Atlas Shrugged

[Scylax]

It is reported in the Daily Telegraph today that many people in the USA are fearing that the politics of President Obama are leading the USA into a form of European socialism. Among the conservatives it is urged that they read Ayn Rand's 'Atlas Shrugged'.

I read this book in the mid 60s. and was profoundly affected by it. My guess is that its message, and its underlying philosophy are as apt today as it was 45 years ago.

Any comment ?

[jno]

Obama is somewhere to the right of Cameron; the only remotely socialistic thing he's done is promote health insurance, which for many Americans is tantamount to living in Soviet Russia. Aside from that he seems a mainstream, mildly liberal politician. The 'many people in the USA' who fear all this are almost certainly hardline Republican voters. (As well as socialism they accuse him of being a Nazi, which is just wacky.)

[modeller]

Their word for the NHS is Socialist Medicine. The US electorate just like ours expect immediate results from a new government. Common sense dictates that any change will take time but common sense is in short supply.

[askyourgran]

I recall the title of the book from years ago, but I can't remember reading it, so I can't comment on the message of that, but It seems from what I've read lately that President Obama is not a popular President.

[Gromit]

A review on Amazon:

//Reading this is like wading knee-deep throyght treacle!

Go to the shops, clean the kitchen cupboard - do anything but read this piece of contrived nonsense! Believe me, it'll be time better spent!
This is without doubt the worst book ever - a desperate slog withou reward, from the word 'go'. Ayn Rand's cold, pro-Capitalist sentiment makes for a soul-less, steely read.

We all know literature isn't just there to entertain, but there's little point in reading for pleasure a book that sets out to deliberately alienate its readers.

Suitable for post-graduate study only! Only worth it if you have weeks to work it all out. //

[ludwig]

Gromit, In the interests of balance, here's another random review I found somewhere..
// It's the best book ever written //

jno is right, even left wing Americans are right wing. Any kind of government spending or tax increase is seen as communism, evil, and the end of civilisation as we know it all rolled into one. Obama is seen as the antichrist by alot of people over there because of the health reforms.

[modeller]

I receive emails regularly from some in the US who claim in conversation to be non religious and liberal in politics but in reality the reverse is the case . I think like most of us they are brain washed by the society they are in .