Anybody Shrugging?

[hornadylnl]

I'd never heard of this book until I came across this thread.

I love reading books with great stories that really make the reader think.

do you all recommend me reading this book?

Curl up in a blanket. It's a 1000 + pages.

 

[jason867]

Curl up in a blanket. It's a 1000 + pages.

No problem, I'm a quick reader and often wish books lasted me longer

I've finished books, front-to-back, in a weekend on more than one occasion.

I just wondered if it was highly recommended or what.

 

[SWAMPMASTER]

oh yes and over 1000 pages small print lol

 

[SWAMPMASTER]

there is a pre book to that one also just cant remember the title

 

[indiucky]

I'd never heard of this book until I came across this thread.

I love reading books with great stories that really make the reader think.

do you all recommend me reading this book?

Yes...And "The Fountainhead" as well....Ms. Rand had come from it and seen first hand the rotting decay that is Socialism. She was an Atheist but was not evangelical about it or preachy like so many are...The book was given to me as a gift when I was 21 years old (not the ideal age to read it..It's a bit of a chore at first) but about halfway through it stings you like a hornet...It will change the way you look at things and caused many an argument between my Father and myself (he belonged to a Union and I would never take a job that had a union.)

I will tell you how influential it is...I began smoking cigarettes in my mid 20's and there is a cigarette lighting scene in the book that pops into my head whenever I hit that zippo and bring it up to my "American Spirit" cig....Man controls fire and the cigarette reminds me of that. I know it's weird and perhaps another INGO'er of a more Libertarian bent than myself can find the exact quote but it pops into my head approximatley 10-12 times a day when lighting up....


I found it and I didn't even have ask Hornandy what it was.... (I figured he had it on a tatoo somewhere.)

“I like to think of fire held in a man's hand. Fire, a dangerous force, tamed at his fingertips. I often wonder about the hours when a man sits alone, watching the smoke of a cigarette, thinking. I wonder what great things have come from such hours. When a man thinks, there is a spot of fire alive in his mind--and it is proper that he should have the burning point of a cigarette as his one expression.”
― Ayn Rand

 

[jason867]

I will tell you how influential it is...I began smoking cigarettes in my mid 20's and there is a cigarette lighting scene in the book that pops into my head whenever I hit that zippo and bring it up to my "American Spirit" cig....Man controls fire and the cigarette reminds me of that. I know it's weird and perhaps another INGO'er of a more Libertarian bent than myself can find the exact quote but it pops into my head approximatley 10-12 times a day when lighting up....

...maybe you should quit smoking?

Proud to say I never started any bad habits like that
...wait, does guns count? Because they're definitely addicting...

 

[indiucky]

...maybe you should quit smoking?

Proud to say I never started any bad habits like that
...wait, does guns count? Because they're definitely addicting...

The fact that you said that means you need to read "Atlas Shrugged." Seriously it's a good book and I take full reponsiblity for my smoking. I like it and I am unapologetic about it. I would never dream of telling you that you should start smoking so please accord me the same respect.

One man's "bad habit" is another man's stress reliever.

 

[hornadylnl]

No problem, I'm a quick reader and often wish books lasted me longer

I've finished books, front-to-back, in a weekend on more than one occasion.

I just wondered if it was highly recommended or what.

It's a great read, I just wish someone would do a 500 page cliff notes version. It could be done without losing any of the meaning. Let's just say Ayn is a big fan of adjectives. She might spend an entire page or more just setting up a single scene.

 

[jason867]

The fact that you said that means you need to read "Atlas Shrugged." Seriously it's a good book and I take full reponsiblity for my smoking. I like it and I am unapologetic about it. I would never dream of telling you that you should start smoking so please accord me the same respect.

One man's "bad habit" is another man's stress reliever.

Oh, no disrespect was meant for sure. I don't care what you do if it doesn't affect me.

It was only friendly advice/encouragement, you're free to ignore it if you want.

People tell me "guns are dangerous, you shouldn't have any", and I agree that they can be dangerous (in fact they are designed to be dangerous on the receiving end), but I like em' and shoot em' anyway, and I try my best to mitigate that danger (unless circumstances were to require otherwise).

