Atlas Shrugged

I found out today that one of my favorite books of all time, yeah, it's my favorite, is being made into a movie. The book was written in 1957 so it's not like anyone was in a hurry and make a film about it. I think the reason why no one attempted to make a movie in 50 years is that the book is exceedingly long and filled with complicated philosphical arguments that I loved so much as a college student and continue to enjoy to this day. How someone will be able to put the essence of the book on the big screen in 2 to 3 hours will be interesting.

Atlas Shrugged follows the struggles of Dagny Taggart, a railroad heiress trying to maintain her integrity, and keep her family's railroad alive in the midst of a rapidly decaying world. She faces increasingly corrupt government agencies, the callous incompetence of her own brother, and the systematic loss of her best and most competent workers. Isn't this pretty much what is going on in the world today?

Dagny (great name by the way) suspects a sinister force working against her. There is a growing sense of helplessness throughout the country, often summed up in a catch phrase that everyone seems to know, but no one knows the origin of - 'Who is John Galt?" One by one, the best and brightest minds in the country are disappearing overnight, without a trace, and abandoning their businesses to be cannibalized by corrupt political interests.

So that's a summary of the plot. What Ayn Rand was famous for, besides her books, was her philosphical position of objectivism - a blend of rational self-interest, and productive achievement that help create individual happiness. We are selfish creatures and this selfishness is necessary for the advancement of society. There is no shame in this.

Sadly, I fear no one I know can identify with this sort of philosophy or ambition.