 1959 and in 2020! The Fountainhead inspired me to be a builder, I've been one for 47 years and still building at 78, lol!

[@ViksitBharata]

Can you teach me I am 29, feeling like going against the whole world.

[@ChenBen-y6n]

atlas shrugged is like a graphic novel

[@spandon]

Maybe check the audio before upload?

[@fredslick643]

"The highest tribute to Ayn Rand, is that her critics must distort everything she stood for in order to attack her. She advocated reason, not force; the individual’s rights to freedom of action, speech, and association; self-responsibility, NOT self-indulgence; and a live-and-let-live society in which each individual is treated as an END, not the MEANS of others’ ends. How many critics would dare honestly state these ideas and say, ” . . .and that’s what I reject”? --Barbara Branden

[@paulbradford6475]

I read Atlas Shrugged twice. I'm thinking of reading it again. Some fundamental thoughts stand out in bold relief and are as true and valuable today as ever. Yet, don't read too deeply into her characters motivation; while her principles have stood the test of time, life and her life is and was more nuanced than her plot line or her philosophy. Her personal life was a mess.

[@01amare]

Lmao shutup granny

[@chopses8391]

“There are two novels that can change a bookish fourteen-year old’s life: The Lord of the Rings and Atlas Shrugged . One is a childish fantasy that often engenders a lifelong obsession with its unbelievable heroes, leading to an emotionally stunted, socially crippled adulthood, unable to deal with the real world. The other, of course, involves orcs.”

[@PropagandaDS]

I was about to comment that myself

[@jayb1964]

The executives at Enron were like James Taggart, profit without regards to the public good.

[@paulbradford6475]

Ah..no. They were master scammers, not builders of anything.

[@MyPresidentme]

I LOVE Ayn Rand. Period.

[@noodlesnoodles1]

Relevance of being Honest with yourself...When you have realized that you and you alone are 'The Motor of your own World'

[@kingairA100]

Yep!

[@geedee123]

Hellish thought. Abandon ship bro.

[@mattkrapfl6349]

the best book I ever read. period. President trump signed my copy. he did however roll his eyes though when I handed it to him... true story.

[@geniusgabe1352]

Matt Krapfl interested in selling it??

[@ilikehumans1096]

trump doesn't know how to read. Next time have him sign your bible, he hasn't read that one either.

[@geniusgabe1352]

Jesus Satan your @ is Jesus Satan. Check your premises- Ayn Rand

[@ilikehumans1096]

@@geniusgabe1352 Check your head, I'm not the one getting books signed by trump.

[@geniusgabe1352]

Jesus Satan Unemployment all time low 😓 Record breaking stock market 😓 Peace treaty with North Korea in the works😓 4.0+ GDP Growth 😓😓 ISIS Practically eradicated 😓 The tax cut 😓 Veterans can now go to any hospital 😓 These are all facts, not my or anyone else’s emotions

[@jasonrinaldo9300]

I am currently reading this book for the first time. I’ve seen reviews that suggest the book is fascist propaganda. Now I’ve seen the movie, and know that’s not true. Fascists don’t flee on a pilgrimage. It was an exodus in the pursuit for intellectual and economical freedom. So now I’m in “Wyatt’s Torch” in part I of the book. I’m enjoying the book. It’s wordy- I’d much rather it be wordy in dialogue and philosophy than descriptions of lust and desire- not that that’s fun, but dang it, get on with it 😂 On the whole, I love it. I love Ayn Rand. I don’t agree with everything she’s ever said, but pound for pound, she’s my favorite philosopher!

[@419dman]

What do you think the word "is" means, and why in this case is it not synonymous with an "=" in this instance?

[@cvrator]

Cancer also changes lives.

[@MrDarknessandDeath]

It's more of a "Darling, you are so precious to me, I could not live without you!" thing. To say 'I love you', one must first say 'I'.

[@theshape7214]

The best part of this book is when it finally ends.

