-
Atlas Shrugged
- Narrated by: Scott Brick
- Length: 62 hrs and 56 mins
Add to Cart failed.
Add to Wish List failed.
Remove from wishlist failed.
Adding to library failed
Follow podcast failed
Unfollow podcast failed
Buy for $41.97
No default payment method selected.
We are sorry. We are not allowed to sell this product with the selected payment method
Listeners also enjoyed...
-
The Fountainhead
- By: Ayn Rand
- Narrated by: Christopher Hurt
- Length: 32 hrs and 5 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
One of the 20th century's most challenging novels of ideas, The Fountainhead champions the cause of individualism through the story of a gifted young architect who defies the tyranny of conventional public opinion. The struggle for personal integrity in a world that values conformity above creativity is powerfully illustrated through three characters: Howard Roarke, a genius; Gail Wynand, a newspaper mogul and self-made millionaire; and Dominique Francon, a devastating beauty.
-
-
Powerful
- By Eric Pietz on 07-25-09
By: Ayn Rand
-
The Virtue of Selfishness
- By: Ayn Rand
- Narrated by: C. M. Hernert
- Length: 6 hrs and 15 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Ayn Rand here sets forth the moral principles of Objectivism, the philosophy that holds human life - the life proper to a rational being - as the standard of moral values and regards altruism as incompatible with human nature, with the creative requirement of survival, and with a free society.
-
-
Difficult, but worth it...
- By customer on 07-26-18
By: Ayn Rand
-
Fahrenheit 451
- By: Ray Bradbury
- Narrated by: Tim Robbins
- Length: 5 hrs and 1 min
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Guy Montag is a fireman. In his world, where television rules and literature is on the brink of extinction, firemen start fires rather than put them out. His job is to destroy the most illegal of commodities, the printed book, along with the houses in which they are hidden. Montag never questions the destruction and ruin his actions produce, returning each day to his bland life and wife, Mildred, who spends all day with her television "family."
-
-
Wish I Hadn't Cliff Noted This in High School
- By Joel on 03-27-17
By: Ray Bradbury
-
We the Living
- By: Ayn Rand
- Narrated by: Mary Woods
- Length: 18 hrs and 1 min
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
We the Living portrays the impact of the Russian Revolution on three people who demand the right to live their own lives. At its center is a girl whose passionate love is her fortress against the cruelty and oppression of a totalitarian state. Rand said of this book: "It is as near to an autobiography as I will ever write."
-
-
Emotionally intense, historically authentic
- By Geoffrey on 08-14-08
By: Ayn Rand
-
The Grapes of Wrath
- By: John Steinbeck, Robert DeMott
- Narrated by: Dylan Baker
- Length: 21 hrs and 1 min
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Shocking and controversial when it was first published in 1939, Steinbeck's Pulitzer prize-winning epic The Grapes of Wrath remains his undisputed masterpiece. Set against the background of Dust Bowl Oklahoma and Californian migrant life, it tells of Tom Joad and his family, who, like thousands of others, are forced to travel west in search of the promised land. Their story is one of false hopes, thwarted desires, and broken dreams, yet out of their suffering Steinbeck created a drama that is intensely human, yet majestic in its scale and moral vision.
-
-
Harmonica..
- By Danielle on 09-22-18
By: John Steinbeck, and others
-
Atlas Shrugged: CliffsNotes
- By: Andrew Bernstein PhD
- Narrated by: Joyce Bean
- Length: 4 hrs and 54 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
This CliffsNotes study guide on Ayn Rand's Atlas Shrugged supplements the original literary work, giving you background information about the author, an introduction to the work, and critical commentaries, all for you to use as an educational tool that will allow you to better understand the work.
-
-
An excellent resource for a timeless yet rather long-winded novel
- By edteach3r on 03-22-17
-
The Fountainhead
- By: Ayn Rand
- Narrated by: Christopher Hurt
- Length: 32 hrs and 5 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
One of the 20th century's most challenging novels of ideas, The Fountainhead champions the cause of individualism through the story of a gifted young architect who defies the tyranny of conventional public opinion. The struggle for personal integrity in a world that values conformity above creativity is powerfully illustrated through three characters: Howard Roarke, a genius; Gail Wynand, a newspaper mogul and self-made millionaire; and Dominique Francon, a devastating beauty.
