Atlas Shrugged

A 1957 novel by Ayn Rand in which industrialists withdraw from a society burdened by collectivism and government control. Its plot presents Rand’s philosophy of objectivism through a mystery and a dystopian political crisis.

Objectivism: Ayn Rand’s philosophical system, which grounds ethics in rational self-interest and advocates individual rights and laissez-faire capitalism. The novel dramatizes this philosophy through its heroes, villains, and political conflict.
John Galt: The engineer and philosopher at the center of Atlas Shrugged’s mystery and climactic speech. His disappearance gives the novel its central question: who is John Galt?
Nathaniel Branden: A Canadian-American psychologist and writer who helped promote objectivism and worked closely with Ayn Rand. His collaboration with Rand helped shape the movement surrounding the novel.
The Fountainhead: A 1943 novel by Ayn Rand about architect Howard Roark and the conflict between creative independence and conformity. Rand’s earlier novel offers a more focused portrait of individual achievement than Atlas Shrugged.
Libertarianism: A political philosophy emphasizing individual liberty, private property, and limits on state power. The novel became a touchstone for readers drawn to its defense of markets and individual freedom.
Ayn Rand: A Russian-born American novelist and philosopher who developed objectivism and wrote Atlas Shrugged. She created the novel and used its plot to present her philosophy.
Dagny Taggart: A railroad executive and protagonist of Atlas Shrugged who struggles to keep her company operating. Her search for missing innovators drives the story’s investigation.
Barbara Branden: A Canadian-American writer and biographer who was closely involved in the early objectivist movement. Her later account documents the personal and intellectual circle around Rand.
The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress: A 1966 science-fiction novel by Robert A. Heinlein about a lunar revolution against Earth’s rule. It shares libertarian themes while imagining political revolt through a different genre and plot.
Capitalism: An economic system based largely on private ownership, markets, and investment for profit. The novel portrays industrial production and entrepreneurship as moral achievements.

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