ATLAS SHRUGGED - Page 3 of 5 - book summaries and study materials

Summary and Analysis Part 3: Chapter 1 – Atlantis

Summary Dagny belly-lands her plane. Her injuries aren’t severe, but she does lose consciousness. As she awakens, she looks up at the face of a man kneeling by her side — a face that shows no sign of pain or fear or guilt. The man is John Galt. He is […]

Summary and Analysis Part 2: Chapter 10 – The Sign of the Dollar

Ayn Rand

Summary As Dagny rides west on the train, she encounters a hobo sneaking a ride in the vestibule of her car. She invites him in. His name is Jeff Allen, and he once worked for the Twentieth Century Motor Company. He tells her that he and the factory’s other employees […]

Summary and Analysis Part 2: Chapter 9 – The Face without Pain or Fear or Guilt

Ayn Rand

Summary The same evening, Francisco comes to Dagny’s apartment in one last effort to convince her to quit the railroad. But Dagny responds that if Taggart Transcontinental is to perish with the looters’ system, then she will perish with it. Rearden enters and is furious to see Francisco, whom he […]

Summary and Analysis Part 2: Chapter 8 – By Our Love

Ayn Rand

Summary Francisco pays a surprise visit to Dagny’s lodge in the mountains. During their conversation, she realizes something that she’d never guessed about him: He’s one of the producers who deliberately withdrew his talents from the world. He was one of the earliest people to do so, although he didn’t […]

Summary and Analysis Part 2: Chapter 7 – The Moratorium on Brains

Ayn Rand

Summary Eddie Willers tells the worker in the Taggart cafeteria that Dagny has resigned and is staying at her lodge in the Berkshires. The worker mentions to Eddie that every year he takes a month off at his own expense to spend with friends. Hank Rearden moves out of his […]

Summary and Analysis Part 2: Chapter 6 – Miracle Metal

Ayn Rand

Summary A group of Washington men that includes James Taggart, Orren Boyle, Wesley Mouch, Dr. Floyd Ferris, and Mr. Thompson (the Head of State) meet to discuss the ramifications of a proposed series of laws that would restrict economic change. Although worried about public backlash, the group decides to enact […]

Summary and Analysis Part 2: Chapter 5 – Account Overdrawn

Ayn Rand

Summary The United States has no more copper producers. d’Anconia Copper is the last producer on earth, but none of its ships can reach America because Ragnar Dannesjkold sinks them. Consequently, no more electric appliances are being manufactured in the United States. Rearden Steel experiences the first failure in its […]

Summary and Analysis Part 2: Chapter 4 – The Sanction of the Victim

Ayn Rand

Summary The night before Rearden’s trial, he finally confronts his worthless brother. Rearden says that his brother’s fate is no longer his concern. He realizes that for years, his silent consent has enabled his family to endlessly inflict injustice on him. Rearden, the victim, now withdraws his sanction. He’ll no […]

Summary and Analysis Part 2: Chapter 3 – White Blackmail

Ayn Rand

Summary After the Taggart wedding celebration, Lillian discovers that Rearden has a mistress, but she doesn’t know who it is. Rearden realizes that Lillian intends to use his guilt as a means to control him. Dr. Ferris of the State Science Institute comes to Rearden’s office and tells him that […]

Summary and Analysis Part 2: Chapter 2 – The Aristocracy of Pull

Ayn Rand

Summary Dagny looks at the list of the great Colorado industrialists who have vanished and suspects the existence of a destroyer. She starts to believe that someone is systematically removing the country’s most productive minds. She can only shake her head in despair at the collapse of industry in Colorado. […]