The Atlas Project: An Online Chapter-by-Chapter Discussion of Atlas Shrugged September 2017-April 2018 A Project of The Ayn Rand Institute (This project plan is subject to revision)
General Information Project description The Ayn Rand Institute (ARI) invites you to join The Atlas Project, an eight-month chapter-by-chapter ONLINE discussion of Atlas Shrugged. To facilitate the discussion, ARI will host a weekly interactive broadcast on Facebook Live led by experienced teachers to help readers explore the intricate plot and abstract themes of Rand’s most philosophical novel. Millions of people have read Ayn Rand’s novels. Her influence is felt decades after her death and continues to provoke debate, especially in politics. While Rand was best known for her defense of laissez-faire capitalism, both her fans and her critics too often neglect the system of ideas she developed about morality and human nature, ideas she saw as fundamental to her other views. This course seeks to examine these ideas through the lens of her major work of fiction, Atlas Shrugged. Though the plot pits various businessmen and women against government oligarchs, the most compelling conflicts it portrays are internal and psychological, usually in and among the souls of the protagonists. Though the novel begins with the depiction of a political controversy, it gradually unfolds as a drama about morality and metaphysics. Rand described the theme of Atlas as “the role of the man’s mind in existence.” Questions that arise for the protagonists include: What is the moral status of wealth creation, and of human sexuality? What is the nature of evil, and how powerful is it? What basic motives divide good people from evil people? What is the relationship between the mind and the body? Do we have free will, and if so in what choices does it consist? What attitudes toward reality as such are expressed through the choices we make?
Main discussion leaders •
•
Dr. Gregory Salmieri (Anthem Foundation and Rutgers University) www.salmieri.org campus.aynrand.org/people/gregory-salmieri Dr. Ben Bayer (The Ayn Rand Institute) ari.aynrand.org/experts/ben-bayer www.benbayer.com
Online forums • •
For announcements and spoiler-free discussion please join: facebook.com/groups/AtlasProject Experienced readers may also join: facebook.com/groups/AtlasProjectSpoilers
Live broadcasts • • • • •
Broadcasts will originate from the official Facebook Atlas Shrugged page: facebook.com/AtlasShrugged “Like” the page to get notifications about the latest broadcasts The first broadcast on Part I, Chapter 1, will occur on Saturday, September 2nd at 5:30pm Pacific / 8:30pm Eastern / 12:30am UTC The second broadcast, on Part I, Chapter 2, will occur on Tuesday, September 12th at 5:30pm Pacific / 8:30pm Eastern / 12:30am UTC with subsequent broadcasts occurring at this time on Tuesday evenings. There will be occasional supplemental broadcasts on special topics at irregular times.
Web site and video archives • •
Recordings of live discussion session broadcasts will be at facebook.com/AtlasShrugged Stay tuned for information on a permanent web site URL for storage of course materials
Ground rules for participation 1.
(For main Facebook discussion page): No spoilers: Neither posts nor comments on posts should contain spoilers about sections of the novel the group has not yet read. Remember that many members of this group are reading the book for the first time and that a great deal of the pleasure of reading comes from finding out what happens in the plot, and finding out the content of Rand's philosophical views. For experienced readers who want to discuss portions of the book ahead of schedule, we have created a separate group at: facebook.com/groups/AtlasProjectSpoilers
2.
Discussion should be relevant to current portions of the book: Posts on everything from abstract philosophy to current events are welcome, but should be related to specific sections of the novel that the group has already read, according to the reading schedule of the group.
3.
Discussion should be civil and polite: Everyone should remember that everyone else on this group is a real person with their own context of knowledge, and that disagreement on difficult matters of interpretation is inevitable even among honest people.