[@jasonjackson3114]

"Should I become a doctor because I have an obligation to help the needy? OR....." Nope. You become a doctor because you want to help those in need AND you have a interest AND make money. This either/or argument is dubious

[@a.gabbey5569]

You become a doctor for whatever reason you think. It's a personal decision. And it's non of anyone's business.

[@peterlamont647]

Dr. Randomercam coined this as a new logical fallacy because he saw it being used so much. He calls it the zebra crossing fallacy. Someone leads a zebra across a river and says, " This zebra is white." You say. "Um, no, it is not." They say, "Are you saying this zebra is black?" Alternately they might say, "YOU NEED TO DECIDE WHETHER THIS ZEBRA IS BLACK OR WHITE IDIOT!!!" This forced attempt to make a close ended binary thought process where both terminate at a false dead end. The idea is that you'll short circuit and pick one of the false premises and the sophist can then corner your argument by basing their logic on a pile of dung which you in your haste to get past something seemingly unimportant inadvertently agreed to call real. Of course, the answer may be solid. The zebra may in fact be both black and white. The doctor may be motivated to live a wealthy lifestyle and help the sick.

[@chongeiktong3426]

Confucius. Love what you do. Do what you love. Doctors in Asia Europe Australia NZ serve. US worship money.

[@ronaldalanperry4875]

Having watched this video, I'd love to know why the book changed lives. The speaker makes a case that society has no claim on anyone's altruism, but doesn't even touch upon the idea that we might owe something to society because we are also receiving. She assumes that manufacturers have an absolute right to produce, and seek profits without any restrictions whatsoever, relying on society's laws, institutions and infrastructure, protected by its armies and navies, consuming natural resources that are the common property of all, contaminating air, soil and water...without having to answer to anyone for collateral costs or take any thought for the rights of the public. Seems to me the narrator skips over the most essential issues.

[@fhowland]

Finally just read it, just finished it today, at the age of 37. With I had read it sooner. Changed my life.

[@lawaladebeshin8832]

I am reading it at 40 ...I hope it’s not too late

[@milokojjones]

@@lawaladebeshin8832 It is never to late to become selfish dick.

[@Dunirty]

One of my favorite books.

[@thesurvivalist.]

Still on strike! I refuse to let looters, and moochers decide my fate! Using the Power of Pull!

[@Polack21]

I'm just finishing Atlas Shrugged and it's one of my favorites. Well written with a very powerful message

[@rameshlovemaryarivalanpott8290]

@Isaak V No one owes anyone anything

[@craigenputtock]

Atlas Shrugged. The Polity of Beasts. That's all you need.

[@johnatkins3017]

This is a massively important work. Everyone should read and live by it.

[@johnmadison1066]

I have read most of Ayn Rands works more than once. Her philosophies, like most philosophies, when taken to their absolute logical extension, becomes absurd. However, she does make some valid points. People and corporations that grab money instead of earning it do dress up their larceny in terms of public good. The US government does over-regulate based more on the perception of public relations as opposed to solid common sense. I have found that the salvation of ones own soul is the highest form of selfishness.

[@johnmadison1066]

are you serious, how about just one; oil refineries, the US cannot build new ones due to EPA over regulation, the ones we have are old and antiquated. Common sense dictates that we build new and efficient refineries. How many examples do you need?

[@christianm9612]

***** curious, are these refinery your referring to being hindered by the government or subsidized ? maybe the thing that your missing is that all of these have been built on private land ? hence the government can not inflict its "regulations" also the biggest regulation that government does is TAX.

[@christianm9612]

***** You brought up three refinerys as a rebuttal to the gentlemans claim. curious, did you look into why they were allowed ? or did you automatically assume that it was done by the US government ? you may want to dig a little deeper .

[@christianm9612]

***** Maybe you should look into that first before you make such a broad statement then ?

[@christianm9612]

***** wow, your ignorance is pretty staggering. agian, maybe you should look into why those three refinerys were able to be built, before you make a broad statement and proclaim how you are "correct" I have never made any point or argument, other then the regulation of taxes. All Ive asked is for you too look into the three points you made.

