Atlas Shrugged

Summary

Atlas Shrugged is a work by Ayn Rand that explores philosophical questions of individualism, self-sufficiency, and economic freedom of the individual against collectivism and government control through literary dialogue and plot development. The book tells the story of major entrepreneurs and scientists who, facing regulatory pressure and social policies in a fictional version of the United States, begin to disappear one by one, leaving behind the question: «Who is John Galt?» This question and the search for its answer form the basis for the plot's development, revealing the concept of human genius and the right to its free use. The plot is divided into three parts, each named after the main ideas of Rand's philosophy: inequality, denial, and affirmation. The main idea of the work is the importance of personal initiative and entrepreneurship as the foundation for a successful and happy society.