I wasn't aware of Atlas Snubbed. I will have to add it to my list. As far as reading Atlas Shrugged again, I can only agree that it is a long book.

Actually, I'm currently plodding my way through "Atlas Snubbed" by Ken Krawchuk and wishing he would just get to the point! His writing style is reminiscent of A/R, which was charming at first, but somewhat irritating by the middle of the book. Makes me wonder how I would feel about re-reading A/S at age 67!

Actually, I saw your comment as having the correct idea, just the wrong charater. I suspect my interpretation is because I read the book, only recently and have been "studying" Ayn Rand and Objectivism from her early works to her last.

"Rowe’s recommended work ethic involves showing initiative and being industrious, responsible, unpretentious, and friendly." Bravo! The welfare state is creating a society accustomed to and demanding the unearned. A society of increasing numbers of members of this persuasion is destined for failure. Those smart enough to be producers are not dumb enough to be slaves.

yes, I love that blarman

See my comment to Ibecame above. I admit these are important distinctions, but one thing we all agree on in Rowe is an admirable character.

I've been a huge fan of Mike Rowe since seeing more and more of his 'real self' in social media over the last few years. He's a down-to-earth guy, hard worker, and realizes that hard work is always its own reward.

He's also the narrative voice on Deadliest Catch if you were not aware, in addition to his on-camera stuff.

His partnership with Caterpillar is very admirable, he has been an untiring voice for convincing American high school teens that 'going to college' isn't a guarantee of success, if you are not cut out for it. He has been driving home the fact that many skilled trades careers pay much higher than white collar stuff, and may be much more in reach for many people - while also being highly in demand .

http://www.cat.com/en_US/articles/cus...

He doesn't just voice the stuff, he raises money for his foundation to provide scholarships to trade schools, spotlights the employers on his TV shows, etc .

If only other entertainers had anywhere near the same level of commitment, honor, integrity, and the well-being of others that he does.

What I like best is, it's not giving someone a fish to eat, its teaching them how to fish. I'm sure Ayn Rand would approve.

I see. You obviously have a much better recollection of the nuances of A/S than I. Even though I read just about everything A/R had published when I was in my 20s, I never considered myself a "student" of Objectivism and have preferred to carry the "spirit" of her writings with me through the decades without getting all tangled up in the minutia of her novels.

for one thing, Rowe has struck out on his own and built his own enterprise. Remember Eddie was a loyalist and chose TT over striking out with Dagny. Eddie sees the value of TT and Dagny and a Hank but he is very conventional in many ways. Do the job, do it well and stay there. Rowe is clear that to be successful you look at all jobs, how to do them better, see how things work-in case one day you are asked to be in charge. Eddie got his hands dirty? lol. Rowe represents to me the protagonist in Calmet K, a novel Rand admired. check it out-it's free online

Eddie Willers was Dagny's assistant, implementing her decisions. Not a leader or producer. Thus, he was never offered a place in the Gulch. Mike Rowe on the other hand is a demonstrated leader and producer. I feel, that if you were to place him as a character in the Movie or the Book it would be one of the many alluded to characters that were part of the Gulch but not specifically mentioned.

What is work, anyway? It's from the brain, it's from the muscles, it's the only reason for existence. All animals work in order to survive, man included. It is a fact that seems to eluded the growing number of moochers in the country. There truly is no such thing as a free lunch -- or for that matter, a free anything. Mike knows it. My Dad knew it. I know it.

It occurs to me that so many sitcoms, articles, and books of late despise work. Men and women who hate their jobs, their bosses, and the people that own their workplace. What is that all about?

I have always loved Mike Rowe's responses to the questions of our time. He ignores the politics and gets right to the heart of the matter, which usually revolves around the need for hard work and personal accountability. I also loved the story he tells about how he got hired by talking about a pencil for ten minutes. If you haven't read it, it's the attitude of not only someone who wants to find solutions, but an imaginative mind:
http://americandigest.org/mt-archives...

I think he'd make a great Secretary of Labor because he'd emphasize the LABOR part!!! (He'd also probably put himself out of a job!)

You centered the target on this. I believe Mike would be near the top of the "John Gault" list.

Care to show me "the error of my ways"?

I think there are some problems with that, but I see your point.

Mike Rowe just responded to me on FB!
"very flattering"

It is wonderful that AR is appearing in more and more articles in a positive manner. 3 cheers.

The morally incorruptible "everyman"? There may be a better analogy that I'm not thinking of, but it's been 45 years since I read A/S!!

how so, paris?

Mike Rowe: The Eddie Willers of our time?

Ms.Biondi is a Philosophy professor. She spoke at Atlas Summit last year, but I do not think this summer

It took me a bit to realize the 'andphilosophy' site was using popular culture as the sounding board for philosophical thought. I'm glad you referenced it. My first encounters with 'Dirty Jobs' placed Mike Rowe as just an entertainer, but later I began to see that maybe he was as much a philosopher. I like his thoughts and the article above pointing out such close matches with AR causes me to like him even more.

Txs for the post.

Great post, K. I'm a big fan of Mike Rowe's message. I wish more people were listening.

+1

I bet he would do it too

I would LOVE to get MIke Rowe for an AMA