I usually do not have a strong, detailed memory of books I read or movies I watch in terms of their plots and story line. However, the key characters and the feeling that it leaves me with, usually stay with me for a long time. Recently, I was reminded of "Atlas Shrugged" from a tweet by a Mentor and I remembered the feeling of inspiration and disruption it had had on my thinking when I had read it in my teens. I decided to pick it up for a re-read, also curious about a calibration of my own progress.
Reading it again gave me a feeling of having plunged into a different age in the history of human progress in terms of engineering , of metals, rail roads and the like as opposed to the digital worlds that I seem to be immersed in these days. The core message from the revolutionary leader in the book (Refer to the Chapter :"John Galt Speaking") is over 70 pages of monologue and is a stark contrast to micro messages of 140 characters of today. At the same time, the novel interestingly reminded me of that familiar feeling of frustration with the way the world works that one may encounter from time to time and the intrinsic motivation that always manages to trump the cynicism that follows.
The novel, in summary, is about a group of highly driven businessmen and inventors, including Dagny Taggart, the protagonist, who struggle in a world of stagnation, incompetence and red tape and are summoned to join the Ideal Leader who then "stop the motor of the world" in an almost "Unicorn Project" - like rebellion in order to together create a new Ideal individualistic society. Along side the tender and delicate details of childhood and of wisdom, the power and shock of the hard-core messages from Ayn Rand's philosophy leading to Objectivism are driven point blank.
The story unravels in a dystopian world and is not necessarily a pragmatic playbook for businesses due to its radical and controversial views and hyperboles in the narration. However, when one listens to the message from the characters and what drives them, there are powerful take-aways.
1) Passion, Ambition and Drive for Excellence: One of the most important characteristics of the "heroes" in the story. The protagonist's passion for Engineering to her being's core is described in the details such as how the sound of the train underground gives her a sense of hope and excitement as well as her marveling at the machines and contrasts them with humans.
“I started my life with a single absolute: that the world was mine to shape in the image of my highest values and never to be given up to a lesser standard, no matter how long or hard the struggle.”
“I started my life with a single absolute: that the world was mine to shape in the image of my highest values and never to be given up to a lesser standard, no matter how long or hard the struggle.”
2) Lack of tolerance towards incompetence : A do-what-it-takes attitude of ownership to not let any obstacle in the way of progress. Dagny Taggart shows excellent bravery and business acumen in spawning off to a leaner start up structure to make her futuristic project (of laying down a rail road with the newly invented superior metal ) meet its timeline, against all odds.
"Those who wish to deal with me, must do so on my terms or not at all. I do not make terms with incompetence."
3) Fearlessness, Bias for Action and Learning: When a new metal is invented, Dagny is sharp to recognize the benefits and brave to take the risk and be the first one to use this for the rail line and the bridge. She continues to be there for her employees by making them feel safe and giving them courage.
"What greater wealth is there than to own your life and to spend it on growing? Every living thing must grow. It can't stand still. It must grow or perish.”
"He had never known fear because, against any disaster, he had held the omnipotent cure of being able to act"
"He had never known fear because, against any disaster, he had held the omnipotent cure of being able to act"
4) Pursuit of own happiness and the Virtue of Selfishness:
To me, this was one of the major revelations from the book that made me remember the messages from the story fresh after 2 decades.
The virtue of selfishness is one of the most radical ideas from the book. Ayn Rand maintains that to be selfish is one of the most finest qualities. However radical the theme is, I have come to realize that the truth in that idea is liberating and beautiful. Paradoxically, it is the individual's focus on its own happiness (call it selfish or ultimate selflessness, sometimes words do fail us terribly) that really is required for each one of us to be kind to others and therefore collectively make the world a better place.
"Learn to value yourself, which means: fight for your happiness"
To sum it up, the narrative gives a message of the delicate tango of Perfection and Happiness. A good book, as is a good friend, challenges you to think differently and widens your perspectives and at times, gives you that required jolt to bounce back. Atlas Shrugged, had, in that sense left a lasting impression on me.
"Do not let your fire go out, spark by irreplaceable spark in the hopeless swamps of the not-quite, the not-yet, and the not-at-all. Do not let the hero in your soul perish in lonely frustration for the life you deserved and have never been able to reach. The world you desire can be won. It exists.. it is real.. it is possible.. it's yours." Ayn Rand
"Do not let your fire go out, spark by irreplaceable spark in the hopeless swamps of the not-quite, the not-yet, and the not-at-all. Do not let the hero in your soul perish in lonely frustration for the life you deserved and have never been able to reach. The world you desire can be won. It exists.. it is real.. it is possible.. it's yours." Ayn Rand
Comments