{"id":5378,"date":"2023-02-01T12:43:04","date_gmt":"2023-02-01T18:43:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.lfs.org\/blog\/?p=5378"},"modified":"2023-02-24T16:49:00","modified_gmt":"2023-02-24T22:49:00","slug":"rands-atlas-shrugged-orwells-1984-listed-with-other-literary-classics-on-international-blog-listing-best-books-to-understand-the-world","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lfs.org\/blog\/rands-atlas-shrugged-orwells-1984-listed-with-other-literary-classics-on-international-blog-listing-best-books-to-understand-the-world\/","title":{"rendered":"Rand\u2019s Atlas Shrugged, Orwell\u2019s 1984 listed with other literary classics on international blog listing best \u201cBooks to Understand the World\u201d"},"content":{"rendered":"

Many \u201cbests\u201d lists or ranked-reading lists tend to be matters of opinion, even if objective merit remains a meaningful standard of rational evaluation. Yet isn\u2019t it interesting to compare favorite books and novels and discover that some our favorites also rank high on other lists?
\n\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

For those libertarian sci-fi\/fantasy fans who have the curiosity and time to look beyond our own Prometheus Awards track record of 100 past winners in all categories, an online list compiled of \u201cBooks to understand the world\u201d makes for interesting reading….<\/p>\n

…Especially because two of the most notable Prometheus Award winners are prominently featured on the list.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Ayn Rand\u2019s Atlas Shrugged <\/em>and George Orwell\u2019s Nineteen Eighty Four\u00a0<\/em>\u2013 both early inductees into the Prometheus Hall of Fame and bestselling works ranking among the best-known and most influential dystopian novels of the 20th\u00a0<\/sup>century \u00a0\u2013 are among the books recommended<\/a> and briefly described on the list, compiled by writer-researcher Jo\u00e3o Uva, Portugal-based investment counselor and Value of Stocks blogger<\/a>.<\/p>\n

These two dystopian novels are grouped with another dystopian classic (Aldous Huxley\u2019s Brave New World) <\/em>among the very few novels on the list, which also includes quite a few non-fiction classics, both ancient and modern.<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s how Rand\u2019s Atlas Shrugged\u00a0<\/em>is described on the recommended list:<\/p>\n

\u201cThis novel has been praised by many as a work of genius, and it\u2019s easy to see why. The story is set in a future America where the government has become oppressive and the economy is in shambles. The protagonists are a group of industrialists who go on strike against the government, eventually leading to a revolution.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>The book is crammed full of ideas about philosophy, economics, and politics, making it one of the most intellectually stimulating novels around. It\u2019s sure to make you think long and hard about the world around you. It\u2019s nearly 1400 pages long, but it\u2019s well worth the effort.\u201d<\/p>\n

(For more about Atlas Shrugged,\u00a0<\/em>check out this review-essay<\/a> and also this different but complementary review essay<\/a>\u00a0among the many Appreciations of past Prometheus winners posted on the Prometheus blog as part of the LFS\u2019s now-complete Appreciation series.)<\/p>\n

And here\u2019s how Uva describes Orwell\u2019s classic:<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is another classic that is essential reading for understanding the world we live in. It\u2019s a story about a totalitarian government that controls its citizens through fear and propaganda. This book will make you think about the role of government in our lives and how it can be used to control us.\u201d<\/p>\n

(For more about Orwell\u2019s novel, here\u2019s the Prometheus blog’s Appreciation<\/a>.)<\/p>\n

On his blog, Uva also highlights many widely recognized works of literature as well as more recent non-fiction books on various lists.<\/p>\n

The blog offers a separate list of \u201cintellectual books for advanced readers.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cAn intellectual novel is a book that requires the reader to think critically and deeply about the characters, events, and themes. These books are usually challenging and thought-provoking, often exploring controversial topics.<\/p>\n

They can be fiction or nonfiction, but they must make the reader question their own beliefs and assumptions,\u201d Uva writes.<\/p>\n

Also on that list is Fyodor Dostoevsky\u2019s The Brothers Karamazov\u00a0<\/em>and Crime and Punishment,\u00a0<\/em>Leo Tolstoy\u2019s War and Peace, <\/em>and Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn\u2019s\u00a0The Gulag Archipelago.<\/em><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Each recommendation comes with a concise explanation of why it belongs on the list and deserves to be read. Often, the explanations are just one paragraph long.<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s a concise example, for Solzhenitsyn\u2019s\u00a0The Gulag Archipelago:<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cAn epic account of the Soviet Union\u2019s prison camp system. It is a harrowing read, but it is also an important piece of history. The reason this book is so important is that it gives a voice to the millions of people who were imprisoned and killed by the Soviet regime. It\u2019s also a grim reminder of the capacity for human cruelty.\u00a0\u201c<\/p>\n

