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stevenleser

(32,886 posts)

20. I think that's why Libertarian types try to get young people to read it. They might fall for it.

Mon Apr 3, 2017, 12:37 PM

Apr 2017

And why not? Rand wasn't dumb about one thing. She knew that if you gave people a philosophy that was essentially an excuse for their worst instincts and behavior, a large group would gravitate to it.

That's what Rands philosophies are. An excuse for selfishness and an unwillingness to help others. Folks who like being selfish naturally gravitate toward her.

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Honest question: Is there any literary merit to Atlas Shrugged as a book, its message aside? [View all] Tommy_Carcetti Apr 2017 OP

I picked it up and found it unreadable. Cary Apr 2017 #1

It consists of words, printed on paper and bound like other books. forgotmylogin Apr 2017 #64

Cute Cary Apr 2017 #74

Heck no. forgotmylogin Apr 2017 #75

Oh. Sorry. Cary Apr 2017 #77

No. H2O Man Apr 2017 #2

The only value I can imagine is finding a first edition at a yard sale and selling it. Vinca Apr 2017 #3

No. exboyfil Apr 2017 #4

I tried to read it once or twice... Wounded Bear Apr 2017 #5

I can only speak for "The Fountainhead," malthaussen Apr 2017 #6

No. potone Apr 2017 #7

I've previously said, if you like the superhero genre and treat it as such, you can like it. stevenleser Apr 2017 #8

I read Atlas Shrugged PatSeg Apr 2017 #13

I think that's why Libertarian types try to get young people to read it. They might fall for it. stevenleser Apr 2017 #20

that's exactly right. "intellectualism" in the right-wing is an endless search for unblock Apr 2017 #26

And it all was wrapped in PatSeg Apr 2017 #28

At that age, most people are trying to define themselves... Wounded Bear Apr 2017 #60

Yes PatSeg Apr 2017 #65

Yep, a normal part of human emotional development is the separation phase. kcr Apr 2017 #83

Yes, that explains a lot PatSeg Apr 2017 #84

I think you're exactly right. There's a reason they appeal to very young people. nolabear Apr 2017 #23

I liked it too.... Mellomugwump Apr 2017 #44

I read it radical noodle Apr 2017 #9

There's "writing" and there's "typing". HughBeaumont Apr 2017 #10

I read it in HS HAB911 Apr 2017 #11

She is a facile writer and the characters, LisaM Apr 2017 #12

It's the follow-up to Fountainhead, a book which goal is to attack American Community Values. TheBlackAdder Apr 2017 #14

I didn't think so ismnotwasm Apr 2017 #15

I'd say her character-building is among the worst traits... regnaD kciN Apr 2017 #59

when I was a young teen OriginalGeek Apr 2017 #16

This message was self-deleted by its author TEB Apr 2017 #17

Atlas Shrugged was okay. Dr. Strange Apr 2017 #18

Rands fiction sucks for the same reason so much sci-fi written in the past twenty years sucks LanternWaste Apr 2017 #19

Honest Answer: No regnaD kciN Apr 2017 #21

No. It's crap. The Velveteen Ocelot Apr 2017 #22

No. Mme. Defarge Apr 2017 #24

No. no_hypocrisy Apr 2017 #25

Compare and contrast edhopper Apr 2017 #27

I used to sign my s/w as John Galt. rickford66 Apr 2017 #33

Type type type type .... PsychoBabble Apr 2017 #36

No. If you have time for a giant slog, read War and Peace, the complete works of Tolstoi, pnwmom Apr 2017 #29

No. missingthebigdog Apr 2017 #30

John Rogers said it best. Foamfollower Apr 2017 #31

Was going to post that myself. SchrodingersCatbox Apr 2017 #37

Sorry, I don't get it. What are orcs? nt LAS14 Apr 2017 #52

Orcs are creatures in [i]The Lord of the Rings[/i] Jim Lane Apr 2017 #80

Thanks! Nice of you to take the time for a good explanation. :-) nt LAS14 Apr 2017 #82

LOL irisblue Apr 2017 #67

The Unabomber's manifesto was much more coherent and concise. hunter Apr 2017 #32

At age 20 I read it and thought it was great. In my 30s I read it again. It's pure crap. n/t Binkie The Clown Apr 2017 #34

Better than L. Ron Hubbard. dalton99a Apr 2017 #35

Nope. Hubbard was a craftsman of penny-a-word-pot-boiling space opera. Rand is simply deranged... hunter Apr 2017 #61

Shout out to a fellow PKD fan! malchickiwick Apr 2017 #63

Tried reading it in my twenties. Awful. Didn't get very far. SwissTony Apr 2017 #38

Depends on the definition you use. SomethingNew Apr 2017 #39

This message was self-deleted by its author ymetca Apr 2017 #40

It makes the "Left Behind" series look like Tolstoy hatrack Apr 2017 #41

Not a bit. 6000eliot Apr 2017 #42

it's about as intellectually stimulating as is reading the ingredients to a bag of Doritos. Javaman Apr 2017 #43

No. And I studied literature. WinkyDink Apr 2017 #45

No colsohlibgal Apr 2017 #46

I find anything by Carl Haissen to be imminently more intellectual reading. Atman Apr 2017 #47

Well, I would hope so. Tommy_Carcetti Apr 2017 #48

Read it twice... Baconator Apr 2017 #49

Yes and no. LAS14 Apr 2017 #50

The title is pretty great imagery Jonny Appleseed Apr 2017 #51

It's Great!! As a cure for insomnia or as a chloroform substitute. malchickiwick Apr 2017 #53

I'd have to ask my high school self, and he'd say "No. But I only read about four pages." (n/t) Iggo Apr 2017 #54

Not really, I finished it in silly giggles Warpy Apr 2017 #55

Not really. haele Apr 2017 #56

LOL! Great quote. nt eppur_se_muova Apr 2017 #58

An insight into the mind of a Libertarian. guillaumeb Apr 2017 #57

Romance Novel for Certain Types of Men delisen Apr 2017 #62

Friedrich Hayek and William Buckley both found it unreadable. bigmonkey Apr 2017 #66

And those two wrote some of the biggest shit piles on the planet! TheBlackAdder Apr 2017 #72

2 hardback copies held up the couch in my first college commune. irisblue Apr 2017 #68

No it's pretty useless Worktodo Apr 2017 #69

A very personal experience was born of Any Rand's books Alice11111 Apr 2017 #70

No. MountCleaners Apr 2017 #71

NOOOOO. It is terrible sharedvalues Apr 2017 #73

No merit if you're a grownup. jzola Apr 2017 #76

I really like the imagery near the beginning of the book Yupster Apr 2017 #78

Sweet Jeebus no! Adrahil Apr 2017 #79

It's the kind of thing Truman Capote used to call 'creative typing'. Aristus Apr 2017 #81