Atlas Shrugged Reading Group: Lakewood 2009
Front Range Objectivism's newest endeavors are Atlas Shrugged Reading Groups (ASRG). In these groups, members read and discuss Ayn Rand's epic novel Atlas Shrugged over the course of twenty weekly meetings. Each meeting lasts ninety minutes; it covers about sixty pages of the novel. Discussion is guided by questions prepared by Diana Hsieh and given to members in advance. FRO's Atlas Shrugged Reading Groups are open to any fan of the novel interested in discussing the characters, events, and ideas of the novel in greater depth.
The first Atlas Shrugged Reading Group (Atlas1) met every week for two hours in Lakewood over the course of ten weeks in the summer of 2008. It was a trial run and training session for about fifteen members of FRO. It was a grand success: the lively discussion helped members understand the novel more deeply than ever before.
For more information on current Atlas Shrugged Reading Groups, go to FRO's main page on Atlas Shrugged Reading Groups.
Schedule of Readings
| What People Say... |
"Reading Atlas Shrugged with the Atlas Shrugged Reading Group greatly broadened my appreciation for this novel, especially for the depth and complexity of the charcters. Even though I'm usually pretty tired by the end of the day, I really looked forward to the meetings. The discussions were insightful and lively, and everyone was respectful towards each other's perspectives."
— Tom Hall |
"I first read Atlas Shrugged in 1977, and like many people today, I thought it was time to re-read it considering the current political climate. I'm sure I would have appreciated it in a fresh new way if I had read it on my own, but the experience was by far better because of being in the reading group. Our discussions brought up so many ideas that I might have missed, and allowed me to appreciate the book on a new level which is very relevant to a successful fight for the renewal of freedom in this country. I came home refreshed each time!"
— Hannah Krening, Larkspur Pianist and Teacher |
"Over the last fifteen years, I've read Atlas Shrugged about five times. Much to my surprise, reading it with FRO's Atlas Shrugged Reading Group was a wholly new -- and wonderful -- experience for me. The discussions helped me understand the characters, events, and ideas of the novel more deeply than ever before -- and I loved it! In many ways, I felt as if I was reading the novel for the first time. And now I'll be better able to apply Ayn Rand's ideals in pursuing my own goals for my life."
— Diana Hsieh, Ph.D Philosophy, NoodleFood |
"I had read Atlas Shrugged before -- or at least I thought I had. But I learned so much more about the novel's ideas and literary themes through the reading group that it was almost as though I was reading Atlas Shrugged for the first time. Those who say Ayn Rand's ideas and literature lack sophistication simply have not read Atlas Shrugged, not really. Moreover, the novel offers rich moral and political themes, and reading it during this "interesting" period of our nation's history shed light both on the novel and on the culture in which we live."
— Ari Armstrong, editor of Free Colorado |
"As a long time admirer of Ayn Rand's Atlas Shrugged, having read the book several times, I found that participating in the reading group increased my admiration and understanding even further. The lively discussions revealed aspects of the book that I would not have discovered on my own."
— Anders Ingemarson, Denver |
"I got such a value from attending the Atlas Shrugged Reading Group. Not only did I pick up a lot from re-reading the book, but having others to discuss the book with added so much more to my understanding of Rand's philosophy. If anyone is interested in better understanding Atlas Shrugged and the philosophy of Objectivism, I highly recommend joining an Atlas Shrugged Reading Group. It's definitely worth it!"
— Ann Williams, Mediator |
Session 1: June 11, 2009: Pages 1 - 126
- Part 1: Chapter 1: The Theme
- Part 1: Chapter 2: The Chain
- Part 1: Chapter 3: The Top and the Bottom
- Part 1: Chapter 4: The Immovable Movers
- Part 1: Chapter 5: The Climax of the d'Anconias
Session 2: June 18, 2009: Pages 127 - 252
- Part 1: Chapter 6: The Non-Commercial
- Part 1: Chapter 7: The Exploiters and the Exploited
- Part 1: Chapter 8: The John Galt Line
Session 3: June 25, 2009: Pages 253 - 378
- Part 1: Chapter 9: The Sacred and the Profane
- Part 1: Chapter 10: Wyatt's Torch
- Part 2: Chapter 1: The Man Who Belonged on Earth
Session 4: July 2, 2009: Pages 379 - 495
- Part 2: Chapter 2: The Aristocracy of Pull
- Part 2: Chapter 3: White Blackmail
- Part 2: Chapter 4: The Sanction of the Victim
Session 5: July 16, 2009: Pages 496 - 632
- Part 2: Chapter 5: Account Overdrawn
- Part 2: Chapter 6: Miracle Metal
- Part 2: Chapter 7: The Moratorium on Brains
- Part 2: Chapter 8: By Our Love
Session 6: July 23, 2009: Pages 633 - 751
- Part 2: Chapter 9: The Face Without Pain or Fear or Guilt
- Part 2: Chapter 10: The Sign of the Dollar
- Part 3: Chapter 1: Atlantis
Session 7: July 30, 2009: Pages 752 - 863
- Part 3: Chapter 2: The Utopia of Greed
- Part 3: Chapter 3: Anti-Greed
Session 8: August 6, 2009: Pages 864 - 999
- Part 3: Chapter 4: Anti-Life
- Part 3: Chapter 5: Their Brothers' Keepers
- Part 3: Chapter 6: The Concerto of Deliverance
Session 9: August 13, 2009: Pages 1000 - 1069
- Part 3: Chapter 7: "This is John Galt Speaking"
Session 10: August 20, 2009: Pages 1070 - 1168
- Part 3: Chapter 8: The Egoist
- Part 3: Chapter 9: The Generator
- Part 3: Chapter 10: In the Name of the Best Within Us
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