Introduction

Explore Atlas Shrugged offers podcasts and discussion questions on Ayn Rand's epic novel Atlas Shrugged by Diana Hsieh (Ph.D, Philosophy, CU Boulder). They are intended for any fan of the novel seeking to explore its events, characters, and ideas in depth, as well as for any leader of or participant in an Atlas Shrugged Reading Group.

These podcasts and discussion questions are broken into 20 sessions, each covering about 65 pages of the novel. That is the format that Front Range Objectivism is using for its very successful Atlas Shrugged Reading Groups.

Completed Sessions: Session 1 — Session 2 — Session 3 — Session 4 — Session 5 — Session 6 — Session 7 — Session 8 — Session 9 — Session 10 — Session 11 — Session 12 — Session 13 — Session 14 — Session 15 — Session 16 — Sessions 17 & 18

Please note that the pagination of the two larger hardcover and softcover editions differ from that of the smaller mass market paperback. I recommend using the larger edition: I don't always list page numbers for the smaller edition on this web site.

05 October 2009

Explore Atlas Shrugged: Session 1

By Diana Hsieh

These discussion questions and podcast were prepared by Diana Hsieh for ExploreAtlasShrugged.com. They aim to be of help to people interested in creating their own Atlas Shrugged Reading Groups, as well as to anyone wishing to study the novel in more depth. They may be freely used for the study and discussion of Atlas Shrugged, provided that this paragraph remains intact in any reproduction.

Readings


Atlas Shrugged, Part 1, Chapters 1-3
  • Part 1: Chapter 1: The Theme
  • Part 1: Chapter 2: The Chain
  • Part 1: Chapter 3: The Top and the Bottom
Or:

Podcast


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Discussion Questions



(Note: The listed page numbers are for the larger edition, softcover or hardback.)

Section 1 (3-12)
  • What is the state of the world? What is Eddie Willers' response to it? How is that world similar to and different from the world of today? (3-6, 11-12)
  • — What is the meaning of the oak tree? Why does Eddie remember it as he walks through the city? (5)

  • As children, how do Eddie and Dagny differ in their understanding of "the best within us"? What is Eddie's view of morality? (6)
  • — What is Eddie's view of Ellis Wyatt? Why doesn't Jim share that view? Who is right? (9-10)

  • What are Jim's methods of dealing with problems on the railroad? How is Eddie's approach different? How do those differences reflect each person's moral character? (7-11)Section 2 (12-17)
    • How does Dagny's response to the stalled train differ from that of the crew? What qualities of character does she reveal? What does that suggest about the state of Taggart Transcontinental -- and the wider culture? (15-7)
    • — What is Dagny's attitude toward her emotions? Is that right or wrong? (13, 17)
    • Section 3 (17-18)
    • What is Dagny's emotional response on entering the Taggart terminal? What does she feel about her work? Is that unusual? Is that good? Why or why not?
    Section 4 (18-26)
    • Why doesn't Jim want to buy rail from Hank Rearden, particularly not rail made of Rearden Metal? How does he attempt to prevent Dagny from doing so? Why -- and how -- does Dagny insist on doing so? Who is right -- and why? (18-24)
    Whole Chapter
    • What is the significance of the title of this chapter?
    Part 1, Chapter 2: The Chain

    Section 1 (27-43)
    • Is the pouring of the first heat of Rearden Metal an accomplishment worthy of notice and esteem? Why don't most people notice and esteem it? How does Rearden respond to the worker who does? How is that response unusual for Rearden? (27-32)
    • When Rearden returns home after pouring his first heat of Rearden Metal, what does he want from his family? How do they treat him? Why? How does he respond to them? Why? (29-43)
    • Why does Hank Rearden offer his brother Philip the donation for Friends of Global Progress? How does Philip respond -- and why? Was offering the donation a mistake on Hank's part? Why? (41-3)
    • Does Hank have an obligation to support his family? Should he share his wealth with them? Does he owe them affection or attention? Why or why not? (29-43)
    Whole Chapter
    • What is the significance of the title of this chapter?
    Part 1, Chapter 3: The Top and the Bottom

