TITLE
Atlas Shrugged
AUTHOR
Ayn Rand
PUBLISHER
New American Library
REVIEW SUMMARY
This is a story about a man who "stops the engine of the world."
The author used this book to expound upon her philosophy of "objectivism."
- The story is extremely strongly anti-socialist and anti-intellectual.
- It is pro-capitalism, but focuses almost entirely upon the supply-side.
- The overall theme is the only 'good guys' are the "producers of value" (e.g., leaders of industry) and the 'bad guys' are the "looters" (government-dependent companies and individuals.)
- Industry leaders come first, government bureaucracy is evil, and the general public a mindless army of drones.
Her heros are strong, selfish individuals who build their companies into corporate giants which enjoy the majority of business in each of their market sectors.
Her villains are socialist-leaning intellectuals, politicians, government bureaucrats, along with weaker, second-rate business leaders.
(The socialism described is so extreme that it would frighten even Karl Marx.)
While one or two renegade fanatics in the midst of the villains manipulate to control the masses, a handful of elite industrial leaders work to enable destruction of the world so they can "start over."
The book argues for the freedom (from government regulations, etc.) for a person (and the company he owns) to develop and produce the "best" product and to also be free to set prices and select which which customer they accept. It views government scientists and laboratories to be black holes for money, ideas, and usefulness.
This reviewer finds it interesting that the author is a woman and the primary character is a woman -- who becomes "involved" with most of the heros in her story, especially the strong, powerful, and wealthy ones.
A rather long book (1000+ pages), it involves sex, scandal, infidelity, coercion, deception, killing, and intrigue -- along with science fiction and lots of poetic license.
This book should be "suggested-but-optional reading" for Political Engineering students.
The complete review will be available in the University Library.
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