Atlas Shrugged

By: Ayn Rand

Narrated by: Scott Brick

Length: 62 hrs and 56 mins

Publisher's summary

Peopled by larger-than-life heroes and villains, charged with towering questions of good and evil, Atlas Shrugged is Ayn Rand’s magnum opus: a philosophical revolution told in the form of an action thriller—nominated as one of America’s best-loved novels by PBS’s The Great American Read.

Atlas Shrugged is the "second most influential book for Americans today" after the Bible, according to a joint survey of five thousand people conducted by the Library of Congress and the Book of the Month Club in 1991.

In a scrap heap within an abandoned factory, the greatest invention in history lies dormant and unused. By what fatal error of judgment has its value gone unrecognized, its brilliant inventor punished rather than rewarded for his efforts?

This is the story of a man who said that he would stop the motor of the world—and did. In defense of those greatest of human qualities that have made civilization possible, he sets out to show what would happen to the world if all the heroes of innovation and industry went on strike. Is he a destroyer or a liberator? Why does he have to fight his battle not against his enemies but against those who need him most? Why does he fight his hardest battle against the woman he loves? The answers will be revealed once you discover the reason behind the baffling events that wreak havoc on the lives of the amazing men and women in this remarkable book.

Tremendous in scope and breathtaking in its suspense, Atlas Shrugged is Ayn Rand's magnum opus, which launched an ideology and a movement. With the publication of this work in 1957, Rand gained an instant following and became a phenomenon. Atlas Shrugged emerged as a premier moral apologia for capitalism, a defense that had an electrifying effect on millions of readers (and now listeners) who had never heard capitalism defended in other than technical terms.

©1985 Eugene Winick, Paul Gitlin and Leonard Peikoff (P)2008 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

A long listen but worth the effort and patience

At 63 hours long, this is the definition of a marathon listening session, but I think it's worth it. Atlas Shrugged is a long story, which presents Ayn Rand's theory of objectivism through a number of speeches and discussions, but it also has a great fictional narrative that goes along side it. You may not like Rand's politics or philosophy, but at its heart this story has a great female lead character who fights to be successful and competent surrounded by idiots, fools and incompetents. So, give it a try, you might be surprised and enjoy it.

Jim (Lompoc, CA)

I remember reading this book in college back in the early 60s and finding it fascinating. Students of today should read this book and understand what is happening in the real world. It is interesting how this work of fiction written in the 50s seems to demonstrate what is happening to our economy today and how the laws and the rights of the people of this country are being corrupted by the ineptness of the present government in handling real life situations.

Required Reading

Well-rounded characters and rich plot. Author's misunderstanding of faith leaves rare gaps in logic in what, otherwise, is a prescient theme on collectivism's self-destructive nature. An outstanding page-turner of an American story espousing rugged individualism; until, of course, the rugged individualists form their own collective based on their common rugged individualism - though it is not that simple...

Intriguing

Very wordy but a classic. Interesting characters. I found myself talking aloud to the characters in frustration for their plight. A lot of long speeches but the book held my interest. Good comparison to current events.

Wonderful

I've never read or listened to a book that had ever put into words my thoughts on people and government. This book was Awesome!

Give it time to build

It took me 4 or 5 chapters to get into this novel. Well worth the effort. To quote the publisher "Tremendous in scope and breathtaking in its suspense"

Awesomely Freightening

This is a MUST for any Freedom Loving American who ever believed in the Capitolist marketplace... It is quite simply brilliant in it's accuracy to say nothing of it's prophetic qualities! To think that the Author wrote this tomb some 50+ years ago... this book was written, and should be required reading, for all current and future generations! Could there be a more important work for our day? Who is John Gault? Indeed WHERE IS John Gault? WE NEED HIM!!! God Save America!

Eye-opening and moving

This book should be required in all public schools and the words etched into the foundation of every government structure. Scott Brick does a wonderful job of conveying the sense of every word and delivers them with just the right amount of emotion while holding the dry air of a philosophical text. He doesn't try to make a female voice or stretch his voice into awkward variations but it's never challenging to follow a conversation. This is an absolute joy and a great listen while you lay in bed...just be sure to set your sleep timer :) (and at over 60 hours! a steal!)

atlas shrugged

I had heard of the book and author, but had never taken the ,quite considerable, time necessary to read the book. I'm dissappointed in myself, for having put it off so long. without audible, I expect, I would still be procrastinating,(I've always wanted/meant to read this book) putting it off. absolutely great book, without a doubt, one of the best I've ever 'read'(audible) .a must must read, especially given todays headlines both in this country and outside this country. if you can stand taking a peek inside the mind of an author that has a handle on human nature,and how to describe it in laymans terms, this is your chance. though I have only listened to the unabridged version read by scott brick, I can truthfully say....bravo mr. brick, bravo. I can't praise his skills as a reader enough.absolutely a wonderful read, thanks in equal parts to the late ayn rand and the great narrative skills of mr brick. I'm really impressed. j.c.elliott

Classic made difficult by narration

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

This is an important book. The narrator Scott Brick uses different voices for characters. Some of the weaker characters come off overly irritating and the female voices are too breathy. This makes for a difficult listen in some instances.

What do you think the narrator could have done better?

Pick up the pace and drop the whining voices.

Any additional comments?

The whisper-sync does not seem to be working.