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.

The best narration I've experienced.

Scott Brick brings this story to life! His skills are unmatched, in my opinion. The novel itself was thought provoking and from a purely literary perspective, excellent. My critiques are few. John Galt did not have the life and work experience necessary to be the hero in this story, particularly when there are characters like Reardon involved. He walked away from the motor company at only 26. It detracts from the substance of his role. Ms. Rand made a factual error regarding Christian beliefs. Christians do not believe men are born evil, but that humans have a temptation to sin that is ever-present and it is human nature to stray toward sin.

A great reading of a long, but important, book.

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

I have read Atlas Shrugged a few times before. This is the first time that I have listened to the book on audio. I would say that this book ranks at the top, or very near it. I think the narrator did a great job on a very long and difficult book.

What did you like best about this story?

I am an Objectivist, so of course this book is the very definition of the philosophy I embrace.

I like the lessons, of course, that come from the book. For me, the best part was really the references to what Objectivists call "the Sanction of the Victim." It was good for me to hear that again, in context.

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

I think Scott is a very good narrator. He did a good job with the different voices, and there was a consistency over the length of the book that I appreciated.

Great book even if you disagree

An interesting story to illustrate her philosophy. I had heard a lot about this book, but never read it. I'm glad I did and wished I had sooner. Although I still disagree with the practical implications of this philosophy, many of the ideas I still found useful and insightful. One of those insights is into how disciples of this book think.

SPOILERS IN THE INTRODUCTION SKIP TO 24:50

What did you love best about Atlas Shrugged?

Just trying to help somebody out.

What other book might you compare Atlas Shrugged to and why?

Haven't read it yet.

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

Haven't read it yet.

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

Haven't read it yet.

Any additional comments?

Haven't read it yet.

Where is our John Gault

What did you love best about Atlas Shrugged?

The individuals ability to overcome seemingly insurmountable odds.

Who was your favorite character and why?

John Gault w/out question!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Have you listened to any of Scott Brick’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Scott knocked this out of the park as usual.

Life changer!

If you haven't read this book, put it on your list. It builds foundations.

A great listen. Nice expansion of the movie.

I watched the 3 part movie and decided i wanted a more in depth version of the story. Very poignant with current events.

listening tip: The voice actor is very good but I had to listen at 1.4 speed.

The best book I’ve ever read!

You can really see the parallels between the book and what’s going on in society today. To think she wrote this 75 years ago.

It is scary how close to reality this book is.

Written over half a century ago, yet you would think it was about modern times.

Things Change

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

scarier now

Have you listened to any of Scott Brick’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

No

Any additional comments?

I first read this before Barak Obama's election (ca. 2007) and thought, how absurd! Now it just seems like hyperbole.