Category: Sisyphus Winced

Well, it was a long slog to get here through some dark and repetitive prose, but: John Galt at last! I swear by my life and my love of it that I will never live my life for the sake of another man, nor ask another man to live for mine. Chapter summary: Dagny wakes…

I am not convinced of the absolutism of Rand, but there’s one element of critiques of her that I think is missing the point. Here’s a typical summation of Objectivism: It’s an extremely alluring premise- live up to your full potential, care only about yourself, succeed, work hard, don’t let anyone take what’s rightfully yours…

So, here I am, nearly two thirds of the way through the book, more than a week ahead of my schedule. I consider myself a sprinter at tasks. I’ll describe myself thus: I lose interest. After a big burst of energy at the outset, I’ll wander off to something else. As evidence, naturally, I’ll point…

Ayn Rand couldn’t stand me, so she banned me. — Kid Rock Chapter summary: Dagny rides the Comet on her way to Utah. She has a long conversation with a stowaway on the train who used to work for Twentieth Century Motors, relating a story about a young engineer named John Galt who walked out…

All right, I think Rand has tricked me about the nameless worker. If so, good for her. This was enough of a continuation of the last chapter; it felt somewhat like Rand had put in an artificial, forced break so she’d have ten chapters in each part. Chapter summary: Francisco shows up at Dagny’s apartment….

I finished two chapters last night, because I had a long period trapped under a sleeping baby and they were short chapters. I will keep this commentary restricted to chapter 17. Chapter summary: Francisco shows up in Woodstock, apparently to convince Dagny to come to Atlantis. His conversation is interrupted by radio news of the…

Braaaaaaaaaaaains…. Chapter summary: The chapter begins with another monologue featuring Eddie and the workman, the third so far. There are then two primary episodes: First, Hank meets Ragnar on a country road, during which Ragnar offers him a bar of gold of his own money. Ragnar then gives a long speech during which, among other…

In honor of the Silliest Chapter Yet, I think this is the time to confess that I cannot see the author’s name without my mind mentally singing, “And Ayn Rand, Ayn Rand she wrote a bo-o-ok” (to the tune of “I Ran” by A Flock of Seagulls). Chapter summary: In an alleged attempt to minimize…

I believe I’m getting to the portion of the experience of reading this book that I was dreading, the part that marathon runners call “The Wall” (NB: My knowledge of marathon running comes exclusively from Run Fat Boy Run, despite my brother’s engagement in them… I should ask him sometime about The Wall, assuming he…

There’s a governor’s race going on right now in Michigan. One of the leading candidates, Rick Snyder, is running as a Republican but presents himself as a non-politician. Today, I saw an ad for his that talked about cutting taxes and ending “silly regulations” in a tone that made it unclear whether “silly” was restrictive…