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Almost 700 people have written reviews of Atlas Shrugged, and not one of them has actually defended the novel. Most of the five-star reviews are just streams of insults directed against anybody who dares the question the holiness of that almighty Goddess, Ayn Rand. A few more sophisticated readers have claimed that AS is a philosophical work, so it shouldn't be judged by the standards of literature. Actually, it is a failure both as a novel and as a work of philosophy. I will try to explain its failings in both areas. Atlas Shrugged could serve as the definition of long and tedious. Not only is it packed with lengthy, boring speeches, but there are many characters who move through the exact same plot devices: they are exploited at the start of the novel, but then `wake up' and realize the importance of individuality. Several of the superfluous plotlines involving minor characters could have easily been eliminated without harming the overall novel. Beyond that, the writing is high-school level, with a few big words like "sustenance" and "obligation" thrown in to give the illusion that the author is well educated. The dialogue is cheesy and unrealistic, while most of the plot events feel contrived. For example, when the Comet gets stuck at a red light for no reason, Dagny just happens to be in the right place to save the day. Now what are the chances of that? Many posters have already pointed out that Rand's characters are entirely one-dimensional; they have as much depth as comic book heroes and villains. Rand fans arrogantly defend Atlas Shrugged by insisting that her heroes represent humanity not as it is, but rather as it should be. While the idea of a perfect human might be entertaining I fairy tales, it has no place in great literature. Meaningful books must deal with gritty reality, and feature characters with the same strengths and flaws as real humans. Even great literary villains such as MacBeth and Ahab are still well-rounded, realistic characters with understandable motivations. But the real purpose of this train wreck (yuk yuk) of a novel is to pound home Rand's personal philosophy. In fact, she makes her point with a sledgehammer in almost every paragraph, and it's all done with a level of self-righteousness that would make Jerry Falwell blush. Rand's philosophy can be summarized quite easily. According to her, the world consists of two groups: a small band of hard-working geniuses who are responsible for everything that goes right in the world, and a majority of wicked, lazy hangers-on, who want to destroy the good people out of sheer evilmindedness. Not surprisingly, the few virtuous people happen to be the ones who follow Rand's political philosophy to the letter, while everyone else might just as well be shot. Several posters have remarked that Rand appeals exclusively to 18-year-olds and a handful of academic elitists. This is easy to understand when you consider the tendency of most young people to avoid responsibility while pinning blame on others. Atlas Shrugged appeals not to reason, but rather to short-term, stupefied emotional satisfaction. If you want proof of my characterization of Rand followers, simply read any of the five-star reviews that decorate this web page. Not only do they all employ remarkably shallow emotional arguments, but most of them are also rife with spelling and grammar errors. Rand's simplistic views on economics and politics boil down to one statement: government is bad. Needless to say, if her principles were applied in the real world, disaster would result. Objectivists constantly remind us that Alan Greenspan is a fan of Ayn Rand. However, Greenspan's job consists of using the power of government to control the economy. If he spontaneously adopted Rand's brand of free-for-all capitalism, we'd all be in big trouble. If you've realized by now that Rand's philosophy is a classic case of a victim complex, give yourself bonus points. Rand makes the bizarre claim that American businessmen are currently undergoing the worst persecution of any group in history. In Atlas Shrugged, evil bureaucrats devise wicked, restrictive laws for the sole purpose of spiting entrepreneurs. Needless to say, the objectivist thugs are unable to provide any real-life examples of such legislation. Our government allows the wealthy members of the business community to shelter their income from taxes and then gives them multi-million dollar handouts, paid for by the poor and middle class.