Atlas Shrugged
Summary
Atlas Shrugged, published in 1957, is Ayn Rand's final novel and magnum opus. Spanning more than a thousand pages, this epic philosophical work tells the story of a dystopian United States where creative industrialists and businesspeople go on strike against increasing government control. Exploring themes of individualism, capitalism, and reason, it is Rand's most extensive statement of her Objectivist philosophy. Despite initially receiving mixed reviews, Atlas Shrugged has had an enduring impact, selling millions of copies and influencing libertarian and conservative thought.
Plot
In a dystopian United States, the economy is collapsing as the government imposes increasingly burdensome regulations on business. Dagny Taggart, vice president of a major railroad company, struggles to keep her business afloat amid shortages and irrational policies. She allies with industrialist Hank Rearden, who has invented an innovative metal, to build a new rail line. However, government officials and “looters” continually undermine their efforts.
Meanwhile, the most talented and productive members of society are mysteriously disappearing. As Dagny discovers, they are going on strike, led by the enigmatic John Galt, in protest against a system that punishes achievement and rewards incompetence. Galt is convincing the “men of the mind” to withdraw their talents and retreat to a hidden valley, allowing society to collapse without them.
As the country descends further into chaos and dictatorship, Dagny must choose whether to join the strikers or continue fighting a losing battle to save her railroad. Eventually, after Galt is captured and tortured by the government, Dagny and the other strikers stage a rescue. With the total collapse of society imminent, Galt announces that it is time for the strikers to return and rebuild civilization based on reason and individual rights.
Themes
• The importance of reason and individualism
• The moral value of productive achievement
• The dangers of collectivism and government control
• The role of the mind in human existence
• The nature of heroism and integrity
• The power of free markets and capitalism
• The conflict between creators and “looters"
Setting
Ayn Rand's Atlas Shrugged is set in a dystopian version of the United States at an unspecified time, likely meant to evoke the mid-20th century. The country is in the midst of an economic depression and appears to be on the verge of collapse, with widespread shortages, business failures, and declining productivity. The government has become increasingly authoritarian, led by a National Legislature and Head of State rather than Congress and an elected president.
While the novel features many familiar technologies of the early-to-mid 20th century, more advanced innovations, including computers, are largely absent. Beyond the United States, most other countries are referred to as “People's States,” implying their allegiance to socialism or communism. Within the US, key locations include New York City, where Taggart Transcontinental Railroad is headquartered, and Colorado, where oil tycoon Ellis Wyatt has made major discoveries.
A central location in the latter part of the novel is Galt's Gulch, a hidden valley in the Colorado mountains where the novel's “strikers” have established their own isolated community. This utopian refuge, based on Rand's vision of an ideal capitalist society, was inspired by the real town of Ouray, Colorado, which Rand had visited. The contrast between the crumbling outside world and this thriving secret enclave is a key element of the novel's setting and themes.
Characters
• Dagny Taggart: The protagonist and Vice President of Operations at Taggart Transcontinental Railroad. She is a strong, competent businesswoman dedicated to keeping her company running.
• John Galt: A mysterious figure who leads a strike of the most creative and productive members of society. He is the novel's philosophical hero and Dagny's love interest.
• Hank Rearden: An innovative industrialist who invents an alloy called Rearden Metal. He struggles against government regulations that hamper his business.
• Francisco d'Anconia: Dagny's childhood friend and first love, heir to a copper mining empire. He pretends to be a playboy while secretly working with Galt.
• Eddie Willers: Dagny's loyal assistant at Taggart Transcontinental. He represents the average, honest worker.
• James Taggart: Dagny's incompetent older brother and President of Taggart Transcontinental. He relies on political connections rather than merit.
• Lillian Rearden: Hank's wife, a manipulative woman who resents his success and tries to undermine him.
• Dr. Robert Stadler: A brilliant physicist who compromises his integrity by working for the government.
• Ragnar Danneskjöld: A pirate who attacks government ships and returns wealth to productive individuals.
• Owen Kellogg: An assistant to Dagny who mysteriously quits his job to join Galt's strike.
Quick facts
• At more than a thousand pages, Atlas Shrugged is Ayn Rand's longest novel as well as her last published work.
• Rand devoted 12 years to writing her magnum opus.
• The novel’s working title was “The Strike” before Rand's husband suggested “Atlas Shrugged,” referring to the Titan from Greek mythology and suggesting what would happen if he refused to bear the weight of the world any longer.
• The character of John Galt was partially inspired by Rand's husband, Frank O'Connor.
• Rand wrote the famous 60-page speech by John Galt in a single sitting that lasted over 30 hours.
• Rand conducted extensive research on the railroad and steel industries to accurately depict the industrial setting of the novel.
• The novel's fictional setting of Galt's Gulch was based on the real town of Ouray, Colorado.
• The novel was rejected by a dozen publishers before being accepted by Random House.
• A film adaptation was in “development hell” for nearly 40 years before finally being released as a trilogy between 2011 and 2014.
• Atlas Shrugged has had a significant impact on libertarian and conservative political thought.
• Notable fans of the novel include former Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan and Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas.
• Atlas Shrugged has sold more than seven million copies since its publication in 1957.
About the author
Ayn Rand
Ayn Rand (1905-1982) was a Russian-American writer and philosopher. Born in Russia, she moved to the United States in 1926 and became a successful novelist. Through her fiction as well as her nonfiction writings, Rand promoted her philosophy of Objectivism, emphasizing rational self-interest, individualism, and laissez-faire capitalism.
Rand is best known for her two novels, The Fountainhead (1943) and Atlas Shrugged (1957), which have influenced many prominent libertarians and conservatives in the US and beyond, and continue to sell thousands of copies each year. The author, however, remains a polarizing figure, with passionate supporters praising her defense of capitalism and critics dismissing her views as extreme or selfish. In academia, Rand's work was largely ignored during her lifetime. While interest in studying and debating Objectivism has grown since her death, Rand’s philosophy and merit as a philosopher remain controversial.
Beyond her philosophical legacy, Rand has had an enduring impact on popular culture. References to Rand and her ideas appear in television, movies, and other media. While sometimes decried or mocked, Rand's fierce advocacy of individualism and capitalism has secured her place as one of the most impactful and divisive intellectual figures of the 20th century.