Atlas Shrugged

By Ayn Rand

Book Review

• Reviewer information:

  • Hoke
  • Via Amazon.com

• Review:

  "I want to say from the beginning that one does not need to agree with a philosophy to appreciate it. Obviously most of the critics and some of the supporters have never read this work. One need not approve of communism to give the Communist Manifesto a high rating but it is certainly a must read. Ayn Rand's philosophy is known as objectivism. It is essentially having a objective reason and purpose for every action you commit... In the sense of a novel this is a good one. It is suspenseful and intriguing. Everyone can identify with the characters in this book. Most of the antagonists have been left rather shallow. That is on purpose. They are supposed to represent certain elements of society. This book can get dry at times.

• 
  
  

  One man has a 60 page speech that can seem a little preachy at times but is wholly necessary within the context of the novel...

  The most important thing to remember is not to take everything you read here as dogma. Think for yourself and apply whatever ideas make sense to you and ignore that which you don't like. Think for yourself. I think Rand would object to anyone blindly following her philosophy without actually believing in it. No one says you can't be charitable to others. Just make sure you do it of your own volition and not because it is expected of you or because you feel guilty."