-
-
Powerful
- By Eric Pietz on 07-25-09
By: Ayn Rand
-
The Virtue of Selfishness
- By: Ayn Rand
- Narrated by: C. M. Hernert
- Length: 6 hrs and 15 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Ayn Rand here sets forth the moral principles of Objectivism, the philosophy that holds human life - the life proper to a rational being - as the standard of moral values and regards altruism as incompatible with human nature, with the creative requirement of survival, and with a free society.
-
-
Difficult, but worth it...
- By customer on 07-26-18
By: Ayn Rand
-
Fahrenheit 451
- By: Ray Bradbury
- Narrated by: Tim Robbins
- Length: 5 hrs and 1 min
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Guy Montag is a fireman. In his world, where television rules and literature is on the brink of extinction, firemen start fires rather than put them out. His job is to destroy the most illegal of commodities, the printed book, along with the houses in which they are hidden. Montag never questions the destruction and ruin his actions produce, returning each day to his bland life and wife, Mildred, who spends all day with her television "family."
-
-
Wish I Hadn't Cliff Noted This in High School
- By Joel on 03-27-17
By: Ray Bradbury
-
We the Living
- By: Ayn Rand
- Narrated by: Mary Woods
- Length: 18 hrs and 1 min
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
We the Living portrays the impact of the Russian Revolution on three people who demand the right to live their own lives. At its center is a girl whose passionate love is her fortress against the cruelty and oppression of a totalitarian state. Rand said of this book: "It is as near to an autobiography as I will ever write."
-
-
Emotionally intense, historically authentic
- By Geoffrey on 08-14-08
By: Ayn Rand
-
The Grapes of Wrath
- By: John Steinbeck, Robert DeMott
- Narrated by: Dylan Baker
- Length: 21 hrs and 1 min
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Shocking and controversial when it was first published in 1939, Steinbeck's Pulitzer prize-winning epic The Grapes of Wrath remains his undisputed masterpiece. Set against the background of Dust Bowl Oklahoma and Californian migrant life, it tells of Tom Joad and his family, who, like thousands of others, are forced to travel west in search of the promised land. Their story is one of false hopes, thwarted desires, and broken dreams, yet out of their suffering Steinbeck created a drama that is intensely human, yet majestic in its scale and moral vision.
-
-
Harmonica..
- By Danielle on 09-22-18
By: John Steinbeck, and others
-
Atlas Shrugged: CliffsNotes
- By: Andrew Bernstein PhD
- Narrated by: Joyce Bean
- Length: 4 hrs and 54 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
This CliffsNotes study guide on Ayn Rand's Atlas Shrugged supplements the original literary work, giving you background information about the author, an introduction to the work, and critical commentaries, all for you to use as an educational tool that will allow you to better understand the work.
-
-
An excellent resource for a timeless yet rather long-winded novel
- By edteach3r on 03-22-17
-
Objectivism
- The Philosophy of Ayn Rand
- By: Leonard Peikoff
- Narrated by: Johanna Ward
- Length: 19 hrs and 33 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
This brilliantly conceived book is based on a lecture course given by Dr. Leonard Peikoff in 1976 entitled, "The Philosophy of Objectivism". The lectures were attended by Ayn Rand, who helped prepare them and who also joined Peikoff in answering questions.
-
-
The very best overview of Objectivism
- By L. Hattery on 06-24-05
By: Leonard Peikoff
-
Lord of the Flies
- By: William Golding
- Narrated by: William Golding
- Length: 6 hrs and 35 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Marooned on a tropical island, alone in a world of uncharted possibilities, and devoid of adult supervision or rules, a group of British boys begins to forge a society with its own unique rules and rituals.
-
-
Mispronounces Conch
- By Amazon Customer on 05-10-20
By: William Golding
-
Basic Economics, Fifth Edition
- A Common Sense Guide to the Economy
- By: Thomas Sowell
- Narrated by: Tom Weiner
- Length: 23 hrs and 47 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In this fifth edition of Basic Economics, Thomas Sowell revises and updates his popular book on commonsense economics, bringing the world into clearer focus through a basic understanding of the fundamental economic principles and how they explain our lives. Drawing on lively examples from around the world and from centuries of history, Sowell explains basic economic principles for the general public in plain English.
