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.

performance is excellent

the story is long and drawn out but the narrator does a superb job. easy to listen to.

Must read piece of literature.

This should be essential reading for anyone mature enough to understand the value of work and aspirations for achievement. Whether one agrees with Rands Philosophy or not, this work is very thought provoking and worthy of consideration. Sadly, the scary direction the world is currently taking makes the content of this book more prophetic rather than fictional.

Highly relevant in many ways, but dated in others.

The philosophies embraced by this work are intriguing and highly relevant in many ways. However, this being said, it can't be ignored that the world Ayn Rand was writing in is not the world of today. I can't help but wonder what her views would be considering a world where the producers can completely replace all human beings with machines & in which men of the mind may soon be replaced by artificial intelligence.

Worth while listen!

This book is a literary legend. It’s such an important piece of writing that everyone should have to read. It is long. But the narrator does a good job! It’s worthwhile achievement to read or listen to it.

A most relevant listen in this day and age.

This is mind blowing, the fight of Capitalism Vs. Socialism, Individualism vs. collectivism, rationality vs. irrationality is epic. Few books are as profound in their depth and width as this. I wish I had found this 20 years ago, it has the power to change lives. To anyone who is scared of the length of it, don't be. It is well worth the time it takes to digest it all, a thousand times over it is well worth it! Why isn't this required reading???

Excellent, phrophetic

Great story with insight relevant today. characters belabor the points a bit much in my opinion.

Definitely part of the democrats play book.

Excellent book, I read it years ago. Allot of it is very similar to how our current administration is killing our country today!!

Prophetic. Written in 1957, this story is today.

This story is a literary masterpiece. Visionary in its relevance today. Long, but I am sure I will listen to it again.

Are you worthy? Read it and see

This is the finest piece of literature ever written. If you don't understand this book, the first time, wait a few months and read it again. I get it and agree with every part and I'll still reread it!
This is the only long term solution to any country surviving the test of time.

A One Sided Masterpiece - Required Reading

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.