Among the novels recommended on the blog\u2019s \u201cintroductory\u201d list: \u00a0J.D. Salinger\u2019s The Catcher in the Rye,\u00a0<\/em>Harper Lee\u2019s To Kill a Mockingbird,\u00a0<\/em>F. Scott Fitzgerald\u2019s The Great Gatsby,\u00a0<\/em>Jane Austen\u2019s Pride and Prejudice,\u00a0<\/em>and Tolstoy\u2019s War and Peace<\/em>.<\/p>\n

Thus, in terms of widely recognized literature that’s stood the test of time, our two Prometheus Hall of Winner winners are in excellent company.<\/p>\n

THE VALUE OF INTELLECTUAL READING<\/strong><\/p>\n

Uva, an ardent advocate of literary and reading, views what he calls \u201cintellectual reading\u201d as an important prerequisite for a successful career and a well-lived life.<\/p>\n

\u201cIntellectual books are those that make you think. They force you to examine your beliefs and look at the world in a new way. There are many different types of intellectual books, but which one is best for you?<\/p>\n

\u201cIntellectual reading is defined as reading material that is thought-provoking and requires mental effort to understand. This type of reading can be beneficial in expanding your knowledge and improving your critical thinking skills.<\/p>\n

There are many different genres of intellectual books, so there is sure to be something for everyone. If you\u2019re looking for something to improve your knowledge, consider a book on history or philosophy. For something more challenging, try a classic novel or a book on physics or mathematics.<\/p>\n

No matter what type of intellectual book you choose, make sure to take your time and really think about what you\u2019re reading. Try to identify the main ideas and draw connections between the concepts presented in the book and your own life experiences. By engaging with the material in this way, you can maximize the benefits of an intellectual reading.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>IF YOU WANT TO KNOW MORE:<\/strong><\/p>\n

* Prometheus winners:\u00a0<\/strong>For the full list of Prometheus winners, finalists and nominees \u2013 for the annual Best Novel and Best Classic Fiction (Hall of Fame) categories and occasional Special Awards \u2013 visit the enhanced\u00a0Prometheus Awards page\u00a0<\/strong><\/a>on the LFS website, which now includes convenient links to the full set of published appreciation-reviews of past winners.<\/p>\n

* Read\u00a0\u201cThe Libertarian History of Science Fiction,\u201d<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0an essay in the international magazine\u00a0Quillette<\/em>\u00a0that favorably highlights the Prometheus Awards, the Libertarian Futurist Society and the significant element of libertarian sf\/fantasy in the evolution of the modern genre.<\/p>\n

*\u00a0Watch\u00a0 <\/strong>videos <\/strong>of the 2022 Prometheus ceremony with Wil McCarthy, and past Prometheus Awards ceremonies, Libertarian Futurist Society panel discussions with noted sf authors and leading libertarian writers, and other LFS programs on the Prometheus Blog\u2019s\u00a0Video page.<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
\n*\u00a0Join us<\/strong>! To help sustain the Prometheus Awards,\u00a0join\u00a0<\/strong><\/a>the Libertarian Futurist Society (LFS), a non-profit all-volunteer association of freedom-loving sf\/fantasy fans.<\/p>\n

Libertarian futurists believe that culture matters! We understand that the arts and literature can be vital, and in some ways even more powerful than politics in the long run, by sparking innovation, better ideas, positive social change, and mutual respect for each other\u2019s rights and differences.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Many \u201cbests\u201d lists or ranked-reading lists tend to be matters of opinion, even if objective merit remains a meaningful standard of rational evaluation. Yet isn\u2019t it interesting to compare favorite books and novels and discover that some our favorites also rank high on other lists? For those libertarian sci-fi\/fantasy fans who have the curiosity and … Continue reading Rand\u2019s Atlas Shrugged, Orwell\u2019s 1984 listed with other literary classics on international blog listing best \u201cBooks to Understand the World\u201d<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[1854,1585,1862,37],"tags":[815,558,167,1801,529,814,59,629],"class_list":["post-5378","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-ayn-rand","category-fiction-in-the-news","category-george-orwell","category-memorial-tributes","tag-aldous-huxley","tag-atlas-shrugged","tag-ayn-rand","tag-bestsellers","tag-brave-new-world","tag-dystopian-literature","tag-george-orwell","tag-nineteen-eighty-four"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pe8nGl-1oK","jetpack-related-posts":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lfs.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5378","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lfs.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lfs.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lfs.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/10"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lfs.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5378"}],"version-history":[{"count":11,"href":"https:\/\/www.lfs.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5378\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5399,"href":"https:\/\/www.lfs.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5378\/revisions\/5399"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lfs.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5378"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lfs.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5378"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lfs.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5378"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}