 

[indiucky]

It's a great read, I just wish someone would do a 500 page cliff notes version. It could be done without losing any of the meaning. Let's just say Ayn is a big fan of adjectives. She might spend an entire page or more just setting up a single scene.

Looks like they have.....

http://www.cliffsnotes.com/study_guide/literature/atlas-shrugged/book-summary.html

You are too kind...I felt like it took a chapter to set up a single scene...But then again I was young and had zero patience. That book makes reading the Bible seem like "Where the Wild Things Are" and "Seven Chinese Brothers" from back in grade school.

There are a couple of decent documentaries on Netflix about Ayn as well...If you get a chance Hornandy they are worth watching though a little dry at times...I caught "The Fountainhead" on TCM one night and I had sort of forgot how good it was...It seemed to carry over to film better than "Atlas Shrugged" did IMHO.

 

[NWIeng]

It's a great read, I just wish someone would do a 500 page cliff notes version. It could be done without losing any of the meaning. Let's just say Ayn is a big fan of adjectives. She might spend an entire page or more just setting up a single scene.

HLNL is right on the money here.

If you're not a reader, or just not a fan of trudging throw epic tomes, I would recommend the following.

Go to audible.com, they have two versions of the audiobooks. I've listened to both, the unabridged is a full 64 hours long.

The abridged version is between 8 and 9. While yes, there are some details and back stories left out, you will certainly get the message.

 

[rat-man]

FYI, if anyone is interested I have the Atlas Shrugged unabridged audiobook (50 CD's worth, like 60 hours of audio) as both MP3's and audiobook files, if anyone would like to listen, PM me.

 

[IncendiaryGunner]

I will continue to invest my earnings and time as long as profitable margins exist.

I refuse to fail even in hard economic times, because there is always an angle to be played.

By the time those years pass, I will already be better off.

Others being discouraged will only make way for greater profit margins.

 

[Cpt Caveman]

Atlas shrugged was a colossal waste of time. I read the whole thing but wish I hadn't. She was a secular humanist( self as God) and man she rams that part down your throat.
The commentary and description of the creeping socialism that ruined the economy and folks response to it was interesting. I just hated how she always managed to drag things out about ten pages more than was necessary.
Oh and the main character was a selfish, egotistical, slut. The men were less than willing to take action.Theres more worthless stuff in the book than there is useful.

As far as shrugging . I like Ann Barnhardt's take on things.(I'm not catholic though)

Barnhardt: You Ready To Get Serious Now? You Ready To Listen? | Western Rifle Shooters Association

 

[rjwin1967]

Out of curiosity, who did you vote for?

I went Galt politically a long time ago.

I sincerely doubt that given your earlier posts.

 

[88GT]

No problem, I'm a quick reader and often wish books lasted me longer

I've finished books, front-to-back, in a weekend on more than one occasion.

I just wondered if it was highly recommended or what.

I'm a quick and voracious reader as well. You will not fly through this one. Her prose is heavy and tortuous at times. The entire read is laborious. And as hornady said, unnecessarily long. I skipped the entire radio address by Galt--about 60 pages in my copy--if that tells you anything. And I am by no means a lightweight when it comes to reading. I was doing John Jakes elementary school and Herman Wouk and James Clavell in junior high.

It is worth the read if you recognize the purpose. It wasn't meant to be a best seller for simple entertainment.

Atlas shrugged was a colossal waste of time. I read the whole thing but wish I hadn't. She was a secular humanist( self as God) and man she rams that part down your throat.
The commentary and description of the creeping socialism that ruined the economy and folks response to it was interesting. I just hated how she always managed to drag things out about ten pages more than was necessary.
Oh and the main character was a selfish, egotistical, slut. The men were less than willing to take action.Theres more worthless stuff in the book than there is useful.

As far as shrugging . I like Ann Barnhardt's take on things.(I'm not catholic though)

Barnhardt: You Ready To Get Serious Now? You Ready To Listen? | Western Rifle Shooters Association

Rand was obviously not motivated by an absolute morality, but she [STRIKE]has[/STRIKE] had human behavior down to a science. Dagny is simply the Everywoman character. She behaved the way all people behave: in her own interest based on HER priorities and goals. It's the disregard for that fact that makes so many of today's policies complete garbage. And part of what Rand was attempting to highlight.