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Atlas Shrugged Reading Group: Colorado Springs 2009/10

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In response to record-breaking sales of Atlas Shrugged, Front Range Objectivism hosts weekly study groups for fans of Ayn Rand's epic novel every year, usually starting in October and ending in March.

In these Atlas Shrugged Reading Groups (ASRGs), members read and discuss Ayn Rand's gripping and controversial novel 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 (Ph.D, Philosophy) 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 third Atlas Shrugged Reading Group (Atlas3) met weekly for ninty minutes in Longmont over the course of twenty weeks in the fall of 2009 and the spring of 2010. It was managed by Diana Hsieh (diana@frontrangeobjectivism.com). It was a success: the discussions were excellent, and members formed a monthly FROG discussion group at its conclusion.

Read FRO's Press Release about its 2009/2010 Atlas Shrugged Reading Groups.

Membership Standards

To avoid the problem of spoilers, members of FRO's Atlas Shrugged Reading Groups should have read the novel in full at least once before. They should be fans of the novel, even if they disagree with aspects of it.

Members of the Atlas Shrugged Reading Groups differ in their experiences and philosophic ideas, as well as in their familiarity with Ayn Rand's writings and philosophy. The goal of the group is to better understand Atlas Shrugged in a friendly and constructive way, not to engage in acrimonious debate or proselytizing.

All members should read (or re-read) the assigned chapters of the novel before the meeting. They should bring a copy of Atlas Shrugged with them to the meeting, as well as a copy of that week's questions. They should help keep the discussion on-track, meaning focused on the assigned chapters of the novel. Most of all, they should act in friendly -- or at least civil -- way toward others.

People who prove disruptive to the aims of the Atlas Shrugged Reading Group will be removed from it.

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: October 1, 2009: Pages 1 - 63

  • Part 1: Chapter 1: The Theme
  • Part 1: Chapter 2: The Chain
  • Part 1: Chapter 3: The Top and the Bottom

Session 2: October 8, 2009: Pages 64 - 126

  • Part 1: Chapter 4: The Immovable Movers
  • Part 1: Chapter 5: The Climax of the d'Anconias

Session 3: October 15, 2009: Pages 127 - 185

  • Part 1: Chapter 6: The Non-Commercial
  • Part 1: Chapter 7: The Exploiters and the Exploited (A)

Session 4: October 22, 2009: Pages 185 - 252

  • Part 1: Chapter 7: The Exploiters and the Exploited (B)
  • Part 1: Chapter 8: The John Galt Line

October 29, 2009: Cancelled Due to Snow

Session 5: November 5, 2009: Pages 253 - 309

  • Part 1: Chapter 9: The Sacred and the Profane
  • Part 1: Chapter 10: Wyatt's Torch (A)

Session 6: November 12, 2009: Pages 309 - 378

  • Part 1: Chapter 10: Wyatt's Torch (B)
  • Part 2: Chapter 1: The Man Who Belonged on Earth

Session 7: November 19, 2009: Pages 379 - 438

  • Part 2: Chapter 2: The Aristocracy of Pull
  • Part 2: Chapter 3: White Blackmail (A)

November 26, 2009: Thanksgiving Break

Session 8: December 3, 2009: Pages 438 - 495

  • Part 2: Chapter 3: White Blackmail (B)
  • Part 2: Chapter 4: The Sanction of the Victim

Session 9: December 10, 2009: Pages 496 - 566

  • Part 2: Chapter 5: Account Overdrawn
  • Part 2: Chapter 6: Miracle Metal

December 17, 24, and 31, 2009: Christmas Break

Session 10: January 7, 2009: Pages 567 - 632

  • Part 2: Chapter 7: The Moratorium on Brains
  • Part 2: Chapter 8: By Our Love

Session 11: January 14, 2010: Pages 633 - 697

  • Part 2: Chapter 9: The Face Without Pain or Fear or Guilt
  • Part 2: Chapter 10: The Sign of the Dollar

Session 12: January 21, 2010: Pages 699 - 751

  • Part 3: Chapter 1: Atlantis

Session 13: January 28, 2010: Pages 752 - 815

  • Part 3: Chapter 2: The Utopia of Greed

Session 14: February 4, 2010: Pages 816 - 863

  • Part 3: Chapter 3: Anti-Greed

Session 15: February 11, 2010: Pages 864 - 936

  • Part 3: Chapter 4: Anti-Life
  • Part 3: Chapter 5: Their Brothers' Keepers (A)

February 18, 2010: Cancelled Due to Snow

Session 16: February 25, 2010: Pages 936 - 999

  • Part 3: Chapter 5: Their Brothers' Keepers (B)
  • Part 3: Chapter 6: The Concerto of Deliverance

Session 17: March 4, 2010: Pages 1000 - 1040

  • Part 3: Chapter 7: "This is John Galt Speaking" (A)

Session 18: March 11, 2010: Pages 1040 - 1069

  • Part 3: Chapter 7: "This is John Galt Speaking" (B)

Session 19: March 18, 2010: Pages 1070 - 1125

  • Part 3: Chapter 8: The Egoist

Session 20: March 25, 2010: Pages 1126 - 1168

  • Part 3: Chapter 9: The Generator
  • Part 3: Chapter 10: In the Name of the Best Within Us

Other ASRGs

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, managed by Diana Hsieh. It was a grand success: the lively discussion helped members understand the novel more deeply than ever before.

The second Atlas Shrugged Reading Group (Atlas2) met every week for ninety minutes in Longmont over the course of twenty weeks from October 2009 to March 2010. It was managed by Ari Armstrong. It was a success: the discussions were excellent, and members formed a monthly FROG discussion group at its conclusion.

Contact

The Colorado Springs Atlas Shrugged Reading Group is managed by Diana Hsieh. Please contact her at diana@frontrangeobjectivism.com with any questions or comments about it.

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