[@BestHBCU]

This is a wonderful assessment. Thank you so much for posting. I have to say that I could not go with Ayn Rand's philosophy all of the way, mostly, because it does not take children into account. Children, objectivism, and individualism don't fit together neatly unless both parents have got themselves together. Although Dagney falls in love 3 times, the love she feels is not the love a parent feels for a child. Fulfilling your destiny is not the same love needed for raising a child. I believe that Rand's philosophy is better suited to have us ask necessary questions, especially of people we rely on to govern us and to decide to take more interest and responsibility for governing ourselves both individually and collectively; however, I do not feel that her philosophy is sustainable from one generation to the next. Not yet. More is needed. She denied a belief in mysticism, but I think that her assessments themselves were mystical. Love of self. The worship of what man can be and become. She had tremendous faith. I think that this makes her writing that much more alluring. Today, this covid 19 world-wide shutdown is, in some ways, Atlas Shrugged. Is not Q John Gault? Who is Q? I am fascinated to see how this all plays out.

[@LibertyMadison]

Very insightful. I agree. I think many philosophers fail to incorporate the care of children because it’s not their primary concern. It is deemed as women’s work. Which allows for success off the back of women. I believe due to biological differences women will remain the second class citizens of our society. The burden of child rearing being the cause. I personally do not advocate for women to have children if they want to truly contribute to society

[@BestHBCU]

@@LibertyMadison Thanks for your reply. Ayn Rand most have agreed with you since she never had children.

[@toby-xo6rb]

@@LibertyMadison Isn't this difference in biology why the concept of families and marriage was developed and has been a successful model for thousands of years? The man works longer hours and generates more income while the woman stays home and looks after the children. The key is, the man is expected to contribute all of his income to the family, so the differences balance out. Women, in such an honest relationship as I've just outlined, don't ever need to be "second class citizens". Also, I think you will find that a lot of women at some point in their lives would choose to have children so "advocating that woman don't have children" might not be a realistic stance.

[@louisbarbisan8471]

I had the fortune to know recently about Ayn Rand and her philosophy and recalled something that happened early on in my life, about a business deal with a large USA company that required a large globe, they wanted the globe support easel to be at 90' instead at approx 22.5'. Well I refuse to do it for the simple reason it was wrong. I really need that job because of other spinoff jobs. I'm glad I stood for what's right and through. Ayn Rand you're my latest hero.

[@joliettraveler]

Be producer not a looter. What we have today is too many looter, or in other words living of the taxpayers.

[@maximemeis111]

SPOILER ALERT : At the end of the book it says :"they could not see the world beyond the mountains, there was only a void of darkness and rock, but the darkness was hiding the ruins of a continent: the roofless homes, the rusting tractors,the lightless streets, the abandoned railed." For me it seems to say that they let it collapsed.

[@plusaeroservices3235]

I found several similarities between Atlas Shrugged and the Bible. Both books speak about an imminent catastrophe that so far have not happen. Once the threat is created both books offer salvation but only for those that follow their lead blindly and jealously. Both books have a chosen race (there are no Rand's heroes that are not Caucasian in race, No, Francisco is not native Argentinian but of the most pure Italian descent.) Finally there is John Galt, a mystic figure that rejects nonexistent begs from society for his "return" to save them, ignoring the fact that all those people do not know "who is John Galt"? How can they ask him to return and save them if they ignore his identity? You have to be very simple minded for this book to change your life.

[@plusaeroservices3235]

No, that one I did miss. Thank you for your invaluable enlightenment

[@verticalhorizon4633]

+Plus Aero Services You are wrong on so many levels that there is not enough space here to address them.

[@verticalhorizon4633]

+Plus Aero Services You are wrong on so many levels that there is not enough space here to address them.

[@plusaeroservices3235]

Vertical Horizon If you are not capable of mention them in a few words probably you don´t understand it clear enough. Why mention it ? Smart wannaby.

