Atlas Shrugged

by Rand, Ayn

Ayn Rand in her most controversial book yet, depicts a dystopian United State. A world of private businesses that are increasingly penalized and weighted through laws and regulations, stepping over the people who carry out that labor. 

As a mysterious figure, John Gault appears on the scene; the country’s top banker, an oil producer, a professor, a composer, and a distinguished judge disappear without a trace, abandoning their professions and loved ones. In turn a revolution begins, creating a new society based on the ‘philosophy of selfishness’ in efforts to be dismissed from the exploitation of those with authority and power. 

Atlas Shrugged “is a mystery story, not about the murder of a man’s body, but about the murder — and rebirth — of man’s spirit.” -Ayn Rand

First Edition Identification

Random House published a First Edition, First Printing hardcover in 1957, New York. This edition was published with a blue cloth-board slipcase and blue tinted page-edges. The book is characterized by its blue cloth bound boards and gilt lettering. 

Other Collectible or Notable Editions

Random House published a Limited First Edition, Ninth Printing hardcover in 1967, New York. The edition was limited in production, celebrating the 10th year of publication. The title was published to replicate the first edition’s format with blue cloth boards, Gilt on both the spine and front, within a blue cardboard slipcase. There were only 2000 copies published from Random House in this edition, the majority if not all were signed by the Author. 

Reviews

Review this book!

On Apr 9, 2023, Anonymous said

Certainly does have an eerie similarity to what we are witnessing in America today. I would make it required in any high school curriculum!

On Mar 14, 2021, a reader said

It's really easy to make your philosophy come across as correct when you can design the world in which you're presenting it so that you decide everything that happens. This is why bad philosophies can make such compelling fiction. This *is* pretty compelling fiction -- a world of fantasy heroes in which a lot of people have understandably chosen to get lost, some of them permanently. It's trivially refutable as philosophy... any accurate biography of the author will demonstrate that not even the grand dame herself could live according to her own principles. When she had to choose between the objective facts she supposedly revered and the loyalty and reverence of her band of fanatical followers, she simply lied to them, rather than admit (for example) that many, many people had helped her in significant ways, and she would almost certainly not have succeeded as an author -- or perhaps even survived to write her major works -- without them.

There are also some basic contradictions. Example: the alleged consummate individualist claims that if everyone choose rationally, nobody would differ from each other even insofar as ice cream preference; but that effectively denies any such thing as individualism and makes everyone in her ideal world identical to each other. And indeed, all the heroes in Atlas Shrugged *are* pretty much identical to each other, except for minimal differences in physical appearance and choice of profession. The even choose the same college majors.

The second star is simply because, like any other fantasy heroes, Rand's can be fun to be around for a little while. They're exciting, dashing, gorgeous, and good at everything. Enjoy them. Visit if you like. But don't get lost here. Objective reality, whatever the author may have wanted to believe, lies elsewhere.

On Jun 7, 2017, a reader said

Atlas Shrugged is perhaps the greatest, most revealing novel ever written. It is larger than life, and a truly philosophical, dramatic, exalting, and suspenseful read.

On Feb 6, 2017, a reader said

A life changimg read.

On Dec 7, 2004, pazzobooks said
If you liked The Fountainhead but thought the philosophy took a back seat to character development and plot, Atlas Shrugged is great - not concerning itself with such outmoded details like characters who might exist and avoiding exposition, Atlas Shrugged is the most pedantic, two-dimensional book ever. Huzzah.

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Atlas Shrugged
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Atlas Shrugged

by Ayn Rand

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Used - Very Good+
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First Edition; Ninth Printing
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Green boards with gold writing (book title in black box) on spine; author's initials embossed in gold on front board. Blue/black top page edges; white splotches on back board. Top and bottom of book spine very slightly rumpled; very small chips on top of dust jacket spine. Cracks and small piece missing from bottom of dust jacket spine; chips and… Read more about this item
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Atlas Shrugged
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Atlas Shrugged

by RAND, AYN

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Used - Fine
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First edition
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1957
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Original cloth, original dust jacket
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New York: Random House, 1957. First edition. Original cloth, original dust jacket. Fine/Fine. FIRST EDITION, FIRST ISSUE of Rand's masterpiece; INSCRIBED BY RAND TO LUDWIG VON MISES: "To Dr. and Mrs. Ludwig von Mieses- / -Cordially- / Ayn Rand / 8/22/57". A spectacular association copy linking two of the most influential economic figures of the twentieth century. In… Read more about this item
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Atlas Shrugged   [Signed Fourteenth Printing]
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Atlas Shrugged [Signed Fourteenth Printing]