-
-
The most eye-opening book I have ever read
- By M. Kunze on 02-10-18
By: Thomas Sowell
-
The Gulag Archipelago 1918-1956
- An Experiment in Literary Investigation
- By: Aleksandr I. Solzhenitsyn
- Narrated by: Ignat Solzhenitsyn
- Length: 21 hrs and 53 mins
- Abridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The Nobel Prize winner’s towering masterpiece of world literature, the searing record of four decades of terror and oppression, in one abridged volume (authorized by the author). Features a new foreword by Anne Applebaum.
-
-
Mandatory reading in Russia, not USA. Why?
- By Arlon James on 11-07-20
-
Capitalism
- The Unknown Ideal
- By: Ayn Rand
- Narrated by: Anna Fields
- Length: 14 hrs and 13 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The foundations of capitalism are being battered by a flood of altruism, which is the cause of the modern world's collapse. This was the view of Ayn Rand, a view so radically opposed to prevailing attitudes that it constituted a major philosophic revolution. In this series of essays, she presented her stand on the persecution of big business, the causes of war, the default of conservatism, and the evils of altruism.
-
-
BEST of Ayn Rand!
- By April on 06-29-11
By: Ayn Rand
-
Philosophy
- Who Needs It
- By: Ayn Rand
- Narrated by: Lloyd James
- Length: 10 hrs and 49 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Who needs philosophy? Ayn Rand's answer: Everyone. This collection of essays was the last work planned by Ayn Rand before her death in 1982. In it, she summarizes her view of philosophy and deals with a broad spectrum of topics. According to Ayn Rand, the choice we make is not whether to have a philosophy, but which one to have: a rational, conscious, and therefore practical one, or a contradictory, unidentified, and ultimately lethal one.
-
-
Deep and provocative
- By Sierra Bravo on 05-21-09
By: Ayn Rand
-
1984
- New Classic Edition
- By: George Orwell
- Narrated by: Simon Prebble
- Length: 11 hrs and 22 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
George Orwell depicts a gray, totalitarian world dominated by Big Brother and its vast network of agents, including the Thought Police - a world in which news is manufactured according to the authorities' will and people live tepid lives by rote. Winston Smith, a hero with no heroic qualities, longs only for truth and decency. But living in a social system in which privacy does not exist and where those with unorthodox ideas are brainwashed or put to death, he knows there is no hope for him.
-
-
Chilling
- By Lynx on 08-25-18
By: George Orwell
-
Brave New World
- By: Aldous Huxley
- Narrated by: Michael York
- Length: 8 hrs
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
When Lenina and Bernard visit a savage reservation, we experience how Utopia can destroy humanity.
Cloning, feel-good drugs, anti-aging programs, and total social control through politics, programming, and media: has Aldous Huxley accurately predicted our future? With a storyteller's genius, he weaves these ethical controversies in a compelling narrative that dawns in the year 632 A.F. (After Ford, the deity). When Lenina and Bernard visit a savage reservation, we experience how Utopia can destroy humanity.
-
-
Michael York should stick to the stage and leave narration to the pros.
- By SD on 08-21-19
By: Aldous Huxley
-
The Voice of Reason
- Essays in Objectivist Thought
- By: Ayn Rand, Leonard Peikoff
- Narrated by: Bernadette Dunne
- Length: 15 hrs and 55 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In the years between her first public lecture in 1961 and her last in 1981, Ayn Rand spoke and wrote about topics as different as education, medicine, Vietnam, and the death of Marilyn Monroe. In The Voice of Reason, these pieces are gathered together in book form for the first time. Written in the last decades of Rand's life, they reflect a life lived on principle, a probing mind, and a passionate intensity. With them are five essays by Leonard Peikoff, Rand's longtime associate and literary executor.
-
-
Explains Everything Of Today
- By L. Nicholson on 11-20-15
By: Ayn Rand, and others
-
I, Robot
- By: Isaac Asimov
- Narrated by: Scott Brick
- Length: 8 hrs and 20 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
They mustn't harm a human being, they must obey human orders, and they must protect their own existence...but only so long as that doesn't violate rules one and two. With these Three Laws of Robotics, humanity embarked on a bold new era of evolution that would open up enormous possibilities, and unforeseen risks.