Recommended editions •
•
• •
• • •
The Dutton hardback edition, Plume Trade Paperback edition, and Penguin Modern Classics edition all retain the pagination from the 1957 first edition. This is the pagination used for references to the novel in the quality secondary literature, and so we recommend any of these editions, especially to experienced readers who may want to engage with this literature. o Dutton hardback: amzn.com/0525948929 o Plume trade paperback: amzn.com/0452286360 o Penguin Modern Classics edition: amzn.com/0141188936 If you prefer to use the cheaper mass market paperback, we encourage you to get the Signet 50th anniversary edition, page numbers for which are also available on our reading schedule below: o Signet mass market paperback: amzn.com/0451191145 A Kindle version of the book is available: amzn.com/B003V8B5XO An Audible.com audio version is available individually or with the Kindle version for a discounted price: amzn.com/B001MXQ7AQ o When purchased with the Kindle, the Audible version can be synced with the Kindle on a smart phone or tablet for an immersive reading experience An Ipad app with an “amplified edition” of Atlas is available in Itunes here: goo.gl/Yn1m2i For information on non-English editions, see: goo.gl/CdkCWk Students can request free copies of Atlas Shrugged from freeobjectivistbooks.com
Recommended secondary texts These are the best two commentaries on Atlas Shrugged available. However first-time readers are advised that both contain spoilers. •
•
Onkar Ghate’s Teacher’s Guide to Atlas Shrugged to the Signet Edition of Atlas Shrugged is an excellent brief guide, available for free online, containing chapter summaries, analysis, and discussion questions. The chapter summaries and discussion questions are generally spoilerfree, but the introductory essays for teachers are not: goo.gl/SoUqDm Robert Mayhew’s Essays on Atlas Shrugged is an excellent resource on the publication history of the novel, and on the literary and philosophical dimensions of the novel. It contains useful outlines of the plot and of the book’s central speech. Be aware that many of the essays contain extensive plot spoilers: amzn.com/0739127802
Additional secondary texts •
• •
Allan Gotthelf and Greg Salmieri’s A Companion to Ayn Rand contains chapters on Rand’s literary esthetics and also analyzes her philosophy with numerous references to the plot and characterization of Atlas: amzn.com/1405186844 Diana Hsieh’s Explore Atlas Shrugged contains a plethora of discussion questions beyond the essential ones given by Onkar Ghate’s edition: amzn.com/1511466057 Andy Bernstein has written Cliff’s Notes for Atlas, which are available online for free: goo.gl/5fsW4D
Project schedule This schedule is subject to revision. Paginations for hardback/trade paperback are listed as Dutton/Plume; paginations for mass market paperback are listed as Signet.
Part I, Chapter 1: The Theme Readings: Dutton/Plume pp. 3-26; Signet pp. 11-32 • Monday, August 28th: Discussion questions for session #1 released • Saturday, September 2nd: Live session #1: 5:30pm Pacific/8:30pm Eastern
Part I, Chapter 2: The Chain Readings: Dutton/Plume pp. 27-43; Signet pp. 33-47 • Thursday, September 7th: Discussion questions for session #2 released • Tuesday, September 12th: Live session #2: 5:30pm Pacific/8:30pm Eastern (Live sessions on Tuesday evenings hereafter.)
Part I, Chapter 3: The Top and the Bottom Readings: Dutton/Plume pp. 44-63; Signet pp. 48-65 • Tuesday, September 19th: Live session #3: 5:30pm Pacific/8:30pm Eastern
Part I, Chapter 4: The Immovable Movers Readings: Dutton/Plume pp. 64-88; Signet pp. 66-87 • Tuesday, September 26th: Live session #4: 5:30pm Pacific/8:30pm Eastern
Part I, Chapter 5: The Climax of the d’Anconias Readings: Dutton/Plume pp. 89-126; Signet pp. 88-121 • Tuesday, October 3rd: Live session #5: 5:30pm Pacific/8:30pm Eastern
Part I, Chapter 6: The Non-Commercial Readings: Dutton/Plume pp. 127-161; Signet pp. 122-153 • Tuesday, October 10th: Live session #6: 5:30pm Pacific/8:30pm Eastern
Part I, Chapter 7: The Exploiters and the Exploited Readings: Dutton/Plume pp. 162-216; Signet pp. 154-202 • Tuesday, October 17th: Live session #7: 5:30pm Pacific/8:30pm Eastern