by Rand, Ayn

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Used - Very Good
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Very Good
Edition
First Edition
Published
1957
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Hardcover
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New York: Random House, 1957. Beautifully signed by Ayn Rand at half-title page: "Ayn Rand, 10/21/73." Rare flat signed trade edition from this unique period. Stated Fourteenth Printing at copyright. 1957 also at copyright page; no other dates. Circa 1973 printing matching the first in design, quality and dimensions. Fine burgundy full-cloth boards,… Read more about this item
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Atlas Shrugged
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Atlas Shrugged

by Rand, Ayn

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Used - Poor
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Near Fine
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1st Edition
Published
1957
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Hardcover
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New York: Random House, 1957 First edition, stated first printing. The original dust jacket with toning to spine and cover margins, professional restoration to spine ends, folds, and two short closed tears to upper front cover, else in fine condition; the book looks nice but has internal problems: both front and back hinges starting with some endpapers loosening, binding has… Read more about this item
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Atlas Shrugged
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Atlas Shrugged

by RAND, Ayn

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Used - Near Fine
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First
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1957
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.SIGNED Presentation to the only inscriptee whom Rand herself collected and published an entire article about. "Capuletti has the passionate intensity of Spain, the elegance of France, and the joyous, benevolent freedom of America. The first impact of his work…is a sense of enormous clarity. It is as if the air were washed clean and things stood out self-assertively, demanding… Read more about this item
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Atlas Shrugged   [Eleventh Printing]
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Atlas Shrugged [Eleventh Printing]

by Rand, Ayn

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Fine
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First Edition
Published
1957
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Hardcover
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New York: Random House, 1957. Stated eleventh printing. Rare printing in red full-cloth boards, crisp gilt cover initials and spine titles on black field, slight shelf wear. This is the rare red cloth version of original first edition design. Deckled pages near fine, bright, clean. Charcoal colored top exterior text block. Bind fine, square; hinges… Read more about this item
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$450.00
Atlas Shrugged  [Fourteenth Printing]
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Atlas Shrugged [Fourteenth Printing]

by Rand, Ayn

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Used - Fine
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Fine
Edition
First Edition
Published
1957
Binding
Hardcover
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Rapid River, Michigan, USA
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New York: Random House, 1957. Stated Fourteenth Printing at copyright. Circa 1970 printing. 1957 at copyright; no other dates. Fine red full-cloth boards, bright gilt cover initials and spine titles on black field, light shelf wear. Rare in red cloth boards. Deckled pages near fine, clean. Small printed label behind from front flap: "Glenn… Read more about this item
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$395.00
Atlas Shrugged   [Signed Tenth Anniversary Limited Edition in Original Sleeve & Slipcase]
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Atlas Shrugged [Signed Tenth Anniversary Limited Edition in Original Sleeve & Slipcase]

by Rand, Ayn

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Used - Fine
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Very Good
Edition
Tenth Anniversary Edition
Published
1967
Binding
Hardcover
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Rapid River, Michigan, USA
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New York: Random House, 1967. Beautifully signed and numbered by Ayn Rand at limitation page. From limitation page: "This Special Tenth Anniversary Edition Is Limited to Two Thousand Copies, Signed by the Author. 'Ayn Rand' - The Number of This Book Is '1310'". Slate blue full-cloth boards, sharp gilt cover initials and gilt spine titles… Read more about this item
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$4,250.00
Atlas Shrugged

Atlas Shrugged

by Rand, Ayn

Condition
Used - Octavo. Original green cloth over boards with gilt titling and dust jacket (not price-clipped) with $6.95 price and 10/57 on fro
Edition
First edition, first printing
Published
1957
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Chicago, Illinois, USA
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New York: Random House, 1957. First edition, first printing. Octavo. Original green cloth over boards with gilt titling and dust jacket (not price-clipped) with $6.95 price and 10/57 on front inside flap and publisher's full address to rear inside flap. Superb first printing in a bright dust jacket, minor edgewear to dust jacket at spine and folds, with slight… Read more about this item
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Atlas Shrugged
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Atlas Shrugged

by Rand, Ayn

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Used - Fine
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Edition
1st Edition
Published
1957
Binding
Hardcover
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Las Vegas , Nevada, USA
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New York: Random House, 1957 First edition, stated first printing in original unrestored dust jacket. Bottom spine cloth overlay slightly crimped, light toning along gutter of endpapers, back pages slightly moister rippled, else book in fine condition; dust jacket with slight toning to spine and folds, moderate wear to extremities, and a closed tear to bottom front spine fold and… Read more about this item
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Atlas Shrugged
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Atlas Shrugged

by Ayn Rand

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Used
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First Edition, First Printing
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1957
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New York: Random House, 1957. First Edition, First Printing. First edition, first printing - so stated on the copyright page. This book measures 8.75" x 6" with 1168 numbered pages. With its original dust jacket. The book is in very good condition. Gilt title and lettering on spine and front board are full and intact. Minor surface wear… Read more about this item
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Atlas Shrugged
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Atlas Shrugged

