Just curious, any Atlas fans here?

[mancosbob]

I was wondering if anyone here happened to be an Ayn Rand fan, or more precisely, a fan of her novel, Atlas Shrugged? Or any of her works?

[bobO]

On my list.

[mancosbob]

On the have read or the to read list? I'm just now starting for a 4th read...

[bobO]

To read. I might go to the library Monday and get it. It won some big awards as I remember.

[mancosbob]

To read. I might go to the library Monday and get it. It won some big awards as I remember.

I have heard that it might be the second most read book in the history of the world; right behind all the various religious books of all faiths. Then again, I know a ton of people that own a bible or two and have never really read the thing; how does one factor that in?

Its a story that has many levels, its very timely, although she wrote it during my first year on this planet. Ayn was a visionary, she knew what corrupt politicians were capable of, and she knew what greed could do also. The real story is about John Galt. Who is John Galt? That will become clear in time, but that will be many days from now.

I envy you, not having read the book, you are in for a real treat, you will journey through many lives and see through as many eyes my friend. You are soon to embark on a journey that will fling you to the depths of mans depravity; and then raise you to the heights of his minds greatest achievements. You will see how it should be, and maybe now, more than ever before, see how it may become. I think that some things may now be in motion that will parallel this great work of fiction.

♥♣♦♠

Force and mind are opposites; morality ends where a gun begins.
-Ayn Rand

[69NINJA]

A new one for me as well, you have me sold, I cant wait to get into it.
I'm getting the audio book right now. I have about an hour commute to work each way and Ive got into the habit of listening to audio books, Stephen King/Dean Koonts/Sun Tzu;) etc. etc. It passes the time, I cant wait to start this one. Thanks for the tip Mbob. +1

[mancosbob]

A new one for me as well, you have me sold, I cant wait to get into it.
I'm getting the audio book right now. I have about an hour commute to work each way and Ive got into the habit of listening to audio books, Stephen King/Dean Koonts/Sun Tzu;) etc. etc. It passes the time, I cant wait to start this one. Thanks for the tip Mbob. +1


I admire you being able to drive and listen to books, the traffic in LA is so bad, and I get lost in the plot...well I came within inches once of bad wreck, and I do not know for sure that the tape was not a major contributor.

Do you rent or buy these books on tape? I would not mind finding a place to rent such a thing...then again, I like the book so much I might be tempted to purchase one.

Do make sure you get an unabridged edition; I have been told they hacked the abridged edition to death. Thanks for the +1, I can use all those I can get...guess my jokes are not very funny.

You know, I guess I should put a warning here: This book has been to known to cause life changing decisions, and is so "un-left wing" that anybody who thinks the world owes them a living will be offended by its every word. It is not a right wing book either; it is about another concept that transends politics; it is about being your own person and keeping what you make, if you so choose to.

[illmade2]

Back in the day (well my day) it was required reading in the High School I went to (took a lot of lit courses) therefore I never read it....never really had any appeal after some one told me I HAD to read it...

[mancosbob]

Back in the day (well my day) it was required reading in the High School I went to (took a lot of lit courses) therefore I never read it....never really had any appeal after some one told me I HAD to read it...


Hmmm, telling somebody they had to read Atlas Shrugged goes against the basis of the book; on the other hand, you did yourself a real disservice.

Based on the power vested in me by the ERS, I am now officially forbidding you from reading this book; there, that should balance things back out =))

♥♣♦♠

Note: ERS is the Eternal Revenue Service, as a taxpayer, I am a member! ;)

[illmade2]

Drat now I may have to read it after all...

[mancosbob]

I kid you not when I say I am starting the book for the fourth time...it makes me all warm and fuzzy all over,
sort of like 'Lucifer's Hammer' does when I read it.

[69NINJA]

I admire you being able to drive and listen to books, the traffic in LA is so bad, and I get lost in the plot...well I came within inches once of bad wreck, and I do not know for sure that the tape was not a major contributor.

Do you rent or buy these books on tape? I would not mind finding a place to rent such a thing...then again, I like the book so much I might be tempted to purchase one.

Do make sure you get an unabridged edition; I have been told they hacked the abridged edition to death. Thanks for the +1, I can use all those I can get...guess my jokes are not very funny.

You know, I guess I should put a warning here: This book has been to known to cause life changing decisions, and is so "un-left wing" that anybody who thinks the world owes them a living will be offended by its every word. It is not a right wing book either; it is about another concept that transends politics; it is about being your own person and keeping what you make, if you so choose to.



NOW I really cant wait to get into it!!!

Yeah my drive is all quiet boring highway, when I come home at 4ish in the morning I'm generally the only one on the road, all except for the police of coarse. The books really do help from getting drowsy, either that or some good nosebreaking heavy music.

