|
Atlas Shrugged (平装)
by Ayn Rand
| Category:
Fiction |
| Market price: ¥ 228.00
MSL price:
¥ 208.00
[ Shop incentives ]
|
| Stock:
Pre-order item, lead time 3-7 weeks upon payment [ COD term does not apply to pre-order items ] |
MSL rating:
 Good for Gifts |
| MSL Pointer Review:
A piece of artwork in the form of literature and philosophy, Atlas Shrugged qualifies as an all-time classic with profound implications. |
| If you want us to help you with the right titles you're looking for, or to make reading recommendations based on your needs, please contact our consultants. |
|
| |
AllReviews |
  1 2 Total 2 pages 12 items |
|
|
An American reader (MSL quote), USA
<2007-01-09 00:00>
Ayn Rand's novel is quite extraordinary in its scope, ideas, and suspense. It tells a very timely story of America without "intellectuals" (in Rand's novel, industrialists, innovators, intelligent businessmen, etc., etc…). The US has become a country without any intelligent, thoughtful, individualistic people to advance it towards progress. Instead, we are left with whiny, scared, timid people running the country, and running it into the ground. The book's plot and ideas are presented in "black and white". It is cut straight down the line in terms of good (Dagny Taggart, Hank Rearden, John Galt, Francisco), and bad (all the incompetents). Things are not as simple as that (life can be quite ambiguous at times), but to me the novel represents the acceptance (and promotion) of mediocrity. As we see from the current occupant of the White House, mediocrity is on display and is being sold to us as the norm, what we should strive for. This is, of course, patently absurd. Mediocre films, politicians, music, books, etc., etc… A coarsening and dumbing down of America is so obvious in these times (2006), and it makes one terribly depressed. Despite the somewhat pedantic and dogmatic way Rand presents this novel, I found myself nevertheless sympathetic with Dagny Taggart and Hank Rearden, because they are honest, intelligent business people who do not need the government meddling in their affairs. Not all business people here are portrayed as perfect (despite what some left wing critics say about Rand's books). The people who use their family connections to stay in business, and those who manipulate stocks, bonds, etc., are seen as part of the problem as well. Like all artists/philosophers, she is greatly misinterpreted and misunderstood. Usually those with a political agenda distort her ideas in order to fit into their myopic view of the world. The right dislikes her because she was an avowed atheist and despised organised religion, and the left disliked her because of her love of laissez faire capitailism. When I read her books, what comes out for me is that one should not feel ashamed at having a brain and using it to its greatest capabilities. Despite Rand being a household name, many publishers rejected this book, calling it too intelligent for the American public. She had had similar experiences with The Fountainhead. Both books went on to be phenomenal best sellers, and are still talked about and are still controversial to this day. In John Galt's speech near the end of the book, he says the only commandment should be...THOU SHALT THINK. That, in many ways, sums up the book. This is a novel that should be read by all, regardless of political persuasion. |
|
|
Soderberg (MSL quote), USA
<2007-01-09 00:00>
Ayn Rand's fictional story about "when the engine of the world stopped" is rather poorly written. The philosophical perspective presented in some of the speeches and some of the events in this overly long story is individualism that knows no restraint. I got the feeling while reading this book that there was no such thing as society, no such thing as kindness or compassion. In fact it seemed like compassion and kindness were moral faults to be sneered at. Anyway, the story was second rate at best and kind of horrifying at worst.
I am sure that this book appeals mainly to people in their later teens - before they gained enough life experience and enough good sense to reject the stupidity that the author seems to think is a virtue.
(A negative review. MSL remarks.)
|
|
|
|
1 2 Total 2 pages 12 items |
|
|
|
|
|
|