[@ealdorman5053]

+Plus Aero Services I like how you compare this book to the bible, I don't believe you have grasp the value of it, if I may I want share a different side of this book. It plays on man's sub conscious thoughts and how it can influence their conscious actions (from Ayn Rand's perspective). Parts like James' wedding party or part with Hank's family, this is not a comment to change your opinion only the perspective. The government both rejected & wanted Hank's metal in the same way our government treated cannabis before this whole movement started. Think about the ignorant people who want to take funding away from space programs and disagree with climate science but still want scientist to make new medication and gadgets for their own selfish desires. Rand shows what happens when you give man's conscious mind to the people's sub conscious desires. This book is pretty long and cover many mindsets, philosophies, etc so that's just something I got from the book. Ps I would love to hear your thoughts on my channel on the content, delivery, etc. I wish to grow as a translator of my thoughts and would like A intelligent opinion on my skill.

[@crosenblum]

Incredible classic book, showed me what the pursuit of public good was really about theft. Really good video..

[@effinty2112]

If anyone reads her fiction and is put off by her rather clunky and leaden prose don't abandon her, turn to her non-fiction which I found to be far more valuable. I don't like her fiction AT ALL. To those who do that's great - it would be a dull world if we all had the same tastes. My suggestion: start with Capitalism - The Unknown Ideal, an excellent collection of pieces by Rand and others.

[@kevinakimou9811]

EVERYTHING about Rand is clunky and leaden:)

[@lmpure_4542]

“No gods. No Kings. Only Man.”

[@419dman]

For The Record Sanity is a lie. A wise ass once said: "the only sane person is one you don't know that well."

[@Nullifidian]

The only way that _Atlas Shrugged_ changed my life is that after reading it I never again went anywhere without at least two books so that I could switch one out.

[@JimmyCurry]

LOL true.

[@sanjidvinsmoke2676]

The best part of Book is The Speech 😘. Money can't Be explained much better than it is done in that Speech👍

[@419dman]

"You must not expect anything in life that isn't earned, especially in love" (I am paraphrasing, I couldn't be bothered to look up the exact quote.) This statement explains why she failed so tremendously when it came to love. Love is the meaning of Life and the ultimate Morality, Rand and her shallow acolytes will never get it.

[@maximemeis111]

(continuing) and sorry I read "Film Flam Salesman" instead of "Flim..." But a research on google doesn't show anything that seems close to the conversation. Can you develop?

[@rgv-fans4888]

Mam should we read fountainhead compulsary before reading atlus strudge

[@isaacbrown5760]

Love Ayn Rand's philosophy. I always seek individual accomplish, over social collectism

[@419dman]

I never said "the internet is an authority" I said that telling someone to google something is a "appeal to authority" argument

[@1djtraxx]

I'm one of those people to add to the list Jeff9K. Look at the scoreboard above... 648 thumbs up to 206 thumbs down. It's an overwhelming majority and I would say that the people who gave it a thumbs down are far less intelligent than the people who gave it a thumbs up. Also, it's not about "Liking" the book, it's about understanding it and being able to see how she proved her point without a doubt. I don't have to like it to see it's truth. In reality, it's not something most people will like, but it is something that if embraced will benefit all of mankind, not just the wealthy profiteer. It is indisputable. In fact, your negative argument just shows that you have nothing to say to contradict her work so all your left with is your lame question.

[@JEFF9K]

That's the type of reasoning that results in low scores on IQ tests.

[@JimmyCurry]

Appeal to authority. So the fact that less people hate the video is proof they are STUPID. LOL. Your response is stupid, and if the ones that love the video are just as stupid, my argument is your position is untrue.

[@JimmyCurry]

Stick to DJing.

[@AmericanBrain]

@KellyAnnOR Thank you for asking nicely. 1/You validate "existence" with your sense organs: namely there is 'something' as opposed to 'nothing'. A blind,deaf,mute man OR "apparently" comatose paralysed man But with consciousness : knows there is existence, as opposed to "void". 2/ All other explanations and pathways can neither be validated nor proved, and lead to reducio ad absurdum (circular logic). "Reality" can be a confusing word, so "existence exists" is better OR metaphysics (words).

