Summary of Atlas Shrugged

Atlas Shrugged is a dystopian novel by Ayn Rand, first published in 1957. The story centers on Dagny Taggart, vice president of Taggart Transcontinental, and Hank Rearden, owner of Rearden Steel. The two form an alliance to fight against a mood of oppression and collectivism infecting their world, caused by a mysterious figure named John Galt. In their struggle, they must battle against government intrusions, a corrupt bureaucracy, and the envy of the politically powerful. Businesses and their leaders are forced to flee the country to escape government control, and the remainder find themselves in a relentless fight to survive and thrive. The novel culminates in an epic confrontation between GOOD and EVIL, and a call to throw off the shackles of collectivism and restore individual rights and freedoms.