Atlas Shrugged

Atlas Shrugged is a 1957 novel by Ayn Rand and her longest work of fiction.

Atlas Shrugged is a 1957 novel by Ayn Rand and her longest work of fiction. Set in a dystopian United States, it blends philosophical fiction, mystery, romance, and science fiction while presenting Rand’s philosophy of Objectivism. The novel follows industrialists and innovators as they resist increasing government control and economic decline.

Plot and setting

The novel is set in a future United States facing economic collapse, with industry and infrastructure deteriorating under expanding bureaucracy and regulation. Dagny Taggart and Hank Rearden struggle to keep their enterprises operating as influential creators and business leaders disappear.

Themes and philosophy

Atlas Shrugged presents Rand’s view that the human mind, reason, and individual achievement are central to human flourishing. It is widely read as a fictional expression of Objectivism.

Publication and literary status

Published in 1957 by Random House, the novel was Rand’s longest and final work of fiction published in her lifetime. It has been described by major reference sources as one of her best-known and most important books.

Adaptations and cultural impact

The novel has been adapted into a three-part film series released between 2011 and 2014. It remains a widely discussed and often controversial work in literature and political thought.