Is Atlas Shrugged worth reading?

[Astraea]

Or any of Rand's works for that matter? I was surprised to find a few quotes posted online that I actually liked. But I'd prefer not to waste my time on hundreds of pages of garbage looking for a few pearls of wisdom.

Thanks!

[iscooterliberally]

1. I don't remember who said this quote, but here it is....

"There are two novels that can change a bookish fourteen-year old's life: The Lord of the Rings and Atlas Shrugged. One is a childish fantasy that often engenders a lifelong obsession with its unbelievable heroes, leading to an emotionally stunted, socially crippled adulthood, unable to deal with the real world. The other, of course, involves orcs."

I tried to listen to Atlas Shrugged on audio books while driving. It was pretty awful and I never finished it.

[GopherGal]

8. The quote is from John Rogers

TV- and screen-writer. Creator of Leverage and The Librarians.

Here's the link. It's at the bottom of his part of the post, just above the numerous comments.

http://kfmonkey.blogspot.com/2009/03/ephemera-2009-7.html

[iscooterliberally]

11. Thanks for the update & link. n/t

[neeksgeek]

2. I've never read more than a few pages... so I'll offer

Dorothy Parker's opinion:

"This is not a novel to be tossed aside lightly. It should be thrown with great force."

[TexasProgresive]

5. Ms. Parker's pen was always razor sharp.

[CrispyQ]

16. Zang! I love that!

[hermetic]

3. You answered your own question

"I'd prefer not to waste my time on hundreds of pages of garbage.." I read some of it years ago. Wasn't impressed.

[TexasProgresive]

4. I've only read "Fountainhead" and that was years ago

I think I tried Atlas Shrugged but maybe found it too tedious to continue. I never agreed with Rand's thinking.

[RaymondLuxuryYacht]

6. If you are going to invest the time in an epic tome

I suggest East of Eden by Steinbeck. You'll find plenty of quotable quotes.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

7. Good Lord, no!

When I was sixteen, a twenty-four year old friend recommended that book to be very enthusiastically. I tried. God knows, I tried, but I couldn't get more than about 25 pages into it, because it was so dreadful.

I don't know why that friend was so taken with the book. I suspect she was genuinely intrigued by the ideas put forth (such as they are). The friend did not, I'm happy to note, become a Randian of any sort. Atlas Shrugged simply had no permanent affect on her.

Anyway, there are lots and lots of other books out there worth reading.

If you've never read "Generations" by Strauss and Howe, you should.

[Paladin]

9. God no.

If you must have some exposure to Ayn Rand, watch the movie of "The Fountainhead" with Gary Cooper and Patricia Neal. It's pretty good---decent story line, without the endless praising of money and selfishness.

[Zorro]

10. Yes. Read it.

You'll then be able to form your own opinion on the book, instead of relying on the opinions of others -- who may have not read it, either.

I found it interesting in an alternate universe kind of way.

[RobinA]

12. I Read

Atlas Shrugged many times as a teen. I just thought it was a good story. You don't have to buy the ideology to enjoy it. It is long, so if you don't like long books it's not for you.

[Demsrule86]

13. I disagree with every word but the Fountainhead is worth reading...remarkable

book...but still has the same evil philosophy...but the writing...

[getting old in mke]

15. +1

[stevebreeze]

14. If you think it plausible that a woman who is been raped will fall in love with the rapist you

might find this book readable.