OK I Lied, Dual Enrollment will be tomorrow...

I just had to write about the book I am reading right now. I would put this book down as one of the most important books to read NOW! Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand is probably the most contemporary "old" book (published in 1957, two years before I was born!) that I have read in a long while. I am only 139 pages into it and already I am stunned at her insight into human nature and the nature of people as a group. It also is scaring the crap out of me! What she wrote as a cautionary tale for humankind is actually happening NOW. Damn! Reading passages in the book is like watching the news, today.

"A free economy cannot exist without competition. Therefore, men must be forced to compete. Therefore, we must control men in order to force them to be free."

This is stated by a university professor of philosophy in the novel while discussing the Equalization of Opportunity Bill, a fictitious bill set in the fictitious future that Ms. Rand developed in her novel. Or is it fictitious?

So far, 139 pages into it, I would place Atlas Shrugged right up there on my list of VERY important books for our young people to read. Others on the list include Animal Farm, 1984 and Brave New World. One day I will come up with a lesson for parents on comparing 1984 to Brave New World and which is more insidious. Naturally I have my own opinion.

Sadly our schools may require this book for summer reading but methinks that they may not be getting the point. Sadly the beginning of the book outlining what is happening in the world may be looked upon as the "good old days" by the education elite. Perhaps the end of the book is seen as what can happen when man is not controlled and forced to compete. I will continue reading the book, all 1069 pages of it, and report back. In a couple weeks. At least.