As for where I find my books (unabridged) I just download whatever i'm looking for. just bide your time, you'll be doing it yourself soon enough, The powers that be have labeled it as PIRACY but what they fail to take in is that its the FUTURE of accessing information and its only a matter of time before they find ways to capitalize on it.

In the past before radio "THEY" said radio would be the end of the music industry, when Televisions came out "THEY" said televisions would be the end of the theater when home video recorders came out "THEY" said video would be the end of the movie theaters now "THEY" are saying the INTERNET will be the death of it all, Give me a break, its only a matter of time before any book/music/movie/information is at everyone fingertips for easy instant access, for a small fee of course.sigh.

In the mean time though lol, If theres ever anything in particular your looking for, just shoot me a PM, I'll help you out ;)

[mancosbob]

NOW I really cant wait to get into it!!!

...and so it begins...another friend of J.G. is about to be conceived... B-)


♥♣♦♠

Man's unique reward, however, is that while animals survive by adjusting themselves
to their background, man survives by adjusting his background to himself.
-Ayn Rand

[Torawashi]

Mbob; been meaning to read "Atlas Shrugged" for many years, never got around to it....now you've motivated me to do it, i do a lot of reading and i'm gonna buy it and read it. thanks buddy..
Ninja; conventional wisdom can be relied on for one thing: it's always wrong....be like me, don't run with the thundering herd....soy el lobo solo!

EDIT> picked up Atlas shrugged and Lucifer's hammer today....LH sounds very familiar, I may have read it years ago, don't remember. Thanks for the motivation buddy.

[mancosbob]

LH has been ripped off for many films...the Postman being one. But all the movies just take the broad strokes from the book; like a Hammer film doing Poe. One reason why I like LH so much? I used to go to Tujunga Wash to shoot, and the area when they are getting out of town in the 4X is for real; in fact, that "alternate" road ends are still in place... I got topo maps to the entire area.

I think since you liked Carnivale, you should enjoy Atlas. They have very little except gritty details in common, but both have their place to those who can appreciate such intense works of fiction. Rand can be wordy at times, but don't ley that throw you, take time and savor the careful turn of each phrase; especially when the Government folks are talking. Just when you think you got it figured...you're wrong! Maybe.

♥♣♦♠

There is a level of cowardice lower than that of the conformist: the fashionable non-conformist.
-Ayn Rand

[Torawashi]

Mbob; thanks for the tips my friend. I'll be sure to follow your advice.....another timeless classic that you must read if you haven't already is "Once an Eagle" by Anton Myrer. It is in print and available. It is the book about the Military Man. a beautiful story.

[mancosbob]

NOW I really cant wait to get into it!!!

I'm already enjoying the heck out of this! Thanks again! ;)

[mancosbob]

How far along are any of you who said you'd start the book?
I was just thinking how much the government in Atlas sounds
like the one we have today...anybody else notice this too?

~X(

[DragonGuardian]

I haven't read the book, though I do plan on getting it eventually (near or far future, I don't know.) Though it does remind me a poster one of my friends was making said "Atlas will shrug" pertaining to Tea Party Wednesday. I wont say more as politics is generally asking for trouble anywhere.

I have heard quite good reviews of Atlas Shrugged outside of this forum as well...surprising on a miniatures site.

[69NINJA]

I started the audio book for my work trips, I had just scratched the surface of the story (got as far as the first run of taggart steel when he made his wife the bracelet) and I managed to fry my sound system, fried the cd deck and my amp. drove in silence for a few weeks untill I finally went and fixed some stuff.
I gotta figure out where I left off and get back into it...

[bobO]

Not yet. Just finished "the Old Breed" about marines on Iwo and such. Atlas is next, should have it read by the end of the summer,lol big book!

[mancosbob]

Anybody going to a party on Wednesday? I saw one mention up thread in passing...

I am non-partisan...my sign will say: Who Is John Galt?
I didn't vote for either of them guys...I like Ron Paul...Dr. Paul likes guns and swords!

http://www.youtube.com/user/AynRandInstitute

Check out the first video....It's On Dudes.

[DragonGuardian]

I know this thread hasn't seen a lot of changes lately, but I recently discovered another book by Ayn Rand. Anthem. It sounds like an interesting read, especially from the back cover. The line tha' really caught my attention on it was this: "He was marked for death because he had committed the unpardonable sin: he had stood forth from the mindless human nerd."

[69NINJA]

atlas- they came out with a new redone version of the audio book, different narator too, I'm FINALY going to be able get into this and finish it!!! I managed to fit the entire book on only 10 cd's the last version could have been like 30.

I'm gonna start from the begining tommorow! this I promise.

[Monkeybear]

I work in a bookstore so I read a bit. I got a little over halfway though it one day and never got back around to finishing it. I liked it but I think she repeats herself a little too much in her books.

One of the new guys at work won't stop going on and on about how amazing it it. Apparantly he did his dissertation on Ayn Rand so I figure he must be a super-fan. Anyway I will likely find my old copy and give it a re-read.