-
-
Forget the violence - Read this one for the humor
- By Herb on 02-19-05
By: Isaac Asimov
-
Cloud Atlas
- A Novel
- By: David Mitchell
- Narrated by: Scott Brick, Cassandra Campbell, Kim Mai Guest, and others
- Length: 19 hrs and 48 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Cloud Atlas begins in 1850 with Adam Ewing, an American notary voyaging from the Chatham Isles to his home in California. Along the way, Ewing is befriended by a physician, Dr. Goose, who begins to treat him for a rare species of brain parasite.... Abruptly, the action jumps to Belgium in 1931, where Robert Frobisher, a disinherited bisexual composer, contrives his way into the household of an infirm maestro who has a beguiling wife and a nubile daughter....
-
-
In this case: book first, then the film
- By Michael G Kurilla on 11-22-12
By: David Mitchell
-
The Great Gatsby
- By: F. Scott Fitzgerald
- Narrated by: Jake Gyllenhaal
- Length: 4 hrs and 49 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
F. Scott Fitzgerald’s classic American novel of the Roaring Twenties is beloved by generations of readers and stands as his crowning work. This new audio edition, authorized by the Fitzgerald estate, is narrated by Oscar-nominated actor Jake Gyllenhaal (Brokeback Mountain). Gyllenhaal's performance is a faithful delivery in the voice of Nick Carraway, the Midwesterner turned New York bond salesman, who rents a small house next door to the mysterious millionaire Jay Gatsby....
-
-
Gyllenhaal is an incredible narrator
- By Lauren on 04-24-13
Publisher's Summary
In defense of those greatest of human qualities that have made civilization possible, one man 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? And why does he fight his hardest battle not against his enemies but against the woman he loves?
Tremendous in scope and breathtaking in its suspense, Atlas Shrugged is Ayn Rand's magnum opus, an electrifying moral defense of capitalism and free enterprise which launched an ideological movement and gained millions of loyal fans around the world.
More from the same
What listeners say about Atlas Shrugged
Average Customer RatingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Mike M
- 09-09-12
Good with some caveats
I enjoyed this book a lot but there are some negatives that diminished my enjoyment of it.
The Good:
- I loved the protagonists (Dagny, Hank Rearden, Francisco). They were strong, intelligent characters and I was rooting for them right from the start
- the story was interesting. I was anxious to find out how it would all end and it was gripping
- the philosophical disadvantages of Socialism are well-presented
The Bad:
- it seems very exaggerated. I don't think the staunchest defenders of Socialism would identify with the "Incompetents' (my word for them) in this book
- the antagonists in this book (James Taggart, Wesley Mulch, etc.) seemed to be the same person. They are one-dimensional with no redeeming qualities
- it was very, very long. A few times I wanted to stop because it was so long but I really wanted to find out how it all turned out. John Galt's speech on the radio could have been cut down to 10% of its length with no loss of meaning or impact.
Overall a good, enjoyable story and I recommend it
65 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Emily
- 05-04-13
A long listen but worth the effort and patience
At 63 hours long, this is the definition of a marathon listening session, but I think it's worth it. Atlas Shrugged is a long story, which presents Ayn Rand's theory of objectivism through a number of speeches and discussions, but it also has a great fictional narrative that goes along side it. You may not like Rand's politics or philosophy, but at its heart this story has a great female lead character who fights to be successful and competent surrounded by idiots, fools and incompetents. So, give it a try, you might be surprised and enjoy it.
110 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Danny
- 11-14-13
Change your views about life and living it.
Any additional comments?
This author has taught all who are willing to listen to what she has said, truly a life changing, mind provoking life style available to the listener.
21 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Wayne
- 01-06-16
A true classic! 'Who is John Galt?'
Released in 1956, Atlas Shrugged has become an American classic. I first read in in 1962 as a college sophomore. There are two versions if the novel at Audible, one is narrated by Christopher Hurt and the other is narrated by Scott Brick. Brick is my favorite narrator, but I admit that Hurt does a slightly better job with Atlas Shrugged, but both are superb. I recommend the Kindle version over either Audible version because of John Galt's very, very long speech to the nation which is easier to understand by rereading parts. (The Audible bookmark feature is almost as useful.)