    Section 1 (44-50)
    • What is the deal that James Taggart and Orren Boyle make? Why don't they they speak of it openly -- and what moral claims do they use to conceal it? (44-50)
    • Are the four men at the meeting -- James Taggart, Orren Boyle, Wesley Mouch, and Parl Larkin -- defenders of capitalism? Why or why not? (44-50)
    Section 2 (50-62)
    • What is the basic history of the San Sebastian Line? Why was Dagny opposed to it? How did Jim convince the Board of Directors to approve it? Why did Dagny build it?
    • How is Dagny now protecting Taggart Transcontinental from the San Sebastian Line? Why does she fear its nationalization? (54-8)
    • What is the basic story of Nat Taggart? Why does Dagny feel reverence for him? Why does she regret that he is an ancestor? (59-60)
    Section 3 (62-63)
    • What information about himself, Dagny, and the railroad does Eddie reveal to the railroad worker? (62-3)
    Whole Chapter
    • What is the significance of the title of this chapter?

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  • As children, how do Eddie and Dagny differ in their understanding of "the best within us"? What is Eddie's view of morality? (6)
  • — What is Eddie's view of Ellis Wyatt? Why doesn't Jim share that view? Who is right? (9-10)

  • What are Jim's methods of dealing with problems on the railroad? How is Eddie's approach different? How do those differences reflect each person's moral character? (7-11)Section 2 (12-17)
    • How does Dagny's response to the stalled train differ from that of the crew? What qualities of character does she reveal? What does that suggest about the state of Taggart Transcontinental -- and the wider culture? (15-7)
    • — What is Dagny's attitude toward her emotions? Is that right or wrong? (13, 17)
    • Section 3 (17-18)
    • What is Dagny's emotional response on entering the Taggart terminal? What does she feel about her work? Is that unusual? Is that good? Why or why not?
    Section 4 (18-26)
    • Why doesn't Jim want to buy rail from Hank Rearden, particularly not rail made of Rearden Metal? How does he attempt to prevent Dagny from doing so? Why -- and how -- does Dagny insist on doing so? Who is right -- and why? (18-24)
    Whole Chapter
    • What is the significance of the title of this chapter?
    Part 1, Chapter 2: The Chain

    Section 1 (27-43)
    • Is the pouring of the first heat of Rearden Metal an accomplishment worthy of notice and esteem? Why don't most people notice and esteem it? How does Rearden respond to the worker who does? How is that response unusual for Rearden? (27-32)
    • When Rearden returns home after pouring his first heat of Rearden Metal, what does he want from his family? How do they treat him? Why? How does he respond to them? Why? (29-43)
    • Why does Hank Rearden offer his brother Philip the donation for Friends of Global Progress? How does Philip respond -- and why? Was offering the donation a mistake on Hank's part? Why? (41-3)
    • Does Hank have an obligation to support his family? Should he share his wealth with them? Does he owe them affection or attention? Why or why not? (29-43)
    Whole Chapter
    • What is the significance of the title of this chapter?
    Part 1, Chapter 3: The Top and the Bottom

    Section 1 (44-50)
    • What is the deal that James Taggart and Orren Boyle make? Why don't they they speak of it openly -- and what moral claims do they use to conceal it? (44-50)
    • Are the four men at the meeting -- James Taggart, Orren Boyle, Wesley Mouch, and Parl Larkin -- defenders of capitalism? Why or why not? (44-50)
    Section 2 (50-62)
    • What is the basic history of the San Sebastian Line? Why was Dagny opposed to it? How did Jim convince the Board of Directors to approve it? Why did Dagny build it?
    • How is Dagny now protecting Taggart Transcontinental from the San Sebastian Line? Why does she fear its nationalization? (54-8)
    • What is the basic story of Nat Taggart? Why does Dagny feel reverence for him? Why does she regret that he is an ancestor? (59-60)
    Section 3 (62-63)
    • What information about himself, Dagny, and the railroad does Eddie reveal to the railroad worker? (62-3)
    Whole Chapter
    • What is the significance of the title of this chapter?
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