[@DanLetts97]

The biggest flaw with Ayn Rand's world is that there are no children. Now why is this relevant? Well at a more basic level it's relevant because somebody who works 18 hours a day isn't going to have a family for very long. A man with young children is going to want to spend time with them, and in fact it's important that he do so. A man needs a father figure around the house. From an economic view point we need repopulation of our society in order to keep the economy strong. If nobody has children, then who's going to run all of the train stations, all of the coal mines and all the steel mills when John Galt and his buddies grow old and die? Once you introduce children into Ayn Rands world things change.

[@BCtruth]

Her philosophy simply encourages each person to strive for their own potential and to hold themselves accountable for their own choices and outcomes--what's known as an "internal locus of control." It's very simple to explain, but I would agree that many people have a hard time translating her ideas into daily action, and perhaps even more difficulty into parental behaviors. I didn't find her works until my late 30s (about 10 years ago). My wife and I raised three children, two are pursuing careers as healthcare providers, like my wife, and the other is pursuing a career as an aerospace engineer. My wife and I have three college degrees each and have established that expectation and desire in our kids. They see the life we have lived and we've taught them to aspire to fulfill their own dreams. We had unknowingly raised them using her principles and after reading her books, it made even more sense to us. I'm thankful to have found her books (I've read The Fountainhead 9 times and Atlas Shrugged 8 times).

[@markgunderson7057]

Thank you for your overview and putting into words what I felt!

[@frodehau]

Some pursue the "call" to gather wealth, others have other goals in life. Behind every successful capitalist stands huge crowds of people who seeks other goals, like knowledge, compassion, exploration and more. The capitalist creates possibilities for people with other and just as noble goals to thrive. There's nothing wrong with that, but the capitalist would get nowhere without the others. The most successful capitalists, objectivists or whatever label you want to put on them are ruthless, and makes choices that leads to unacceptable consequences for the rest of us. Overuse of resources, caused by ignoring the fact that infinite exponential growth in a finite world is impossible is the largest flaw in the egotistical mind of an religious follower of Ayn Rand's Objectivism. EDIT: This talk is actually really uninspiring, using Rand's flawed philosophy to justify ones own selfishness is so shallow that it would not withstand a thorough conversation with anyone that has any interest in how a society works.

[@desprx6782]

In my own selfishness, I choose to do what is best for others, because that will in turn help me. But Ayn Rand says that it is okay to focus on yourself and feel good about yourself. That society measures your virtue or worthiness by how much you helped another. But you can't be in a position to help others without first providing for yourself sufficiently. You are probably self interested most of the time and don't even know it. Ayn Rand's philosophy says essentially what Adam Smith does in the Wealth of Nations, "It is not from the benevolence of the butcher, the brewer, or the baker that we expect our dinner, but from their regard to their own interest".

[@frodehau]

Hey, now you are being condescending! Of course everyone acts in their own self interest. But you have not touched on any of the points above. The selfish Ayn Randers often don't want to help others, instead they just say that if you struggle, why don't you just work harder. Pull your self up by the bootstraps! and so on. Its NAIVE, and it does not work.

[@desprx6782]

"It doesn't work" Has Ayn Rand's ideas ever been put to the real test in any society?

[@desprx6782]

"You have destroyed all that which you held to be evil and achieved all that which you held to be good. Why, then, do you shrink in horror from the sight of the world around you? That world is not the product of your sins; it is the product and the image of your virtues. It is your moral ideal brought into reality in its full and final perfection. You have fought for it, you have dreamed of it, and you have wished it, and I-I am the man who has granted you your wish"

[@frodehau]

Blabla, Frode Shrugged :)

[@thecapone45]

This book is absolutely amazing. I had to put it down to gather my thoughts. I knew this book was great. I knew it was life changing. But I had no idea it would be this beautiful. This is a masterpiece. This is amazing. Words can barely explain how I feel about this book. Ayn Rand, I wish I could have met her.