Atlas Shrugged is too long and complex to easily summarize. Dagny Taggart inherits a railroad and expands it into an empire despite her weak brother James. Hank Rearden invents and patents a new steel alloy (Rearden Metal) that threatens to put all of his competitors out of business, but politicians interfere and threaten his patent. Taggart used Reardon Metal to enhance her railroad construction in the Rocky Mountains. Taggart and Readen become lovers and join forces against the thuggery of the politicians. The ultimate hero is John Galt who years before abandoned society when his invention of a revolutionary motor that would have literally changed the world was threatened by politicians and government regulators.
Reading or listening to Atlas Shrugged requires a significant commitment of time. It is well worth it; indeed, it would be worth twice the commitment. Atlas Shrugged is a great novel.
85 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Jessica Simonetti
- 11-11-18
Not for me
It took me 4 months to read his book. I used whisper sinc here. Normally the audio pulls me through when I get stuck in a book, here it didn't. Talking to my bookclub friends I learned this narrator is very popular, yet I find the narration very blank and not at all in sync with the voices I pictured. Male and female voices seem the wrong way around. Rhytm and pacing is too slow. No, this was not for me at all.
11 people found this helpful
-
Overall
- Mica
- 03-24-09
Hurt version decidedly superior
While I appreciate many of Scott Brick's audiobooks, he misses the emotional impetus behind the characters and Ayn's incredible grasp of satire. Many of her characters are archetypes, and Hurt just plain understands how she intended them to come across. There are some issues with the audio quality(background noise, etc). This drawback is overwhelmed by the brilliance of his acting. He really brings the book to live. Brick on the otherhand comes across flat, misses the characters emotional states and motivations, and turns a great story less so. I have both versions, but if you only purchase one yourself, select the Hurt version. You will not regret it
491 people found this helpful
-
Overall
- Jody
- 01-08-09
Stick with the Christopher Hurt version.
Belive me when I say stick with the Christopher Hurt version. I have listened to both. Scott Brick is said to be "THE NARRATOR" but he can't compair to Christopher Hurt.
The Hurt version isn't great sound quality. I did hear some background noise at parts. There is a part where is stops compleatly for a few seconds but stick it out. Hurt's version of Taggart alone is woth it.
Brick makes this book I belive 11 hours longer using the exact same words. Brick has 1 voice for each male and female character and his book is packed with many characters. I think brick trys to play some parts.
This is my favourite book. I read it every year. Belive me when I say stick with the Christopher Hurt version.
271 people found this helpful
-
Overall
- John
- 01-21-11
great story...perhaps a bit long in the tooth
this is a truly entertaining story. one that many people in america would do well to hear considering our current political and economic situation.
i gave this 4, instead of 5, stars for two reasons:
most of the monologues in this book, and there are a handful, are almost suicidally long. the point is typically made within the first 5 or 10 minutes, but the listener is subjected to exhausting reiterations of the same idea. case in point is john galt's radio address clocking in at 3 hours of listening time. having said this, i loved francisco's diatribe about money being the root of all evil (or not, as the case may be) and that probably came in around 45 minutes or so.
the second reason i didn't give this 5 stars is that i felt the narrator portrayed dagney in an excessively weak and frail voice. i don't know if that was his best impression of a woman, but dagney deserved a more confident sounding voice. he did a great job with reardon and i found myself hating james taggert on multiple occasions because the whining tone of his voice was so grating.
overall, awesome book. would recommend to everyone, young and old.
21 people found this helpful
-
Overall
- Henrik
- 01-03-09
What an incredible audio book
If you want a real treat - download this unabridged recording.
I have been meaning to listen to Atlas Shrugged for years, but I have been put somewhat off by its length.
When I discovered that a new recording had been made with no other than THE narrator Scott Brick the case was settled.
Atlas Shrugged is a story that will stick with you and make you reflect on The World, your life and the future.
It is set in The US and describes what would happen if you took away the initiative of the individual and deprived all of the intellectuals of their rights.
While I understand why many people will find the story political, controversial and even disturbing - it cannot help you appreciate how lucky we are living in democracies.
