The storytelling got me engaged, but I soon started picking out flaws. (This is not my tendency.) At first I disregarded them, the author revealing her own character rather than her characters, for example. And chug along I did, enjoying passages. But the philosophy got heavy handed. I on one hand granted that too much government control can surely ruin people's lives, like hers was. But a utopia for the smart and industrious while the rest of the country withers in hunger and darkness just didn't settle well with me. The extremes are both wrong. I wonder if the controversial nature of the book, not the greatness of the story, might be responsible for its staggering success.

This is a story of what each person can accomplish hindered by the staggering weight of government--in other words, very little. Unless you are Dagny Taggart, that is. Rand lived in an oppressive regime--communist Russia--and wrote with expertise on the matter. Her book should open the eyes of our modern voters to what the future will bring. People who didn't read this book or are hardcore liberal, cannot grasp the depths of its philosophy, therefore should not attempt to write reviews; in this case, ignorance is NOT bliss. Incidentally, I am yet to find the “act of cannibalism” at the end of the book. There are references to cannibals/cannibalism, but no act per se.

Wonderful book, but might be difficult to digest and understand for the ones who embrace government oriented economic philosophies—like, for instance, socialism. A MUST read, especially for the young. (Watch the movie: it’s a great rendition of this book.)

Ayn Rand—born Alisa Zinovievna Rosenbaum in St. Petersburg, Russia, in February 2, 1905–was an Objectivist, not a Conservative. She died at home on March 6, 1982, of heart failure. Although I disagree in several instances with Mrs. Rand’s philosophy, Atlas Shrugged is a brilliant, respectful manifesto of human accomplishment. Yes, it's also about individualism, which is what Human Beings are made of—we are individuals, not masses to be used by some fascist, socialist or communist government, as it happens in the book. Rand fled communism and writes with authority on the subject of government taking over our individualism. But you don’t need to be a political junkie to read her book! By the way, Francisco d'Anconia tells Dagny: "Contradictions do not exist. Whenever you think you are facing a contradiction, check your premises. You will find that one of them is wrong." In other words: doubt yourself, you might be laboring under false “premises”! It is hard for someone (who really read this book!) to, even as a joke, perceive anything else but what Rand meant. Long live individualism, accomplishment and freedom. (Worth watching are the two excellent movie adaptations of this book, part I and part II, with a third one coming in 2013.)

Instead of giving trash literature to teens, teachers should have them read this book. It would open their eyes to the evils of socialism. But... yet, maybe this is the reason why they push trash literature instead: don't teach them to think critically, keep them ignorant and complacent. This book is a must read for anyone who would like to understand Capitalism. Together with 1984 and Animal Farm, it forms a trilogy that departs from the typical academic litany.

I think the technical term for this pseudo-philosophy book is CRAP. I am sorry that I cannot give it negative stars. Also, Ayn Rand was an avowed atheist.

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. Greed is good. If you accept that and agree with it you will love this book. The reoccurring phrase "check your premises" brings up an image of someone going around their property with a flashlight after a power outage rather than an intellectual challenge. Rand has no distance from her characters which are one-dimensional caricatures. I am always suspicious of someone like Rand with no sense of humor or the absurd. This book is narrated through tightly clenched teeth with a tightly clenched mind. It's a tea party precursor. Or worse.

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.” Greed is good. If you accept that and agree with it you will love this book. The reoccurring phrase "check your premises" brings up an image of someone going around their property with a flashlight after a power outage rather than an intellectual challenge. Rand has no distance from her characters which are one-dimensional caricatures. I am always suspicious of someone like Rand with no sense of humor or the absurd. This book is narrated through tightly clenched teeth with a tightly clenched mind. It's a tea party precursor. Or worse.

Some seriously sicko comments here --- hopefully they are all affiliated or related to all those crooked banksters and derivatives dealers. (And please, please don't vote!)

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