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.

Life altering book!

Worth the long haul 100%. A great book of philosophy and ideology that continues to challenge your thought process and motivations for purpose and professional success.

Good philosophy but not complete in my opinion

Ayn Rand has a great grasp on reason. I like her philosophy but I believe it is a little too narrow. Humans are more than minds although the mind is very important the heart and spirit are as well.

A True Masterpiece!

Would you listen to Atlas Shrugged again? Why?

Yes. The timely information and background philosophy incorporated within is timeless.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Reardon and John Galt. Readon for his tenacity to stand in opposition of a corrupt and pathetic government. Galt for his desire to remake society as it should be, with willing independent entrepreneur's working together in true capitalistic fashion. Galt dropped out and started over, enlisting the best and brightest through a co-operative revision of what capitalism should truly be, instead of allowing government to feed of those shouldering the weight of a society weakened by entitlement.

Which character – as performed by Scott Brick – was your favorite?

So many were good, I can't pick just one.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

John Galt's soliloquy.

Any additional comments?

It was wonderful that Ayn Rand used a female as the heroine, given the time of publication.

Excellent performance enlivens dry narrative

What did you love best about Atlas Shrugged?

Scott Brick's narration

What was one of the most memorable moments of Atlas Shrugged?

The first run of the John Galt line

Which scene was your favorite?

Francisco crashing Jim Taggart's wedding

If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

Come for the political dogma, stay for the characters

Atlas Shrugged is the best book I have EVER read!

Would you consider the audio edition of Atlas Shrugged to be better than the print version?

Yes

What was one of the most memorable moments of Atlas Shrugged?

The conversations between Francisco Danconia and Hank Reardon

What does Scott Brick bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Yes, excellent narration

If you could take any character from Atlas Shrugged out to dinner, who would it be and why?

Francisco Danconia has the most interesting take on life.

Any additional comments?

Ayn Rand was so prophetic when she wrote this book in the 1950's. The exact destruction of our society that she spoke of is happening. The who produce nothing, yet depending on those who produce everything, loot from and rule over the producers, until the producers QUIT! It will soon happen in this country if we do not change course.

A must listen! 60+ hours of great storytelling!

If you could sum up Atlas Shrugged in three words, what would they be?

Scary, Plausible, Beautiful

What did you like best about this story?

The beautiful way the author descibes even the minutiae to the gigantic.

What does Scott Brick bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Well, Scott Brick is my favorite. Nothing else to say.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

It did both, but mostly cry out for all of humanity.

Any additional comments?

One of the most beautifully written books I have listened to. The 5 star rating is very deserved!

Phenomenal, Intriguing and Entertaining

This was a bucket list book, and the narrator and story line kept me on board the entire time. Scott Brick performed with high quality, I already knew this as he dragged me through the lengthy biographies of Washington and of Hamilton, and he did not disappoint with this epic piece of literature. Ayn Rand combines a great story of a self-destructing society with its heroes and villains while delivering her views of ethics in a convincing and understandable way.

Atlas Shrugged puts todays problems in perpective.

Where does Atlas Shrugged rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

I really liked this story.. I rank it up there in the top 3..

Who was your favorite character and why?

Dabney.. She portrayed the Woman Business person with some real tenacity and brilliance.

What about Scott Brick’s performance did you like?

Way too dramatic when he read in the weaker characters.. Drove me crazy.

Who was the most memorable character of Atlas Shrugged and why?

Rearden... He gave up everything for the love of business practice that made sense and for the love of love..

Any additional comments?

I believe everyone should be required to read or listen to this book.. Great way to understand the economic motor of the world.

I love the principles of self responsibility!

I was entranced by the principles that always felt and yet we're not able to express nearly as eloquently as Ayn Rand did.

the only heart that didn't seem to mesh with my philosophies on life was a disrespective of my understanding of God's laws regarding sex.

Great story but could be shorter.

Loved the story and the premise but I should have gone with the shorter version. 60+ hours takes a long time at an hour a day.