Atlas Shrugged

By: Ayn Rand

Narrated by: Christopher Hurt

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?

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.

©1957 Ayn Rand (P)1991 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Critic reviews

“Ayn Rand is destined to rank in history as the outstanding novelist and most profound philosopher of the 20th century.” ( New York Daily Mirror)

Older recording but a solid performance.

I love this book. I'm not sure what's wrong with the recording but there are times it echoes and then it will loose volume.

Terrible production makes listening hard

There is soft background talking throughout the book. It sounds like it was recorded in a room that was not only non-soundproof, it was having constant meetings taking place right outside the room. Highly annoying.

What's all the fuss about?

I missed this book somehow in high school and college and thought I would finally get around to reading it (I always read and listen alternatingly). Anyway, I suppose that when I was younger I might have been more taken by the philosophical aspects of the book. As a middle aged professional, I frequently found it rather tiresome. When one speaker or another goes off on a lecture, I sped it up to 3X normal speed just to get through the lecture and back to the story. Overall, I don't see why so many think this is such a great novel. Perhaps I'm not deep enough to understand the greatness, but I'd not repeat the experience. At least I now know who is John Galt.

Great story, not thrilled with production

I love Ayn Rand and am enjoying Atlas Shrugged. I also enjoy the narrator, Christopher Hurt, I think he does a very good job. My complaint is that you can hear low talking in the background. It is very distracting and affects my enjoyment of the book. I have never experienced this with an audiobook before. I am surprised by it and wish I had purchased a different version.

Finally!!

I was so grateful for so much of what Ayn Rand wrote in this book. It was a perfect pairing with The Fountainhead. The writing is amazing, the characters engaging, and the narration is great. The recording was bad and if you are a new listener then you might try the Scott Brick version. The Hurt version was great though and I was able to get past the bad audio after only an hour. I can absolutely understand why this book has sold more copies than the Bible. I'll probably try to get a hard copy now to keep in my library and highlight great passages. Don't think about it just listen to it.