[@whoisjohngault3270]

Same

[@fredweiss]

Debi, I'm so happy to see the large number of views you've gotten on this video. It is excellent.

[@maximemeis111]

To clarify the term "compromise". For objectivism, it is your values that you cannot compromise. I think Rand used the example of compromising with a thief. If one day you agree that he as a right on just a dollar of your wealth, the next days he comes back and takes the rest because you have compromised the principle that your life and the product of it belongs to you. When trading, you compromise the price but not the fact that you're a trading for mutual profit.

[@jacksparrowguy]

Even in 2021, Ayn Rand’s ideas still hold true 👍

[@anonnymousperson]

This video and comments section feels a bit like being in a cult.

[@lolstalgic9602]

I came here because it’s very symbolic of what’s happening in Minneapolis

[@Saia2007]

I need a million more like buttons for this vid!!!!

[@OldToughDW]

I read 'Atlas Shrugged' at 13, and understood that there was a hidden philosophy. It was later in life that I got a degree in Philosophy. Religion is one way to lead a quality life, philosophy is another way, and positive mental attitude is a third. All have taught me different things. There is an important question that I asked during life's my journey, "What do you do about a society that is heading toward destruction?" I have had different answers throughout my life. I went from withdrawal, to Nihilism, to regression, to a career in Rodeo (I gave society nothing and earned every dollar I made) to construction, until an industrial accident disabled me, then I studied Philosophy formally. My answers changed as my life experiences taught me and my knowledge of Philosophy grew. Life is always a journey and like a journey it has a beginning and an end. The most important thing I leaned is how to have a goal, and to choose my destination, not my path, my destination carefully. Most look only at the path and choose the path carefully, then are shocked that they end up not where they wanted to be. I wish Ayn Rand had developed Ragnar Dannejkold more in her story. I have always been an honorable scoundrel or rogue who moved outside of societies norms; it goes hand in glove with learning to think outside the box. Normal people are comfortable in their little boxes. Ragnar what you get when you have an intelligent thoughtful ambitious person who sees the end of society and that the path the nebulous wad of the aggravate that we call 'normal people,' are heading toward and decides to fight and struggle, not to be drug along that path with them. It's harder than I ever thought it would be. Ragnar is the 'Philosopher, warrior, poet, rogue' combination, piracy was his expression of that. It's a logical choice when all are blind followers who are running after blind guides. I have some problems with egoism becasue egoism alone is part of the problem. When you combine egoism, unearned rewards, unrestrained wishful thinking, and self-aggrandizement, you get the modern Socialistic Liberalism, the US is currently suffering under. It's a Machiavellian pseudo-morality, becasue it hides it's agendas but is agenda driven.

[@JimmyCurry]

Up to the last sentence I was in agreement. Then you threw logic out the window. How do you get to "socialistic liberalism" from what you outlined initially? Wow.

[@OldToughDW]

Jimmy Curry I miss spoke when I wrote that and I have learned more since then, I should have written Cultural Marxism. But I assure you the Philosophy of Objectivism is the counter of Communism, Socialism and Cultural Marxism. To get there you need to read Objectivism, that is how I did it.

[@JimmyCurry]

So Communism, Socialism, Cultural Marxism are bad? Why? Seems that capitalism is doing more to promote war, racism, sexism, child labor, cognitive dissonance. Explain your offense of socialism and communism? Seems like many organizations are setup to promote the capitalistic model, racism, and status quo.

[@OldToughDW]

Yes all Marxist and Leninist models of social-economics are bad. Otherwise they would not have to be enforced at gun point and need a totalitarian government to institute them.

[@419dman]

The passage I was referencing Proverbs 20:30 which makes no reference to slavery, but if you think about it in Historical context, if a man is destitute enough to steal bread, at that point in history, than he may very well be better off as a slave, as then the master is obligated to feed him. I am not arguing that this is right only pragmatic. Also worth of note the punishment is prefaced by the qualifier "if he is caught" Should he not be he is blessed and can enjoy the food.