"The World You Desire Can Be Won"
Top Reads: Atlas Shrugged, by Ayn Rand
“Do not let your fire go out, spark by irreplaceable spark in the hopeless swamps of the not-quite, the not-yet, and the not-at-all. Do not let the hero in your soul perish in lonely frustration for the life you deserved and have never been able to reach. The world you desire can be won. It exists.. it is real.. it is possible.. it's yours.”
― Ayn Rand, Atlas Shrugged
Ayn Rand's Atlas Shrugged is a philosophical novel that centers around the theme of individualism, capitalism, and the role of the mind in human progress. The story is set in a dystopian future where the government has become oppressive, collectivist policies dominate, and society is crumbling under the weight of altruism and state control. The novel follows several protagonists, including Dagny Taggart, a determined railroad executive, and John Galt, a mysterious figure who leads a strike of the mind—essentially, the creators, innovators, and producers who drive the economy.
“Devotion to the truth is the hallmark of morality; there is no greater, nobler, more heroic form of devotion than the act of a man who assumes the responsibility of thinking.”
― Ayn Rand, Atlas Shrugged
Theme of Free Agency:
At the heart of Atlas Shrugged is the theme of free agency or individual choice. Rand advocates for the importance of personal autonomy and the right of individuals to pursue their own rational self-interest. In the novel, the characters who thrive are those who follow their own judgment and choose to act according to their values rather than conforming to societal pressures or collectivist ideals.
Rand's philosophy, called Objectivism, is built around the idea that humans must use their reason to guide their actions, and that the pursuit of one’s own happiness is the highest moral purpose. Free agency is expressed as the ability to make rational, self-interested choices free from coercion, whether from the state, society, or others.
In Atlas Shrugged, the “strike” led by John Galt is a metaphor for the withdrawal of the creative, independent minds of society from a world that punishes productivity and rewards mediocrity. Galt and others refuse to sacrifice their talents for the benefit of others, choosing instead to live according to their values and principles. This action exemplifies free agency at its most radical, showing that individuals have the right to withhold their abilities from a system that does not respect their autonomy or their worth.
Free Agency in the Novel:
The characters in the novel, like Dagny and Galt, are examples of people who refuse to be controlled by societal pressures and embrace their free will to create, innovate, and live according to their own rational self-interest.
The strike in the novel demonstrates the importance of free will and personal responsibility. By stepping away from a society that rewards altruism and mediocrity, the strikers show that individuals must have the freedom to choose their actions and purposes without external interference.
In summary, Atlas Shrugged promotes the idea that free agency—the ability to think, act, and live based on one's own rational choices—is essential for both individual fulfillment and societal progress. The novel argues against collectivism, emphasizing the moral right and necessity of individuals to pursue their own happiness and create value on their own terms.
“If you saw Atlas, the giant who holds the world on his shoulders, if you saw that he stood, blood running down his chest, his knees buckling, his arms trembling but still trying to hold the world aloft with the last of his strength, and the greater his effort the heavier the world bore down upon his shoulders - What would you tell him?"
I… don't know. What… could he do? What would you tell him?"
To shrug.”
― Ayn Rand, Atlas Shrugged
The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand, published in 1943, is a philosophical novel that follows the journey of Howard Roark, a young architect whose modern and innovative designs challenge traditional architectural norms. Roark is independent, confident, and uncompromising in his artistic vision. He refuses to conform to society's expectations, even when it means facing rejection and poverty.
The novel contrasts Roark with several other characters, including Peter Keating, a more conventional architect who seeks success through compromise and social approval, and Ellsworth Toohey, a manipulative critic who promotes collectivism and conformity. Roark's love interest, Dominique Francon, is initially torn between her admiration for his integrity and her fear of the world destroying him.
Throughout the novel, Roark's pursuit of individualism and his resistance to compromise ultimately lead to personal and professional triumph. The central theme of The Fountainhead is the celebration of individualism, integrity, and the creative spirit, as opposed to the collectivism and mediocrity that Rand critiques through the novel’s characters and their actions.
The novel emphasizes the importance of self-interest, reason, and personal responsibility in achieving fulfillment.
“The hardest thing to explain is the glaringly evident which everybody has decided not to see.” - Ayn Rand, The Fountainhead
“Have you felt it too? Have you seen how your best friends love everything about you- except the things that count? And your most important is nothing to them; nothing, not even a sound they can recognize.” - Ayn Rand, The Fountainhead
He can't say about a single thing: 'This is what I wanted because I wanted it, not because it made my neighbors gape at me'. Then he wonders why he's unhappy.” - Ayn Rand, The Fountainhead
Let them think what they will, do what they will. You are responsible for your You. You may feel called to participate, but know it’s a choice you get to make. This is your karma. You cause your life, the result of the sum of choices you’ve taken on.
I’ve come to believe our popular culture obsession for superheroes and archnemesis is a filling of the void we feel in the absence of living in the utter-realness of fairy tales. And by fairy tales, I’m referring to the pre-Disney commercialized sales pitch version. True fairy tales have dragons and darkness and magic. True fairy tales make truths known to those who think and feel and believe.
Thanks to ChatGPT for summarizing…
To see this book in the context of the others that have been most pivotal for me, check out My Top Shelf Reads.