I think the narrator on mine was a woman. Just didn't fit. Then again, I prefer actual reading, as I have trouble listening without my mind wandering. But that's just me.

I had a boss who had an entire cabinet in his office full of Ayn Rand books, mostly AS, which he gave away to anyone who would take them. This was long after I had been introduced to objectivism by someone who was literally not even in the same universe with AR intellectually. I also got out fast.

My boss was much like your "true bastard," as he was one himself, though our relationship was different. I wouldn't say he was a James or a Francisco (my very favorite character, even above John Galt), but just a Galt-wannabe.

As an aside, I was absolutely astonished, knowing him as I did, and his family, and his reputation, to read his obituary. I am not sure where they hired the writer but it was definitely someone with a strong background in fiction writing. If someone had left the name off the obituary, I would not have known who they were talking about.

The narrator of my CD series is Scott Brick. He is quite good, IMO. There is at least one other version with a different narrator.

I first read AS back in 1990, I was 25 at the time. I had my software engineering degrees and had been out in the world, putting those degrees to work at IBM. I found the book to be fully engrossing, a real page turner, taking just a few days to digest it all. And when I put the book down, I had only two words: "Of Course." I did not know Rand, but I thought, this author must be an engineer for she certainly has an engineering mind. The text and story flowed, much like the process of software design, coding, testing, delivery in terms of the waterfall model. It all simply added up. It could not have turned out any differently. Since that time, I have picked up the book and read it another 6 or 7 times. I have also listened to the reading of the text while on the road.

Over these past 35 years, I have been witness to the shared observation that Rand was a writer, philosopher and a prophet. When I think about books to read, I have several shelves full of them ... and yet I am drawn back to having AS sitting on my desk, in sight, and within reach. At times, when I need to hear a dose of plainly simple rationality, I will play a bit from the book -- The Money Speech, or the Story of the Twentieth Century Motor Company ... or the part where all the producers tell Dagny why they are on strike.

I enjoyed the film adaptations, given their limited budgets. I wondered what those films could have been like given the budget and directorial acumen of Peter Jackson (LOTR). Just sitting here, now, I am visualizing that scene where, with his mills under siege, Reardon hears d'Anconia's words and finally makes his decision to go on strike. And yet, the book is filled with scenes both grand in their presentation and intimate with the subtle mental changes in awareness in the characters. We are instructed in the book, and compelled to exercise in real life "Check your premise."

I was in grad school and working full-time.

I keep giving my well worn paperback copies away and buying another. I never tire of reading it at least once a year since my late 20's.I met AS through a true bastard (very naive, didn't realize it for awhile, but got out fast) who fancied himself a modern Francisco. He even gave himself a five name pedigree with a number, but from a Commonwealth nation. Once I read the book, he was gone from my life. Not a Francisco, but a James.

Read the first page and ask yourself why Eddie is lying.

Curious about the Autism. Is it the typical situation. Your child was fine, then a vaccine, then within a day or so, it was either a completely different child, or at least you saw the change coming????
Losing eye contact. Losing the smile/joy expressions in the face.

Very curious. In most "civil" environments, we are NOT ALLOWED to ask these questions.
Which is wrong. I am sorry this happened to your son. (As an example, I had a cousin who was dying from SIDS when his mom found him and saved his life. He was basically brain dead from loss of oxygen and had to be raised in an institution. She cannot discuss it, which I can understand). (Wyeth vaccine deaths were pushed under the rug, I later discovered)

I read it four times, but not recently. I probably should go back again, especially in light of all the crap going on these days.

And I made it through about ten minutes on audio, Abaco, and bailed. I could not stand the voice of the narrator.

Finish that second half !

The "Bugs Bunny" generation - I kinda like that appellation! Yeah - had to scrabble for everything, large family and had to help put food on the table early (11yo delivering papers). But it sure helped with reality. Tried to pass that along to my Son and it seems as if it took. My library also has Churchill - not so much on Hemingway. May have to check him out at some point.

After re-reading it a few times and watching the movies, I still discover new (old) things. Amazing prophecy.

It's a long slog.
Read it at least 6 times, always learn something new.
It also depresses me.
1950's folks (The Greatest Generation) had more backbone.
They spoke up, for the most part.
Most believed in the Republic.
Most had strong morals.
Most held their faith close to their breast.
They lived through some of the most trying times in 100 years and came through stronger for it.

My generation (The Bugs Bunny Generation) for the most part, grew up in a bubble.
It's only because I grew up incredibly poor that I had a clue as to what true reality was.

The old man had a dog-eared copy of Atlas Shrugged in the attic library. Along with copies of Churchill and Hemingway.

I've read AS 13.5 times.

I wish that, also. I find reading this book to be quite comforting...

Yeah, I've read it twice, watched the movies several times, and read Galt's speech a few times.

Always gives me hope knowing that there are at least a few people here in the Gulch that can still think and reason. I just wish it would catch on to a wider audience!