Comments on: Masterpieces: Ayn Rand’s Atlas Shrugged

By: Pete

Pete — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 21:24:00 +0000

Speaking of Scientology and masterpieces chosen by the “public”, indeed Atlas Shrugged and The Fountainhead are #1 and #2 at the randomhouse reader’s list. Guess who weighs in at #3? Battlefield Earth by L Ron Hubbard. I’ve never read it, and it may in fact be a good read, but ALL-TIME? And, the reader’s top ten includes 4 Ayn Rand books and 3 of L Ron Hubbard’s. The Great Gatsby is #13, well behind the multiple selections of those literary heavyweights Rand and Hubbard. I’m not knocking Objectivism but claiming that “the people’s” choice of the greatest books of ALL-TIME is clearly a joke.

By: Rajal V

Rajal V — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 23:04:00 +0000

“The problem with Objectivism is that is all theoretical. It doesn’t exist in reality. Sure, in Rand’s books, Objectivism works out all fine and dandy and everyone’s enjoying the wonderful benefits of capitalism, but there’s a problem…..

The problem is that Rand’s books are fictional. They’re fake. Made up. They’re as fake as those screenplays she used to write.”

My god this was a stunning comment. I am by no means a follower of Rand, just a someone who has read her work, but I would defend any piece of FICTION literature against such a ridiculous attack, that being to compare it to trash like Scientology :)

There is a one word answer.

FLORIDA – Taken directly from dictionary.com

al·le·go·ry (āl’ĭ-gôr’ē, -gōr’ē) Pronunciation Key
n. pl. al·le·go·ries

1.The representation of abstract ideas or principles by characters, figures, or events in narrative, dramatic, or pictorial form.
2.A story, picture, or play employing such representation. John Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress and Herman Melville’s Moby Dick are allegories.

By: T Parry

T Parry — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 21:13:00 +0000

Your biggest mistake was to name the article “Masterpieces: Ayn Rand’s Atlas Shrugged”. That word “Masterpiece” was enough to make half the responders scream like scalded cats.

By: Scott

Scott — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 19:58:00 +0000

Florida- I think the argument stems from what you just did. “Radian nut job” I don’t think anyone in this comment section has said that they support objectivism, they have said that their good reads. Why do people attack and attack individuals who are just trying to say that its a good book. Read it, its impressive. I would never follow its philosophy but its still a good book.

By: Florida

Florida — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 18:36:00 +0000

Once I saw the name Ayn Rand, I knew the flood gates would open and the Radian nut jobs would come pouring out. And, sure enough, they were able to sniff this little article out of the all the internet’s garbage.

The problem with Objectivism is that is all theoretical. It doesn’t exist in reality. Sure, in Rand’s books, Objectivism works out all fine and dandy and everyone’s enjoying the wonderful benefits of capitalism, but there’s a problem…..

The problem is that Rand’s books are fictional. They’re fake. Made up. They’re as fake as those screenplays she used to write.

Randians seem to have no issue living in their fictional world. They accuse people who don’t agree with Rand of not fully understanding Rand’s concepts, yet when one begins to investigate Objectivism (never mind Atlas Shrugged), one begins to realize it is as nonsensical as Scientology. Randians, including Rand herself, also seem to have no issue berating non-believers for not agreeing with their silliness. Apparently individualism is only a virtue when your free thought happens to the same as their free thought.

By: Jim

Jim — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 17:57:00 +0000

So just follow “Atlas Shrugged” with “The Grapes of Wrath”, and we’ll call it a day….

By: TamTam

TamTam — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 17:10:00 +0000

Well I guess I’m the only one who read this book about a quarter of the way before I wanted to tear out my own eyes and fry them.

By: John

John — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 16:30:00 +0000

I have read Atlas Shrugged twice and thoroughly enjoyed it both times (except the last 100 pages where she switches from fiction to blatant philosphical preaching). It definitely occupies a place in my Top 10. And as an engineer working in manufacturing that leans right for fiscal reasons, I agree with SOME of the ideals of Objectivism. But I enjoy her work for the charcters she develops and her literary style, not the philosphy behind her work.

I think what makes Atlas unique is how it shows the downfall of a purely socialist yet authoritarian government. I view it as a sort of anti-1984. Just as fictional and unlikely, but showing similar outcomes from the opposite extreme of a society without freedom of self.

I agree that the posted article falls below the standard I expect from Mental Floss. Instead of focusing on the controversy and discussions it has provoked over the past 50 yrs, the article exhorts nothing but praise.

By: Rajal V

Rajal V — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 16:20:00 +0000

Katie: Clearly this “Masterpiece” post is in the same vein as the Feel Art Again series: simply a brief general introduction to an artist’s work along with some brief history/highlights associated with it.

These posts aren’t meant to be critiques, or to debate the quality of the work they introduce to the public. There are other more indepth places for that discussion….

PS- IMO, mental floss as a whole is a collection of fluff knowledge (which I love) I mean “the history of untensils” was the headline post today….

By: Katie

Katie — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 16:03:00 +0000

So I suppose we can soon expect to see an equally biased fluff-piece on The Jungle or a good bio of Debs?