(September 17, 2014 at 11:55 am)CapnAwesome Wrote: I agree with basically all of that. I have to add that the heroes are not inspiring and unrealistic. They basically lack any flaws and never make any real mistakes, which makes for a less than compelling story. Also there is one part of the book that particularly stuck out for me that easily could be interpreted as a criticism of literature that didn't sell very well or 'cult books' Ironic now that Atlas Shrugged is doing so poorly. Mind you this isn't criticism of the Philosophy (although I find some problems with that too) more of the incredibly repetitious and boring writing style.
For me, the cherry on top is the fact that Rand -- that steely-eyed champion of rationality and individualism -- brow beat and bullied her immediate circle into what can only be described as a cult of personality, complete with a secular version of excommunication for anyone who dared challenge the Great Lady on any points of fact or theory. Whatever face she presented to the public at large, in her personal life she was highly authoritarian and brooked no dissent.
