General Discussion

Proles

(466 posts)

81. Did skim over it, as a friend was really into the book and other

Sun Aug 12, 2012, 08:37 PM

Aug 2012

Ayn Rand novels.

Honestly, as much as I would "like" to understand the mindset of the right-wingers, I just don't think I could bear the tedium of actually reading hundreds of page of poorly written drivel. It's not even the ideology... it's just not a very good read.

I've read the synopsis and excerpts, so I believe I have a sufficient understanding of what it's about. The heroic "builders" of society clinging to dear life as moochers and looters (given cartoonish names and personalities), try to take everything away from them. It's basically a fantasy world with make believe protagonists, who have absolutely no flaws... they may as well be Gods. Not to mention no children in it either... hmm, I guess because they're weak -- but the book wouldn't be as popular if it was filled with helpless children clinging to survival at the expense of the wealthy.

Edit history

Please sign in to view edit histories.

120 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

Has anyone in DU actually read 'Atlas Shrugged' by Ayn Rand? [View all] Liberal_in_LA Aug 2012 OP

Read it in the 70's Xipe Totec Aug 2012 #1

Same here. A boring, dreary view of society. No redeeming qualities Hoyt Aug 2012 #12

My first big philosophical disagreement with my first GF was over the Fountainhead Xipe Totec Aug 2012 #26

Read it in the 60s Warpy Aug 2012 #102

no point datasuspect Aug 2012 #2

Some consider it important to be familiar with literature that influences others - for example Liberal_in_LA Aug 2012 #6

i consider my time very valuable datasuspect Aug 2012 #18

You might be surprised mrs_p Aug 2012 #107

Exactly -- "vile and stupid. " Hoyt Aug 2012 #111

+1 Shankapotomus Aug 2012 #53

Yeah, but the Bible is entertaining ProudToBeBlueInRhody Aug 2012 #105

When a few people told me I really should read this awesome book, gkhouston Aug 2012 #3

Yes and that's many hours of my life I'll never get back catbyte Aug 2012 #17

30something years ago OriginalGeek Aug 2012 #4

50 something years ago. Same opinion. trof Aug 2012 #16

For sure OriginalGeek Aug 2012 #48

Several times, actually. Always tried to make sense of those long soliloquys, kestrel91316 Aug 2012 #5

Read it in high school as an assignment. xmas74 Aug 2012 #7

Read it and the Fountainhead as an adolescent and loved them both. cbayer Aug 2012 #8

This message was self-deleted by its author seaglass Aug 2012 #37

Dont forget to add Leon Uris to the list tibbiit Aug 2012 #47

Don't forget the complete works of Krishnamurti and Balzac's "In Search of the Absolute"! Walk away Aug 2012 #60

Yes, I admit I was fascianted with one of Uris' works - the Haj Panasonic Aug 2012 #104

Couldn't get into Hesse, but remember Castaneda very, very fondly. cbayer Aug 2012 #49

Riich on.. (being open) cilla4progress Aug 2012 #77

Read Fountainhead, then started AS and got queasy. dogknob Aug 2012 #59

Thinking back on it, I think it was the strength of the female characters that cbayer Aug 2012 #61

I tried, years ago, The Velveteen Ocelot Aug 2012 #9

DITTO Skittles Aug 2012 #14

Same here. madamesilverspurs Aug 2012 #20

+1 hifiguy Aug 2012 #54

Me as well. Lone_Star_Dem Aug 2012 #70

I opted out after 5 pages. hay rick Aug 2012 #97

I have tried numerous times, and just can't get through 50 pages Heddi Aug 2012 #10

I Read all her books riverbendviewgal Aug 2012 #11

wow. I read Atlas shrugged. started "fountainhead" but the long speeches did me in Liberal_in_LA Aug 2012 #22

I can't believe you missed out on the Fountainhead...This should help! Walk away Aug 2012 #62

About 4 seconds too long. Great find. Hoyt Aug 2012 #112

Read it when I was, like, 15, in 1965 frazzled Aug 2012 #13

I never even heard of Rand or this particular title until the recent past. MrSlayer Aug 2012 #15

Is Arnold in it. ? dipsydoodle Aug 2012 #19

Read it in the 60's Progressive dog Aug 2012 #21

So did I Retrograde Aug 2012 #79

I read it almost to the end lunatica Aug 2012 #23

Got about 200 pages into it and gave up. Curtland1015 Aug 2012 #24

I read the Wikipedia article on it n/t krispos42 Aug 2012 #25

lol Liberal_in_LA Aug 2012 #28

8th grade literature class Scootaloo Aug 2012 #27

Fascist propaganda about "superman" Faygo Kid Aug 2012 #29

If I didn't have a job, bills to pay and actual responsibilitites I might think about reading it. bluestateguy Aug 2012 #30

Hell, I don't have a job TexasTowelie Aug 2012 #39

When I was a teenager two books I read early alarmed me Atlas Shrugged and Mein Kampf. gordianot Aug 2012 #31

Read it in it's entirety, 3 years ago. Butterbean Aug 2012 #32

When I was 17-18 years old I read all of her fiction. Tried to pick it up not long ago and found it patrice Aug 2012 #33

