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Atlas Shrugged Audiobook
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(3.00) - 147,842 listener ratings
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Synopsis
"Who is John Galt?"
Undoubtedly Ayn Rand's crowning literary achievement, Atlas Shrugged was a veritable tour de force when it was initially published in 1957. Offering a wellspring of new ideas and innovative thinking it outlined Rand's objectivist philosophy eloquently and powerfully.
Set in a dystopian future, Atlas Shrugged lays out Rand's vision though the fictional account of a collapsing U.S. economy assisted by backward governmental policies and an assortment of characters who work to stop the country's decline - Dagny Taggart, Vice President of Taggart Transcontinental, who fights to keep the railroad company founded by her grandfather alive; Dagny's brother, James Taggart, the President of the company who is unwilling to make the tough decisions necessary for its survival; and Hank Rearden, head of Rearden Steel, who dares to buck the system in his quest for the success of Rearden Metal - his specially developed metal alloy which has inspired jealousy and anger among his competitors. When they attempt to constrain his success though treachery and governmental intervention a chain of events is set in place that changes the lives of everyone involved.
Larger than life and singularly thought-provoking Atlas Shrugged effectively blends elements of economic philosophy, romance, mystery and science fiction into an incredible story that truly grabs you and doesn't let go until the book's final pages.
"This book is a classic. I know The Fountainhead is her more popular book, but Atlas Shrugged had more of a story. Both novels serve as vehicles to expound Ayn Rand's philosophy, but to me Atlas Shrugged had a better story. Granted, you will be bludgeoned over the head with her philosophy for much of the book, and her page-long paragraphs would never fly nowadays, but when you wade through, it's a great read. I've read the book three or four times over the years and still enjoy it. Her characters are either strong, captain-of-industry types or leaches with no backbones. There seem to be no characters in between. So in some ways there is a black-and-white aspect to her story. Still, I understand she is trying to make a point, and my comments aren't a criticism. It's still a fascinating, entertaining novel and also a cautionary tale. You won't regret reading this novel, a classic of American fiction."
— Michael (5 out of 5 stars)
Quotes
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“[A] vibrant and powerful novel of ideas.”
— New York Herald Tribune -
“Ayn Rand is destined to rank in history as the outstanding novelist and most profound philosopher of the twentieth century.”
— New York Daily Mirror -
“Narrator Scott Brick takes listeners on a journey so extraordinary they’ll hardly notice the book’s length. While his performance offers little in the way of theatrics, Brick is capable of garnering sympathy and, perhaps most importantly, devout attention for Rand’s plot and characters. On the surface, Brick’s voice is a cool, unrelenting force determined to capture every facet of Rand’s complex story. But amid his calm and collected delivery, he taps into a more colorful emotional palette that will keep listeners involved. Brick’s subtle delivery holds far more than meets the ear.”
— AudioFile -
“Atlas Shrugged is not merely a novel. It is also—or may I say: first of all—a cogent analysis of the evils that plague our society.”
— Ludwig von Mises, economist and historian -
“Countless individuals working to secure liberty have found inspiration in the works of Ayn Rand. With her unique ability to depict heroism, idealism, and romance behind the creativity of the individual, Rand inspires readers to come to the defense of free minds and free markets.”
— Chip Mellor, Institute for Justice
Awards
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A New York Times bestseller
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A 1958 National Book Award Finalist
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A Washington Post Pick of Novels That Changed the Way We Live
Atlas Shrugged Listener Reviews
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Samuel Summers, 12/6/2022
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Joe Crill, 9/19/2022
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KRW, 3/18/2021
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" Very little about this book was "meh." The premise, writing style, and morals were an oil-and-water combination of things I found inspiring and things I found repulsive. So, from start to finish, I couldn't make up my mind if I actually liked it or not. Greater character complexity would have helped a good deal. Caricatures are fine for shorter works when the author has to get a point across quickly but not for a novel of this thickness. The story shines a much-needed light on some uncomfortable practical truths on how the world works. But, also pointedly leaves some relevant questions unanswered by creating a complicated disaster and offering a simple solution. I’m glad I finished it but I don’t think I’d recommend it. "
— Jenna McKenzie, 6/17/2019 -
" Very little about this book was "meh." The premise, writing style, and morals were an oil-and-water combination of things I found inspiring and things I found repulsive. So, from start to finish, I couldn't make up my mind if I actually liked it or not. Greater character complexity would have helped a great deal. Caricatures are fine for shorter works when the author has to get a point across quickly but not for a novel of this thickness. The story shines a much-needed light on some uncomfortable practical truths on how the world works. But, also pointedly leaves some relevant questions unanswered by creating a complicated disaster and offering a simple solution. I’m glad I finished it but I don’t think I’d recommend it. "
— Jenna, 6/16/2019 -
" Should be mandatory reading. This book digs into so many issues that are just as relevant today as when it was first released. Rand eloquently, though sometimes with a few too many words, reveals true good and evil in man. Much like today, mediocrity is revered, while independence and conviction are looked at with disdain. Characters are painted so vividly, that you'll find yourself silently cheering or sneering as they speak. Few books evoke this level of raw emotion, or compel the reader to see the world with clearer eyes, as this does. "
— Susan, 2/18/2014 -
" My favorite fiction book of all time - by a huge margin. I will write a review that does it justice when the time is right. Ayn Rand is a genius. "
— Jason, 2/12/2014 -
" love this book. Finished in 3 days. "
— Aimuldir, 2/7/2014 -
" I wished that I had read the abridged version of this book. The verbosity of this unabridged book seems to indicate that its editors went on strike. (This is a joke that you only get if you have read the book.) I liked the story and appreciated the points/morality of the book, it was TOO long and rambling. "
— Kasey, 2/5/2014 -
" I found Atlas Shrugged to be very interesting, though repetitive. Ayn Rand's philosophy, which has many aspects that appeal to me, is not applicable in our world. Not only that, but she disregards basic anthropological ideas when discussing the human mind. Her characters are either perfect and infallibly good or stupid and evil. This makes them unbelievable. I did find myself interested in the actual story, though the monologues, particularly the 70-page one, were grueling and consisted of her characters talking about ideas she had previously expressed. I did enjoy the omniscient narrator- different perspectives made the book more interesting than it would've been with only one. "
— Margaret, 2/3/2014 -
" An incredibly simple book. Black/White. Good/Bad. You can guess everything that happens approximately 100 pages before it does. "
— Lars, 2/1/2014
About Ayn Rand
Ayn Rand (1905–1982) was born in Russia, graduated from the University of Leningrad, and came to the United States in 1926. She published her first novel in 1936. With the publication of The Fountainhead in 1943, she achieved a spectacular and enduring success, and her unique philosophy, Objectivism, gained a worldwide following.
About Scott Brick
Scott Brick, an acclaimed voice artist, screenwriter, and actor, has performed on film, television, and radio. He attended UCLA and spent ten years in a traveling Shakespeare company. Passionate about the spoken word, he has narrated a wide variety of audiobooks. winning won more than fifty AudioFile Earphones Awards and several of the prestigious Audie Awards. He was named a Golden Voice by AudioFile magazine and the Voice of Choice for 2016 by Booklist magazine.