Atlas Shrugged

By: Ayn Rand

Narrated by: Scott Brick

Length: 62 hrs and 56 mins

Publisher's summary

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

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

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

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

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

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

Excellent read!

Extraordinary read whether you agree with the thoughts or not. Writing which will expand & enrich your life. Recommend to everyone.

Story with great premise, mostly sound philosphy

Any additional comments?

I love the premise of this book and mostly agree with the philosophy contained it it... however ... IT IS WAY TOO LONG!. Ayn Rands character's thoughts and feelings are way over dramatic and have very little to do with the over-arching story. Not to mention the thoughts and feelings that some of her characters have (especially the male characters) are not realistic. Most people (especially men) are just not that subtle in their speech and mannerisms. And I would guess about 1/3 of this books could be cut out and not be missed in the least. Having said that, there are some pretty awesome parallels to today's social and political environment. It's hard to believe this was written over 50 years ago with how accurately it describes our society now...scary really. There are some pretty awesome things that happen in the book - that do not seem too far fetched or far distant for our society now. I think every student in college should read this book along with the other philosophies they are being indoctrinated with and see which philosophy wins. To be fair I agree with about 75% of what Ayn Rand is trying to say - but some of here ideas are a little too extreme for me....Still it has changed the way I see the world politically and the way I filter the media generally.

Amazing Book / OK Narration / 69 HOURS!!!

The book was great. Ayn Rand certainly had her beliefs and they come out in full force in the book. However, even though she left no room for any other point of view, her take on the world is an amazing read. So many great things to take away from the story. Great things to think about. The monologue at the end was the only thing I could have done without. But I really enjoyed it. Just be prepared, it is not for the feint of heart. It is 69 hours long and the story is not super compelling unless you are interested in the social and spiritual questions she raises and talks about. Also, if you are looking for someone who will provide a balanced view of things, she won't. But if you can yourself and then take what she says, she raises some great points. It just seems that she never saw them as discussion points but rather facts to convey. Maybe because she was born in the wrong time period for those discussions =)

epic

This epic is truly the magnum opus of her life and definitely illustrates her philosophies and thinking.

Prepare Yourself

Any additional comments?

Ayn Rand's classic masterpiece is quite a daunting endeavor. I would say if you are casually interested in her philosophy or ideas, you can get a relatively good overview in one of the abridged versions(cutting about 30-40 hours). However, I always hate to rob the author of their writing. Author's have a singular purpose for their works and their words, and I always feel bad cutting them short. Overall, Atlas Shrugged is one of the great prophetic, economic, political and social works of the 20th century, and a read that everyone should purpose to know, even if it is the abridged version.

Powerful!

I read this book over forty years ago and it still has the same effect on me! What a wonderful read and just as wonderful to listen to. I can honestly tell you that this book changed my way of thinking in a good way!
Anyone who enjoys a good read will be invigorated by this book!

H.G. Wells of philosophy

Who would of thought. Her insight is profound.
This may be our future without intervention.
good men do nothing.

Love the book and Scott Brick

Awesome book that reminds me of The results found Italy today. This is the second time I read this book.

Just shy of the Bible

There are few books that one can truly call "formative" in any true cultural sense aside from the pop fluff that comes and goes on the wind. This book, and the ideas and characters in it have the power to utterly transform the life of one who reads it and takes it to heart. And of course, by extension, society as a whole. I count it as the most important book ever written short of the Bible itself.

The reader was superlative though I do recommend bumping up the playback speed to 1.25x. Somehow, it just feels more natural and emotive.

Lifesaving material, brilliant performance

Ayn Rand is a brilliant writer, mastering somehow to balance an evolving plot with timeless philosophical discussions in an actual, tangible narrative. Scott Brick gives so much of himself so that it feels like an entity of its own but with enormous respect for the material; like any good reading should be.