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  • Atlas Shrugged

  • By: Ayn Rand
  • Narrated by: Scott Brick
  • Length: 62 hrs and 56 mins
  • 4.6 out of 5 stars (376 ratings)

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Atlas Shrugged

By: Ayn Rand
Narrated by: Scott Brick
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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.

What listeners say about Atlas Shrugged

Average Customer Ratings
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  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars

Hate/enjoyed this

So preachy. So, so, so preachy. Ayn Rand wanted to make industrialists into religious leaders and this story is the bible of that bizarre religion.
It had some interesting ideas, but could have been 1/10 the size and been better for it.
So preachy.

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8 people found this helpful

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    3 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

too much

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

not sure - it is exteremely long and could have been written much shorter and to the point. I do agree with the principles behind it though.

What was the most interesting aspect of this story? The least interesting?

That too much interference is damaging to the economy and individuals. But OMG the monologues are so insanely long. Who talk like that?? And the semi-erotic passages.... Did anyone say "Early version of 50 Shades"?

Did Scott Brick do a good job differentiating each of the characters? How?

yes

Was Atlas Shrugged worth the listening time?

half the time, but overall, even 30 hours to get the point across could be considered too long.

Any additional comments?

a book for those with plenty of time on their hands.

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8 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

reevaluation

verry thought provoking, found myself rethinking my beliefs, and find that the view expressed are related to the many issues of today.

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4 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Long but worth it

A long read but enjoyable with fantastic narration. Compelling exploration of political thought and ideas. Whilst built on idealised characters and stereotypes and hard to be taken as gospel, the story provides a great way u to. Understand Rynd's philosophy

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3 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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must read story

I loved it must read book will chnage your mind on everything you know. a bit long but worth it must invest your time into your self if you want to be a better version

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3 people found this helpful

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    3 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

A liberal's image of socialism

This novel is a full defense of capitalism by mocking socialist concepts. It is entertaining, worth the listening, the philosophical aspects are well covered, the story keeps you hooked.
The voice was excellent, I could easily identify which character was talking before the "said Mary".

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2 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Life changing

So many life lessons in one place. It came to me when I needed it most.

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2 people found this helpful

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    3 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars
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Longer than necessary

Way too long. Socialism capitalism and a revolution. That’s it. I can believe how long it is.
The narrator had three tones: female male and wining. I have listened to other books where even though the character is of same sex the listener can still differentiate the person.
Not a great audio book but maybe I am too fussy. Wouldn’t you if you were to listen to 8 parts of 8hours each?

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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The narration was as phenomenal as the story

This really is the magnum opus of Rand. It takes the ideals introduced in fountainhead and tests them with more realistic circumstances, that spiral into tests to see which themes survive. The narration was captivating, I never wanted to put this book down, and never wanted it to end. You felt all the emotion of every character, every character had distinct voices and personalities, and even the females were feminine and divine. Just truly perfect. If they had oscars for audiobooks, Scott Brick should win it.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Must read

This is the one book I wish I read before my twenties. So many insights and truths weaved in an entertaining story that is relatable to people across generations

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1 person found this helpful

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