Download this recording, listen to Scott's mellow voice for 62 hours and prepare yourself for utter joy.
Wow.
156 people found this helpful
-
Overall
- Luc
- 04-03-09
Amazing Audiobook ruined by poor casting.
There's very few things I can add to all that have been said about "Atlas Shrugged" that haven't been said before. Ayn Rand wrote a timeless masterpiece who put her name across the most influential writers of the english language. The story by itself is an Ode to the Human Mind and the best within us. This book change the lives of those who enter in contact with it and, most of the time, for the better.
The production of this audiobook is perfect. There's no background noise and the sound is as crisp as it could be. Only on the technical standpoint, the recording is as perfect as the state of the technology allows it to be.
So, why I gave it only 3 stars? Because of the casting of Mr. Brick. I have no quarrel with him. He's a talented artist who, I am sure, would give an outstanding reading of "Pride and Prejudice". He's, sadly, a poor choice for "Atlas Shrugged". His voice is unable to carry the certainty of John Galt, Dagny Taggart seems to be a moment away to sobbing, Francisco d'Anconia got a mundane voice while Jim Taggart sounds perfectly sane(!). This mostly ruined my enjoyment of this recording. "Atlas Shrugged" is a righteous book and his voice is too mellow to sound right.
In summary, may I suggest to those who really want to enjoy this story that they acquire the Christopher Hurt's rendition of it? The quality is less than stellar but the reading is perfect. In fact, I listened to the later right after I listened Mr. Brick's recording, just to forget the poor experience I lived.
123 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- GWFarrow
- 12-02-14
Atlas Shrugged with indifference
Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?
Value for money? Yep it's 63 hours long. Entertaining? Not in any real sense.
What could Ayn Rand have done to make this a more enjoyable book for you?
Had Rand employed a judicious editor, introduced a sense of pace, or narrative thrust it might have been bearable. While I have no personal issue with didactic writing, labouring a point over interminable ages bears little fruit in terms of convincing or entertaining the reader.
Which character – as performed by Scott Brick – was your favourite?
Character performance is superb throughout and his delivery is a real strength.
Could you see Atlas Shrugged being made into a movie or a TV series? Who would the stars be?
Even God himself (deity of your choice) could not forge this into a film worthy of watching.
Any additional comments?
The book is notable not just for its length but also for containing the least appealing love affair in history.
34 people found this helpful
-
Overall

- Thomas
- 04-07-13
Has challenged me to rethink ideas
For a long time I was reluctant to start reading this book, as it is a very long book, but it has been a great "read" for many hours of driving. Yes, it is long, but it has kept me interested and curious for the next turn of events.
I knew it was a political/philosophical book and it has certainly provoked my thinking - more than I really like, as I normally do not see myself as such a radical liberal as promoted here. The "looters" seem so obvious wrong in this book, that it is scary how often we see and hear their ideas promoted in real life also now in 2013. Having travelled around the world, I see countries almost purely based on the model promoted by the "looters" here - and not surprisingly these countries seem on the brink of catastrophe.
Probably the most thought provoking book I have "read" in years.
35 people found this helpful
-
Overall

- Alan Michael Forrester
- 12-25-12
John Galt would have liked it
A minor criticism first. The first track in this audio book is an introduction with spoilers, so you should skip it if you don't want the surprise to be spoiled. The narration is clear and well acted and the sound is good.
Atlas Shrugged is two books in one: a novel and a book of philosophy. As a novel, AS is very good. It has interesting characters that change over the course of the book in ways that seem reasonable given their worldview and the world they live in. The plot also makes sense and is very effective at presenting Rand's worldview.
Many people complain about AS. I think these complaints are largely due to them disagreeing with the philosophy without having any good arguments against it. Do characters speak more eloquently than most people do in real life? There isn't a novel worth reading where that isn't true. The characters sometimes give speeches when they have something to say that requires a speech. People disapprove of this stuff because they dislike the content of the speech, not because there is a speech. My suggestion about how to approach the book is this: every time you feel outraged ask yourself whether you have a logical argument against what Rand is saying. If you don't then you should be willing to admit that you might be wrong and keep going.
So, to conclude, this audiobook is a well-narrated presentation of a challenging and dramatic novel.
