The vision of life of every person is formed due to various factors: experience, relationships with people, environment and so on. Art in this list also plays a significant role. There are many works of art that can have a very strong influence on a person. I would like to share my reflections on one book that changed my worldview. This is the book “Atlas Shrugged”, written by Ayn Rand.
Before we move on to the discussion of the book, it is necessary to say a few words about the writer. Ayn Rand was the former Russian citizen who emigrated to the United States. Rand was a big opponent of socialism, and this is reflected in her books. By the way, initially the novel “Atlas Shrugged” was known only to a small circle of readers in many countries for a long period of time, and only after 2008 it began to gain popularity.
This book shocked me; I read it in a single burst and could not tear myself away. It is a pity that it has an end. It is stunningly easy to read, so well-written and logically correct, it is possible to study psychology by this book. Moreover, by “Atlas Shrugged” psychology can be taught.
I would like to begin with a brief describing of the plot of this book. Across the country, on the background of the collapse of the economy prominent entrepreneurs begin to disappear - business giants who were ready to die for their work. But they suddenly start to disappear without a trace. The main character, the heiress of the country's largest rail transport company is trying to save her father's business afloat while figuring out the cause of these mysterious disappearances which are often accompanied by accidents and even catastrophes on the giant enterprises.
At a first glance, an ordinary detective story is shown in the novel. But it is only at first sight, I assure you. And I would advise you to pay more attention not to the story line itself, but to the reflection of key characters of the novel, because exactly in them, in my opinion, the author has concentrated all the thoughts and feelings that she wanted to convey to the reader.
The plot of this book attracts from the first pages, you are just drowning and you cannot notice anything around. It makes you laugh, cry, be proud, rejoice, worry. On the pages of the book we meet with a variety of characters, both good and bad. But the greatest sympathy which appeared in my mind was devoted to a single hero - Hank Rearden. As for me, he is the ideal human, man and businessman. He is like an Atlas; he carries a heavy load on his shoulders and does not leave it, but fights to the bitter end.
Have you ever thought about why it is as it is at the moment? Why are we chained into the system and cannot get out of this endless conventionalities, unnecessary rules and constant oppression of our "I"? Haven’t you thought about it? This book will raise a real storm of questions in your mind.
This book teaches us not to take anything for granted. We should appreciate, and we should be appreciated, but there must be a reason for it. Do not rely on the gifts of fate if you are not ready to repay for it by your time, if not ready to work hard, if you are willing to live only for the pleasures. Only labor, self-improvement and self-discipline make a successful person from a human. And you will not want to live your life surrounded by people who think differently, of course if you are not a freeloader by nature. In my view, this explains a lot of things. Partners have to live by the principle “you give me and I give you”. When it becomes an unspoken principle of humanity - everyone will be on the right places.
Do not succumb to the accusations and reproaches. You are not obliged to support your brother-idler, help someone become employed through good connections or endure a person with whom you were in love some time ago. As soon as we bend under the conditions of this world, we lose our face and become weaker. Respect - that's what only a small portion of people deserve.
A human is a whole personality. We do not need any halves. Each of us is already independent. You don’t have to spend your life on the endless sacrifices for the sake of other people. Eventually, love is a mutually beneficial relationship (and it is not necessarily about the money).
Here it is, the quote that follows like a red thread across all the chapters of the book:
“I swear on my life and on my love to it that I will never live for someone else and will never ask someone else to live for me” (Rand).
How to build a new world? How to step on the throat of bureaucrats and embezzlers? How to make people appreciate themselves and their rights? All of these questions Ayn Rand raises in her work.
After reading this book, my worldview has changed dramatically. I started to perceive people differently. I began to see in them not only good, I received the ability to distinguish truth from falsehood, to see people's ulterior motives. I began to appreciate myself and others and to determine my strengths.
Even if a person is alien to the capitalist values or he does not accept anti-utopia works - this book anyway has a very strong motivational charge and provides food for thought.
This work of art is able to sober up better than a bucket of ice water. This book really gives stimulus to live and work, charges with energy and helps to overcome the difficulties easily. It has a lot of philosophical thoughts that turn over the ideology, help to turn a life radically and give power to believe in yourself.
Works Cited
Rand, Ayn. “Atlas Shrugged”. New York, Random House, 1957. Print