by RAND, Ayn

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First
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1957
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Finest First Edition of Rand's masterpiece, of which she proclaimed with unblinking immodesty: "I know that I am challenging the cultural tradition of two and a half thousand years." Thick 8vo, publisher's gilt-lettered green cloth with spine label, faint mottling to rear board and top half of front board; first issue dust jacket with 10/57 printed on lower front flap,… Read more about this item
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Atlas Shrugged  [Twentieth Printing]
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Atlas Shrugged [Twentieth Printing]

by Rand, Ayn

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Very Good
Edition
First Edition
Published
1957
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Hardcover
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New York: Random House, 1957. Stated Twentieth printing; 1957 at copyright, no other dates. Green boards, black cloth spine wrap, blind-stamped cover initials and gilt spine titles, moderate shelf wear, rub. Deckled pages very good. Vintage owner's label in gilt to front pastedown behind dj flap: "Lela's Book". Bind fine; hinges intact. Original… Read more about this item
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Atlas Shrugged

Atlas Shrugged

by Rand, Ayn

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Used - Very Good with no dust jacket
Edition
1st Edition. First Printing
Published
1957
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Hard Cover
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NY: Random House. Very Good with no dust jacket. 1957. 1st Edition. First Printing. Hard Cover. Stated first printing. Publisher's full green cloth, gilt lettering on black label on spine, author's initials in gilt medallion on cover, top edge blue, cream endpapers, fore-edge deckle. . Hinges just starting, small spot on top edge, else as new;… Read more about this item
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Atlas Shrugged

by Rand, Ayn

Condition
Used - Collectible - Very Good/Good
Edition
later printing of the First Edition
Published
1957
Binding
Hard Cover
ISBN 10
0394415760
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OCEANSIDE, California, USA
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Random House. Collectible - Very Good/Good. 1957. later printing of the First Edition. Hard Cover. 0394415760 (G386)-2 a very good hard cover in a good dust jacket now in protective mylar; front end pages have previous owner's name but contents are clean .
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$194.00
Atlas Shrugged
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Atlas Shrugged

by Rand, Ayn

Condition
Used - Fine
Jacket Condition
Near Fine
Edition
Tenth Anniversary Edition
Published
1967
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Portland, Oregon, USA
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New York: Random House, 1967. Tenth Anniversary Edition. Fine/Near Fine. Signed limited tenth anniversary edition. Number 1,454 of a limited 2,000 copies signed by Ayn Rand. Bound in publisher's original coarse blue cloth lettered in gilt with spine blocked in royal blue. Fine in Near Fine lightly rubbed and lightly clouded original acetate jacket, in original blue card… Read more about this item
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Atlas Shrugged
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Atlas Shrugged

by Ayn Rand

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Used - Acceptable
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No stated date
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Cazenovia, New York, USA
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Copyright 1957, printing date not stated except for the Random House code of 8C97. Jacketed hardcover, jacket as shown with this listing is rubbed, chipped and scuffed. The back of the jacket has the code 394-41576-0 and shows a price of $29.95. Quarter bound, two-tone black cloth, gilt stamping on spine only, blind stamping of AR on front board. Binding… Read more about this item
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Atlas Shrugged (Penguin Modern Classics)

by Ayn Rand

Condition
Used; Good
Binding
Paperback
ISBN 10
0141188936
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Milton Keynes , Buckinghamshire, GBR
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Penguin Classics. Paperback. Used; Good. Simply Brit – welcome to our online used book store, where affordability meets great quality. Dive into a world of captivating reads without breaking the bank. We take pride in offering a wide selection of used books, from classics to hidden gems, ensuring there’s something for every literary palate. All orders are shipped… Read more about this item
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Atlas Shrugged: 35th Anniversary Edition

by Rand, Ayn

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Used - Very Good
ISBN 10
0451171926
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ISLIP TERRACE, New York, USA
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$250.00

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the hardcover stated Dutton First Edition from March 1992. Both the DJ and the book are in positively excellent condition. There are no rips, tears, markings, etc.---and the pages and binding are tight as a drumVery Good
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$250.00
Atlas Shrugged  [Nineteenth Printing]
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Atlas Shrugged [Nineteenth Printing]

by Rand, Ayn

Condition
Used - Fine
Jacket Condition
Fine
Edition
First Edition
Published
1957
Binding
Hardcover
Quantity Available
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Rapid River, Michigan, USA
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$350.00

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New York: Random House, 1957. Stated Nineteenth Printing at copyright page. 1957 at copyright; no other dates. Circa 1972 printing. Green boards w/black cloth spine wrap, sharp blind-stamped cover initials and crisp gilt spine titles, slight shelf wear. Deckled pages fine, clean, no writing. Vintage decorative bookplate inside cover: "From the Library of: 'Waddy Anderson.'"… Read more about this item
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$350.00