Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand (Review)
This is the longest stretch of time I have needed to collect my thoughts on a book. The main reason for the delay is that I found “Atlas Shrugged” to be an incredibly interesting and thought-provoking book on a number of subjects. I consequently needed more time to evaluate my level of agreement and disagreement with Ayn Rand’s philosophy. I deem it a success anytime an author can effectively blend an engaging storyline with thought-provoking philosophy—even when I may not agree wholly with the philosophical leanings. Despite my partially-inconclusive response to Rand’s ideas, I found her work to be incredibly engaging and worthwhile.
The story focuses on Dagny Taggart—one of the last great industrialists in a dystopian United States. Dagny runs Taggart Transcontinental as vice-president of operations behind her brother, who is primarily a figurehead. Taggart Transcontinental is the railroad upon which the country relies to transport goods and people from border to border. Dagny effectively runs the corporation despite a great scarcity of resources, which proves to be a central issue in the story. She accomplishes this challenging feat with ingenuity, creativity, and sheer strength of will. Dagny embodies a spirit that proves quite inspirational throughout the story, serving as a protagonist whose mind is capable of great thoughts and an individual who desires an honest return for the work she provides.
Rand herself called “‘Atlas’ a mystery, ‘not about the murder of man’s body, but about the murder — and rebirth — of man’s spirit.” (http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/15/bus...). And while “Atlas Shrugged” is a mystery and a story of individual and societal change, it is also a plot device to present Rand’s idea that not only should the political/economic system operate on a pure capitalistic system, but individuals should similarly run their life in a capitalistic manner—never extending free gift or favor to another. Neither philosophical conclusion is surprising for a laissez-faire/capitalistic economist who classified organized religion – particularly Christianity – as antithetical to reason. Rand believed in pursuing one’s own self interest, noting that the individual “must exist for his own sake, neither sacrificing himself to others nor sacrificing others to himself.” (Rand, Ayn (1989). “Introducing Objectivism.” The Voice of Reason. Edited by Leonard Peikoff. New York: New American Library. p. 3).
It is this all-encompassing philosophy that I find somewhat troubling. I adhere to Christianity—that is a personal belief in Jesus as Christ and His teaching—but I believe the only political system that can functionally thrive in a broken world is one that leaves religion alone. Inversely, I think that there may be ideas in Rand’s political-economic philosophy that may have merit on the macro level that do not apply on the personal level. For instance, Rand’s rejection of government subsidies seemed particularly poignant in light of the recent federal subsidies of large banks and financial institutions. Rand would certainly have found displeasure in any such government interference with the economy. But Rand also illustrated how far-reaching her philosophy extends by noting that even a car loaned to a friend must come with an exchange of tangible property—no such thing as a free ride.
The principles in Rand’s book may have intellectual purity, but they run afoul to the rationale that supports Christianity. To avoid this post becoming a tangential writing on apologetics, I will simply note that I believe there are capitalistic principles that seem sensible from a political-economical standpoint, but they do not offer a rational worldview from a personal standpoint. This is the point where I differ from Rand, but I thoroughly enjoy reading any book that challenges and prompts diligent consideration of political, economical, and personal philosophy. “Atlas Shrugged” is a well-written book with strong character development, intrigue, and ideas that prompt self-evaluation. I found the combination to be incredibly enjoyable and recommend Rand’s writing to anyone who might enjoy the opportunity to reflect on politics, economics, altruism, and individual worldview.
