This story is like an epic movie, it takes you to several different locations and holds you into the story with good characters. If your imagination is working you can picture the places described and get into the drama and action.

Long, Worth It

Dagney, I enjoy strong female leads, her wit & attitude made me smile on more than one occasion

There was a smooth transition between the characters & he portrayed their emotions & attitudes well.

This is a very very very long book...that being said, it was worth it. It was a little rough starting out, but after the first 60 minutes you are hooked for the whole thing. I just watched the movie and was very disappointed in everything they chose to leave out. It's like a summary of the cliffs notes.

As with many classics I hesitate to write reviews. With this one even more so, since many of it's premises on life I agree with whole heartedly. My brother calls me a Randian every time politics or economics comes up and then he smiles and refuses to discuss it further. As a political and economic philosopher Rand ranks among the giants. As a writer of fiction she has no equel. Atlas Shrugged and The Fountainhead are true masterpieces of American literature written in the Russian style. If you truly wish to see what some of the Russian masterpieces would have looked like if they had been written in english you have to look no further than Ayn Rand. The length of content, color of description, mass of character development, and depth of story in Rand's books not only show her love for her characters, story, and art, but also reveal her Russian roots and give all of us a glimpse into what some of the great Russian literature would have looked like if it had been written first in english instead of being translated and therefore making it a little more difficult to follow. I can only imagine that if War and Peace or Dr. Zhivago flowed as smoothly in english as Atlas Shrugged more Americans might have enjoyed their wonderful and full worlds.

Scott Brick does a fantastic job in presenting this masterpiece as it was intended. I have to say that at times I truly forgot that this book was being read by a single individual. Scott Brick makes this book truly come alive in the mind's eye, and because of this I can say that I have seen the Taggart Bridge and the Taggart Tower. Scott Brick is a master of his craft and was a perfect pick for reading this masterpiece.

Compelling, inspiring, thought-provoking

His voice's clarity and passion make the listen entertaining.

The soliloquy about money, free market and economic freedom in Part III spells out human nature and its love-hate affair with capitalism and money itself. Brilliant segment on Rand's part and wonderful interpretation on Brick's.

This is a novel written in the 40s - but it's message is especially important when it's cool to shun capitalism. Free markets is the key to America's success and this perspective should be appealing to college age and above - it is urgent that more Americans listen to get the other side of the economic story.

Theology Reality Anarchy

I became so involved I felt as though my consciousness was a character.

This was the only one I've ever listened to

A is A, Theology is Life. Ayn's Magnum Opus will solidify your reality.

none

Every now and then a book comes along that challenges your own perceptions of the world around you. For me, that book was Atlus Shrugged. As with most written works that are meant to be persuasive, the book presents an ideal with very little representation of the opposing viewpoint. However, the ideal this book presents, business, and more importantly the people who run them, are the engines that propel society forward. All to often, big business is usually represented as abusive and oppressive (think Enron). It's that "evil" perspective that most literature indulges in.

In her argument, Ayn Rand illustrates through fictional prose, the real evil in society, the looter. This person does not want to work and artfully leaches off the people driving business while simultaneously despising them. Charity, according to Rand, is simply a vehicle that enables this mentality.

The book presents a story that brings these thoughts to life and echos different aspects of our society in a frighteningly accurate way. The story feels contrived at times, however, it is being written to exemplify a point. I particularly didn't enjoy the ending, but that did not ruin the book.

Rand also seems to go on and indulge in arguments at some length, almost to the point of drudgery. However, I do believe it is for the sake of clarifying her argument and attempting to present counter arguments to potential opposing viewpoints.

The real enjoyment for this book was introducing a coherent, logical philosophy that in my belief should be required reading. The book is engaging and performance is excellent. I highly recommend this book to everyone.

An Essential Read

It makes a very relevant philosophy understandable within an incredible story.

Hank Rearden

The part in which Fransisco spoke with Rearden about Atlas.

I have always heard this was a great book. It is much better than I expected. Characters are very well written, and the story and its philosophy is more relevant today than ever.

Scott Brick did a fantastic performance.

Overall, this is a very good book with a lot of great ideas, but it's so darn wordy and melodramatic. This story could be cut down by 2/3.

Definitely worth checking out though and should be required reading/listening.

My husband began trying to get me to read this book 10 years ago, when as a successful business owner I encountered many of the things described within this work. I wish I had hadn't waited so long to read it...perhaps if I had read it in college, I could have saved myself 30 years of guilt! It is long, but I understand why it needed to be. And it is eerie to see and hear Atlas Shrugged played out in our political and social life now. Who is John Gault?

story got lost in the dialogue,

maybe, I would be very hesitant

yes, love Scott Brick

The majority of the radio announcement from John Gault! way too long almost didn't finish I got so bored.