Wednesday, June 1, 2011

Must-read: "I Am John Galt"

I've finished Don Luskin's "I Am John Galt: Today's Heroic Innovators Building the World and the Villanous Parasites Destroying It", and I can now very highly recommend the book to anyone who believes in the power of free markets and individual liberty. But if you haven't read Ayn Rand's Fountainhead or Atlas Shrugged, then by all means read them first.

Luskin gives new life to Ayn Rand's books, logic, and philosophy, by showing how timeless they are. Each of her major characters has a counterpart in today's world, and the major themes are still being played out today:

The Individualist: Steve Jobs as Howard Roark, the man who reinvented four industries just because it was so cool.
The Mad Collectivist: Paul Krugman as Ellsworth Toohey, the man who preaches socialism from the pages of America’s newspaper of record.
The Leader: John Allison as John Galt, the man who walked away after building America’s strongest bank.
The Parasite: Angelo Mozilo as James Taggart, the businessman who co-opted government and nearly wrecked the U.S. economy.
The Persecuted Titan: Bill Gates as Henry Rearden, the businessman who created revolutionary technologies and was criminalized for his success.
The Central Planner: Barney Frank as Wesley Mouch, the politician who meddled in the economy and almost destroyed it.
The Capitalist Champion: T. J. Rodgers as Francisco d’Anconia, the modern Renaissance man, and agent provocateur for capitalism.
The Sellout: Alan Greenspan as Robert Stadler, the libertarian who became an economic czar.
The Economist of Liberty: Milton Friedman as Hugh Akston, the academic who showed the world the connection between capitalism and freedom.
Don has written a lively and engaging tour de force that, if widely read, could help set our politics and our economy back on the track of growth. Don't miss it, and help spread the word.

I Am John Galt: Today's Heroic Innovators Building the World and the Villainous Parasites Destroying It

5 comments:

BBL Jr said...

thanks for the heads up on this book

W.E. Heasley said...

Mr. Grannis:

Read book as well. Most excellent book!

Anonymous said...

Mr. Grannis,

I just finished the book as well. It was outstanding. I'm sending a review out to over 300 in my network recommending they read it. I sincerely appreciate the information on your sight. All the best. M.

Kurt said...

I haven't read the book yet. Is it fiction or non-fiction?

I will never be able to imagine Steve Jobs as a Howard Roark type of figure, but I am willing to give the book a shot if it has such positive reviews.

Scott Grannis said...

The book is nonfiction.