Who is John Galt?

cuda

Banned
Atlas Shrugged
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Atlas Shrugged

First edition cover.
Author Ayn Rand
Country United States
Language English
Genre(s) Philosophical novel, Science fiction
Publisher Random House
Publication date 10 October 1957
Media type Print (Hardback & Paperback)
Pages 1368 (depending on edition)
ISBN ISBN 0-394-41576-0 (hardback edition)
OCLC Number 412355486
Atlas Shrugged is a novel by Ayn Rand, first published in 1957 in the United States. This was Rand's fourth, longest and last novel, and she considered it her magnum opus in the realm of fiction writing.[1] As indicated by its working title The Strike, the book explores a dystopian United States where leading innovators, ranging from industrialists to artists, refuse to be exploited by society. The protagonist, Dagny Taggart, sees society collapse around her as the government increasingly asserts control over all industry, while society's most productive citizens, led by the mysterious John Galt, progressively disappear. Galt describes the strike as "stopping the motor of the world" by withdrawing the "minds" that drive society's growth and productivity; with their strike these creative minds hope to demonstrate that the economy and society would collapse without the profit motive and the efforts of the rational and productive.

The novel's title is a reference to the mythical Titan, Atlas, who in the novel is said to hold the weight of the heavens on his shoulders.[2] The character of Francisco d'Anconia at one point is asked what sort of advice someone would give to Atlas, and Francisco says he'd tell Atlas "to shrug" (with Atlas being a metaphor for the champions of industry who keep the world in place). The novel includes elements of mystery and science fiction,[3] and it contains Rand's most extensive statement of Objectivism in any of her works of fiction, a lengthy monologue delivered by the strike's leader, John Galt.[4]

The theme of Atlas Shrugged, as Rand described it, is "the role of man's mind in existence." The book explores a number of philosophical themes that Rand would subsequently develop into the philosophy of Objectivism.[5][6] It advocates the core tenets of Rand's philosophy of Objectivism and expresses her concept of human achievement. In doing so it expresses many facets of Rand's philosophy, such as the advocacy of reason, individualism, the market economy and the failure of government coercion.

Atlas Shrugged received largely negative reviews after its 1957 publication,[7] but achieved enduring popularity and consistent sales in the following decades. In the wake of the late 2000s recession sales of Atlas Shrugged have sharply increased, according to The Economist magazine and The New York Times. The Economist reported that the fifty-two-year-old novel ranked #33 among Amazon.com's top-selling books on January 13, 2009.[8]
 
John Galt is a fictional character in Ayn Rand's novel Atlas Shrugged. I read the book what a beast to read.
 
Tough read, big with the college existentialism crowd back in the late 50's early sixties. Played bongo drum music in the background as you read, possibly smoked some funny weed and listen to poetry in a coffee house.
 
Tough read, big with the college existentialism crowd back in the late 50's early sixties. Played bongo drum music in the background as you read, possibly smoked some funny weed and listen to poetry in a coffee house.

Funny, My take is that it is about what you get when you expect the government to take care of your every complaint and about a few who preferred freedom over government security.
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Six degrees time...

Ayn Rand is an influence of Rush drummer and lyricist Neil Peart. Their album 2112 was dedicated to her.
 
Tough read, big with the college existentialism crowd back in the late 50's early sixties. Played bongo drum music in the background as you read, possibly smoked some funny weed and listen to poetry in a coffee house.

I couldn't imagine reading that book with a buzz on. I'd read the same page a dozen times.

Sold more copies this year than ever.
 
I've been in a 10 year long arguement with one of my closest friends about this book. She's been trying to force me to read it for over a decade, I tell her that if I want to read 1,300 pages of anything it's going to be 10 copies of Huslter.
 
I've been in a 10 year long arguement with one of my closest friends about this book. She's been trying to force me to read it for over a decade, I tell her that if I want to read 1,300 pages of anything it's going to be 10 copies of Huslter.

I love long novels.
 
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