90 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- Amazon Customer
- 01-13-19
Way too long, only for ideologues
Rand is a terrible writer who doesn’t understand the meaning of the word subtlety - she makes the same point over and over and over, using ridiculous straw men characters.
8 people found this helpful
-
Overall

- Chris
- 12-24-12
Well Worth the Effort
I was so pleased when I saw the unabridged version of Atlas Shrugged had been released on Audible. I tried to fight my way through the tiny font 1168 page paperback I bought a few years ago but I only have so much determination. This is what audiobooks were meant to be.
As many know this set in an America where socialism has gone bad. At times you do feel as though Rand is hitting you over the head with her message, but I suspected it was always going to be that way.
After a slow start Rand manages to keep my interest in the plot, although I have to admit that it's lovers of philosophy who will get the most out of this book.
Well read by Scott Brick; next up for me in the unabridged Fountainhead.
The longest book I have ever bought and definitely value for money.
24 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- John Graham
- 06-22-18
Painful at times
I want to start by saying that I was very happy with Scott Brick's narration, to the point that I think I may have stopped listening around 50 hours if the narration hadn't been as strong.
Throughout reading this book I struggled to reconcile the feeling that a book challenging the more dominant narrative that societal good trumps individual liberty is important with a general frustration with the book. The story is ok but when that story strays into the barely concealed philosophic message it descends into lengthy rambling monologues that endlessly repeat themselves. All people who follow the 'wrong' moral code are set up as ridiculous straw men of their views, the 'good' characters are all absolutely faultless with no one who follows something approaching the right code ever doing anything slightly dubious even though the code allows considerable leeway for behaviour that would be considered negatively by many in our society. I got extremely close to stopping listening over 50 hours in because of an extreme example of this. A speech by a character that is positioned to be the cap stone of the philosophy the author wishes to communicate; Entire films have been able to communicate deep meaningful messages in less time than this speech which is so unpersuasive, so repetitive, so full of fallacies and false equivalences, untruths, and meaningless prose.
6 people found this helpful
-
Overall

- michelle
- 04-08-13
Atlas Shrugged
This is a fantastic eye opening read. It gives the reader a whole new view of the economy today even though it was written in the late 50s. I would recommend this audio especially for those who find reading a book of this size difficult. Definitely a must have!
15 people found this helpful
-
Overall

- Oliver
- 04-07-13
A work of fiction, a work of philosophy.
I really can not describe how much this novel has affected me. The value this book presents is just unmatched by any other work of its kind. For me Atlas Shrugged feels like a classic that is actually a classic. Themes of the book weave together like nothing I have ever read. If you enjoy a good thought provoking book, Atlas Shrugged will change your life.
20 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- Kindle Customer
- 04-17-14
Atlas Shrugged - 30th Edition complete with extras
Would you listen to Atlas Shrugged again? Why?
A titan of a book, by any standards, would need to give it a while before revisiting, will be trying The Fountainhead though.
What did you like best about this story?
Narration perfectly executed by Scott Brick.
Which character – as performed by Scott Brick – was your favourite?
Brick's take on all the characters is excellent, but his Hank Rearden was the best.
Did you have an emotional reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?
Such a great book, narrated so well, with notes from the author etc thrown in for good measure.
Any additional comments?
One of the best purchases I've made on Audible.
9 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- Edward
- 06-14-13
An Explanation of Our Current Folly.
Prophetic vision of our future written Sixty years ago. This is a gripping read that seems to explain today's headlines. Well read in the audible format. An excellent explanation of why ,"There is no free lunch."
10 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- Carsten Primdal
- 07-09-17
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.
7 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- Miyazaki
- 09-25-17
reevaluation
verry thought provoking, found myself rethinking my beliefs, and find that the view expressed are related to the many issues of today.
4 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- Matthew L
- 11-21-18
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.
7 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- Saranpaal
- 11-15-18
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
3 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- Jason
- 10-29-18
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
3 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- Anonymous User
- 09-08-19
Life changing
So many life lessons in one place. It came to me when I needed it most.
2 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- sophiek
- 04-15-19
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?
2 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- Benjamin Lupton
- 02-02-18
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.
2 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- Valeria
- 05-23-20
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".
1 person found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- Amazon Customer
- 08-19-18
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
1 person found this helpful