I like the .. sendero Aug 2012 #34

Read it as a work of fiction, Downwinder Aug 2012 #35

I read it as a teenager and thought it was wonderful! Speck Tater Aug 2012 #36

talked to too many people caught in its idiotic circular logic. unblock Aug 2012 #38

I read it between terms at University, urged by a fellow worker, but quit 20 pages from the end. . . Journeyman Aug 2012 #40

I read it in the late 60's or early 70's graywarrior Aug 2012 #41

Maybe that's why you read it MrMickeysMom Aug 2012 #106

I've watched documentaries proud patriot Aug 2012 #42

I tried to read it. Mutt22 Aug 2012 #43

Read it a few years ago and don't see why it makes such an impression on people sammytko Aug 2012 #44

+1 mrs_p Aug 2012 #109

Sadly, I read all of them, once upon a time... MyshkinCommaPrince Aug 2012 #45

Rand eyeofnewt Aug 2012 #46

Other: saw the gawd awful movie flamingdem Aug 2012 #50

I agree with you;the movie is a campfest Tom Ripley Aug 2012 #83

Haven't read it. But I did read 'Anthem' in HS RZM Aug 2012 #51

I saw a high school friend become an insufferable, monomaniacal libertarian klook Aug 2012 #52

Or as i like to call it, "Hugless Shat" Warren DeMontague Aug 2012 #55

No one has posted my favorite video yet: Starry Messenger Aug 2012 #56

Nor mine: Shankapotomus Aug 2012 #58

No but here's The Fountainhead Guy Whitey Corngood Aug 2012 #57

I read a couple of pages when I was in 7th grade, HereSince1628 Aug 2012 #63

Best review of Atlas Shrugged ever!!! thelordofhell Aug 2012 #64

I attempted to. I never did manage to read the whole thing. PDJane Aug 2012 #65

yes ... including the 200 page monologue ... zbdent Aug 2012 #66

No. It's not that well known in the UK. LeftishBrit Aug 2012 #67

no. should i? eom ellenfl Aug 2012 #68

that's your call. Liberal_in_LA Aug 2012 #120

I was given a choice for a report...... Rain Mcloud Aug 2012 #69

Thanks for telling your story. mia Aug 2012 #94

Atlas Shrugged AND The Fountainhead. Blue_In_AK Aug 2012 #71

I don't have to read Mein Kampf.... sendero Aug 2012 #72

I read everything she wrote about 15 years ago treestar Aug 2012 #73

Sure, read it and some of her others. MadrasT Aug 2012 #74

Ayn Rand and L. Ron Hubbard Yavin4 Aug 2012 #75

+1 Johonny Aug 2012 #87

Had "Fountainhead" forced on my by Randite in High School, malthaussen Aug 2012 #76

Yes and it was awful on several levels. byeya Aug 2012 #78

Read "The Fountainhead" at the prompting of a woman I was crazy about........ A HERETIC I AM Aug 2012 #80

Did skim over it, as a friend was really into the book and other Proles Aug 2012 #81

Yes, I once was a teenager Tom Ripley Aug 2012 #82

Other... Kalidurga Aug 2012 #84

I tried, but couldn't get through it. It's fucking awful...nt SidDithers Aug 2012 #85

This was one of those books I forced myself to read LadyHawkAZ Aug 2012 #86

it was a hs graduation gift eShirl Aug 2012 #88

That is not a world I want to live in Generic Brad Aug 2012 #89

Yes ismnotwasm Aug 2012 #90

Read all of her works, Atlas Shrugged and Fountainhead several times. Nt stevenleser Aug 2012 #91

Read all of Rand's books in high school, almost 40 years ago. A year in Europe Vidar Aug 2012 #92

I read it in High School to win an essay competition that I never submitted. vaberella Aug 2012 #93

I read the Ms. Magazine review of Ayn Rand years ago. That was enough for me. McCamy Taylor Aug 2012 #95

Read it in 78- I was a randian Objectivist,I'm ashamed to say. w8liftinglady Aug 2012 #96

There really should be an option for "Skimmed the Wiki entry for it". Poll_Blind Aug 2012 #98

Read it years ago. Brigid Aug 2012 #99

i was unable to finish the 1st page. pansypoo53219 Aug 2012 #100

and I was recruited KT2000 Aug 2012 #101

Why would I read that shit Panasonic Aug 2012 #103

Have read it cover to cover several times and have an autographed copy. n/t Tansy_Gold Aug 2012 #108

Kept falling asleep burrowowl Aug 2012 #110

Tried to read it a few times, but it was just so absolutely boring and pedantic Zorra Aug 2012 #113

It's a very difficult book to get through. Not because it's difficult to understand, mind you. Marr Aug 2012 #114

Started to read it in college AnnieBW Aug 2012 #115

kick eShirl Aug 2012 #116

Thanks. I'm amazed that so many DUers have read it from cover to cover. Wonder what the % Liberal_in_LA Aug 2012 #119

I read about 15-20 pages HappyMe Aug 2012 #117

Got through about 20 pages and fell asleep. hobbit709 Aug 2012 #118