Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand
1/8/2026
*spoiler alert*
In 2016, I started reading Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand. The central problem in the book was corporations used workers for their own gain. Experts were being exploited. The common phrase throughout the book was “Who is John Galt?”. Skilled professionals started disappearing. Work could not get done without the people who had the experience to perform the jobs. Society was collapsing.
The ideas presented in the book created turmoil in me at work. I wanted to quit. I stopped reading the book about halfway through because I needed the job.
In 2025, I watched the Atlas Shrugged film trilogy to finish the story. A place called Atlantis was built for these experts to live and freely create and build. No man shall work for another. Freedom to create, experiment, and live through the talents and skills each person possesses formed an ideal society. Progress in science, engineering, and medicine were exponential. Of course there was romance associated with the television version. I am uncertain if this same romance exists in the book.
My personal take:
The book reminds me of dystopian stories such as 1984 by George Orwell due to the exploitation and overreach from some leaders.
I agree with the freedom to create and pursue ingenuity. Experimentation in any field is key to finding new discoveries.
I disagree with abandoning society to live for oneself. I believe in helping humanity and furthering our society for good.
I am currently seeing experienced professionals disappearing due to layoffs. Corporations are using AI or cheaper labor overseas to “replace” experts. This comes at a cost in money, time, and completing the job correctly. Undue mistakes are being made. This is very similar to the premise of Atlas Shrugged.
Skilled trade professionals with morals, a good work ethic, and integrity are harder to find. Have they gone to Atlantis?