If you're here, then you probably already know: John Galt is the hero from Ayn Rand's epic 1957 novel, Atlas Shrugged. The question is the novel's opening sentence; a question people in a crumbling world ask themselves in moments of despair and frustration -- moments when one might just as well ask, "Why me?"
Like many of Ayn Rand's heroes, John Galt is a creative genius. He is a man of uncommon reason, but he is also completely free of guilt. John Galt is a free man who serves others only as it suits his own needs -- he holds no misgivings about his "debt to society." Brilliant and uncompromising, he knows that it is society which in fact depends on him, and he proves it by stopping the creative flow that powers man's very world.
Atlas Shrugged was rated by readers as the second most influential book (after The Bible) in a 1991 survey co-sponsored by The Book-of-the-Month Club and The Library of Congress. It's a lengthy read, but it's well worth the time for anyone who wants to understand why the ideas of the political left are so destructive and irrational, or for anyone seeking a moral basis for individualism.
I've been picking up your posts via RSS for a month or so and I thought I'd stop by and say keep up the good work.
Posted by: AndyK | 02/05/2009 at 05:55 PM
Now I ask "Where is John Galt?" Because what Rand envisioned---that the victims would refuse to participate, would simply walk away---is a recurring dream for me right now. I can't believe you have this domain name in the bag! Good for you!
Posted by: Daneen | 02/18/2009 at 12:34 AM
Kind of stumbled on to your blog, but I'm really enjoying it! Keep up the good work!
Posted by: Connie | 03/12/2009 at 06:17 PM
Excellent, rational work. Please continue laying the tracks of the John Galt Line.
Posted by: Ragnar | 07/10/2009 at 01:05 PM
I am about 1/5 of the way through "Atlas Shrugged" and am mesmerized by it. I hope to return to this site and I keep asking the question, Who is John Galt???
Posted by: Cathymac | 08/12/2009 at 10:00 AM
Just finished Atlas Shrugged in audio form. That book has opened my eyes in so many ways. There are so many parallels that can be drawn to actual events of today..it is kind of scary. I wish every kid in high school could read this book and write an essay on it or something because this book could change the outlook on the world for so many.
Posted by: Adam Cessna | 04/20/2010 at 09:00 AM
A=A
Posted by: Hank Rearden | 06/25/2010 at 12:30 PM
"A is A"
Posted by: Dagny Taggart | 07/13/2010 at 11:49 PM
Less is not more. Less is less and more is more. Speak the truth.
Posted by: Albert Anvals | 07/20/2010 at 12:33 AM
Less is more only if I'm your stock broker. ;-)
Posted by: Ben in Boston | 08/05/2010 at 09:34 AM
A is A has an allegory in the overthrow of the moochers in Poland. They successfully used "2+2=4" as a rallying cry to re-establish the central need for reason and logic in dealing with the nation's problems.
Posted by: AJ | 09/03/2010 at 04:37 PM
John Galt sounds just like the type of person I am. I agree with John Galt's attitude on life. I think people would be much happier this way.
-DM
Posted by: Demitria | 09/24/2010 at 09:30 AM
I totally comply with John Galt's thinking and the way to see things in life. Let's feel free of guilt!
-MM
Posted by: Melisa | 09/24/2010 at 09:46 AM
I, am John Galt (jr). I discovered I was John Galt in January of 2010 after reading Atlas Shrugged. I did not read the book and make an effort to be John Galt, I discovered I had become John Galt in 2008. During the presidential campaign I had decided to go on strike!
Posted by: John Galt Jr. | 05/01/2011 at 10:15 PM
Imagine this:
"Who is John Galt" appears everywhere over night as Graffiti on highway over passes, on buildings and streets; anywhere that it can be written it starts appearing.
It happened in 1964 somewhere in NJ
Posted by: B. Smith | 05/05/2011 at 06:02 AM
"Imagine this:
"Who is John Galt" appears everywhere over night as Graffiti on highway over passes, on buildings and streets; anywhere that it can be written it starts appearing." B.Smith
It happened in 1964 somewhere in NJ
That Sounds Good. Maybe history might be kind enough to repeat itself in League City
Posted by: Mike Acto | 05/05/2011 at 04:16 PM
I gave my answer here:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Who-is-John-Galt-I-AM/196772337049266
Posted by: Jason Meszaros | 08/05/2011 at 09:51 AM
and here:
http://jasonmeszaros.com/home/who-is-john-galt-i-am/
Posted by: Jason Meszaros | 08/05/2011 at 02:25 PM
We all owe a debt to the society which provides a place to take advantage of fellow man. If not for the whole of society, there would be no means to amass wealth. The more wealth you are able to obtain, the greater the debt owed.
You all should read some of Tom Paine's writings. Brilliance that came a century and a half before the beloved Atlas Shrugged.
Posted by: youdontneedallthisstuff | 08/05/2011 at 07:36 PM
From where do you get the premise that to trade with your fellow man is to "take advantage" of him?
Posted by: John Galt | 08/06/2011 at 01:06 PM
This is a hilarious site. Almost as excellent as Colbert's satire.
Be careful though, some simple minded fools might take you seriously.
Just imagine, a legion of fools who believe that they alone create their own destiny free of any and all social context and constraints! Lol infinity.
Posted by: Too funny | 11/29/2011 at 01:51 AM
Too funny said:
Just imagine, a legion of fools who believe that they alone create their own destiny free of any and all social context and constraints!
Really? I don't believe that at all. Who here believes that? That would be funny.
Oh, but then I guess if you explained things as they really work you'd have a much harder time attacking it, huh?
Or maybe you should just change your name to "Too stupid" instead...?
Posted by: John Galt | 11/29/2011 at 01:11 PM
Dear Mr. Galt:
"John Galt is a creative genius. He is a man of uncommon reason, but he is also completely free of guilt. John Galt is a free man who serves others only as it suits his own needs -- he holds no misgivings about his "debt to society." Brilliant and uncompromising, he knows that it is society which in fact depends on him..."
From your own description of your (imaginary) hero....
And:
"From where do you get the premise that to trade with your fellow man is to "take advantage" of him?"
Just using your own simplistic worldview to point out some problems... Sorry that hurts your feelings...
Posted by: Too funny | 11/30/2011 at 11:23 PM
Dear Too stupid,
You have provided nothing to substantiate your mischaracterization of libertarians as people "who believe that they alone create their own destiny free of any and all social context and constraints".
The existence of trade acknowledges that mutual cooperation is essential to prosperity. We support trade. Therefore your above statement is simply not our view.
Additionally, you're relying on several collectivist premises that libertarians do not share:
1. "Value" is determined by third parties, or by the state. In fact, the value of something is whatever others are willing to pay for it voluntarily, and the state has no business interfering.
2. People who produce no value are "owed" something, and it is the state's job to provide it. No. People who produce no value are necessarily dependent upon those who do, and the relationship should reflect this reality -- not your fantasy that those who do produce somehow owe anything to those who are only a burden.
3. "Debt to society" can never be paid in full, and society deserves a perpetual share of whatever the individual earns. Hogwash. If a person pays for everything he uses, then no further debt is owed from whatever he makes of himself from the tools he purchased free and clear.
Posted by: John Galt | 12/01/2011 at 12:10 PM