Part I, Chapter 8: The John Galt Line Readings: Dutton/Plume pp. 217-252; Signet pp. 203-236 • Tuesday, October 24th: Live session #8: 5:30pm Pacific/8:30pm Eastern
Part I, Chapter 9: The Sacred and the Profane Readings: Dutton/Plume pp. 253-291; Signet pp. 237-272 • Tuesday, October 31st: Live session #9: 5:30pm Pacific/8:30pm Eastern
Part I, Chapter 10: Wyatt’s Torch Readings: Dutton/Plume pp. 292-338; Signet pp. 273-314 • Tuesday, November 7th: Live session #10: 5:30pm Pacific/8:30pm Eastern
Part II, Chapter 1: The Man who Belonged on Earth Readings: Dutton/Plume pp. 339-378; Signet pp. 315-351 • Tuesday, November 14th: Live session #11: 5:30pm Pacific/8:30pm Eastern
Part II, Chapter 2: The Aristocracy of Pull Readings: Dutton/Plume pp. 379-422; Signet pp. 352-391 • Tuesday, November 21st: Live session #12: 5:30pm Pacific/8:30pm Eastern
Part II, Chapter 3: White Blackmail Readings: Dutton/Plume pp. 423-460; Signet pp. 392-426 • Tuesday, November 29th: Live session #13: 5:30pm Pacific/8:30pm Eastern
Part II, Chapter 4: The Sanction of the Victim Readings: Dutton/Plume pp. 461-495; Signet pp. 427-457 • Tuesday, December 5th: Live session #14: 5:30pm Pacific/8:30pm Eastern
Part II, Chapter 5: Account Overdrawn Readings: Dutton/Plume pp. 496-531; Signet pp. 458-490 • Tuesday, December 12th: Live session #15: 5:30pm Pacific/8:30pm Eastern
Part II, Chapter 6: Miracle Metal Readings: Dutton/Plume pp. 532-566; Signet pp. 491-522 • Tuesday, December 19th: Live session #16: 5:30pm Pacific/8:30pm Eastern
Part II, Chapter 7: The Moratorium on Brains Readings: Dutton/Plume pp. 567-607; Signet pp. 523-559 • Tuesday, January 2nd: Live session #17: 5:30pm Pacific/8:30pm Eastern
Part II, Chapter 8: By Our Love Readings: Dutton/Plume pp. 608-632; Signet pp. 560-581 • Tuesday, January 9th: Live session #18: 5:30pm Pacific/8:30pm Eastern
Part II, Chapter 9: The Face without Pain or Fear or Guilt Readings: Dutton/Plume pp. 633-653; Signet pp. 582-600 • Tuesday, January 16th: Live session #19: 5:30pm Pacific/8:30pm Eastern
Part II, Chapter 10: The Sign of the Dollar Readings: Dutton/Plume pp. 654-700; Signet pp. 601-642 • Tuesday, January 23rd: Live session #20: 5:30pm Pacific/8:30pm Eastern
Part III, Chapter 1: Atlantis Readings: Dutton/Plume pp. 701-751; Signet pp. 643-688 • Tuesday, January 30th: Live session #21: 5:30pm Pacific/8:30pm Eastern
Part III, Chapter 2: The Utopia of Greed Readings: Dutton/Plume pp. 752-815; Signet pp. 689-746 • Tuesday, February 6th: Live session #22: 5:30pm Pacific/8:30pm Eastern
Part III, Chapter 3: Anti-Greed Readings: Dutton/Plume pp.816-863; Signet pp. 747-790 • Tuesday, February 13th: Live session #23: 5:30pm Pacific/8:30pm Eastern
Part III, Chapter 4: Anti-Life Readings: Dutton/Plume pp. 864-908; Signet pp. 791-830 • Tuesday, February 20th: Live session #24: 5:30pm Pacific/8:30pm Eastern
Part III, Chapter 5: Their Brothers’ Keepers Readings: Dutton/Plume pp. 909-962; Signet pp. 831-880 • Tuesday, February 27th: Live session #25: 5:30pm Pacific/8:30pm Eastern
Part III, Chapter 6: The Concerto of Deliverance Readings: Dutton/Plume pp. 963-999; Signet pp. 881-914 • Tuesday, March 6th: Live session #26: 5:30pm Pacific/8:30pm Eastern
Part III, Chapter 7, Part 1: “This is John Galt Speaking” Readings: Dutton/Plume pp. 1000-1034; Signet pp. 915-947; until “The degree of your ability” • Tuesday, March 13th: Live session #27: 5:30pm Pacific/8:30pm Eastern
Part III, Chapter 7, Part 2: “This is John Galt Speaking” Readings: Dutton/Plume pp. 1034-1069; Signet pp. 947-978 • Tuesday, March 20th: Live session #28: 5:30pm Pacific/8:30pm Eastern
Part III, Chapter 8: The Egoist Readings: Dutton/Plume pp. 1070-1125; Signet pp. 979-1029 • Tuesday, March 27th: Live session #29: 5:30pm Pacific/8:30pm Eastern
Part I, Chapter 9: The Generator Readings: Dutton/Plume pp. 1126-1146; Signet pp. 1030-1048 • Tuesday, April 3rd: Live session #30: 5:30pm Pacific/8:30pm Eastern
Part I, Chapter 10: In the Name of the Best Within Us Readings: Dutton/Plume pp. 1147-1168; Signet pp. 1049-1069 • Tuesday, April 10th: Live session #31: 5:30pm Pacific/8:30pm Eastern
Novel overview •
Tuesday, April 17th: Live session #32: 5:30pm Pacific/8:30pm Eastern