Posted on 01/17/2009 11:27:40 AM PST by Publius
Keep my questions about Eddie in mind...he has an obvious role in the book, what you think about him so far is accurate. I’d be interested to hear what you think of him and his fate later.
The introductory thread has reached 310 posts, which is wonderful by FR standards. The Chapter 1 thread reached 141 posts before petering out, which is respectable.
The book is a genuine page-turner with a few dead spots along the way -- and one huge dead spot toward the end. It's occurred to me that perhaps I should accelerate the pace in order to maintain the momentum and keep the members of our FReeper Book Club interested. So I have 3 options:
I'm interested in feedback before charging ahead.
It’s especially ironic, as Greenspan is a disciple of Rand, and was a member of her inner circle.
Two chapters / week, please!
As a full time grad student, part-time instructor, I’d go for 1 chapter per week, but if it’s two, I’ll try to keep up.
Just got the book today, so I have a bit of catching up to do
bump
I working off of memory from reading it last summer, so a faster pace would be fine by me. The idea of adding the next chapter as the previous thread peters out sounds like a good idea. You can always slow it down if people havce trouble keeping up.
For the record, I think I read the whole thing in about three weeks the last time.
I like the idea of once a week. It makes the postings at a predictable time (and the choice of beginning of weekend works for me) and gives me a week to mull over the discussion.
If the concensus is that one a week is too slow, an adaptable posting schedule is appealing. I’d vote for post when the previous thread wanes.
In any case, I’d say give the once a week pace some time before making a change.
I’m still playing catch up.
I’ll go along for the ride.
I’m struck by the similarities rereading this book, especially today.
Taxman Bravo Zulu!
Thanks for hosting this thread — I may not post on it very FRequently, but I’ll Lurk ‘N Learn, if you don’t mind.
AS is my all time favorite book, and my I am saddened beyond words to see so many of the prognostications Ms. Rand made 50 years ago becoming factual.
Perhaps with increased awareness of the dangers of Socialism, we can begin to right the ship of state. If not for us, then for our children and grandchildren.
We’ll need a lot of help, and this may be a starting place.
This image strikes me as the core of the problems of society in this book (and by extension today's society). The tree sheltered Eddie as a child and the discovery that it was actually rotten at the core and was going to fail sooner or later is a metaphor for our society. People are consumed with appearance, not substance. Pop doesnt order a new typewriter because no matter how 'new' it may be, inside it is trash.
Moral rot, like the tree's core, is a bit harder to pinpoint...When did the tree begin to rot? At what point could it have been saved? When did our country begin to rot? At what point can we be saved?
I like option 3 because it’s more flexible.
Your statement jogged something in my memory. A few years ago, FReeper RobRoy, who is a member of our Puget Sound FReeper Chapter, once described the vista of downtown Seattle as seen from his office as a veneer of sparkle and glitter with nothing but corruption underneath. I'm paraphrasing, but I think I've captured the sentiment. That ties into your interpretation of the tree and also the unrepaired spire.
You pretty much nailed it.
I consider our current western culture to be a gold plated garbage can.
Publius, how the heck are you?!
We should get together before I move to central Kentucky.
I like the one or two chapters a week.
I’m reading the book now. I will sure be checking these sites to see what the others have to say.
***Post a new chapter thread whenever the momentum of the previous thread has lagged.***
This is my vote.
Hi Pub,
I vote for keeping it to 1 chapter a week. Folks that are working and need family time might drop out if the pace was too rapid.
I personally, although I have the time, like keeping it a little slow and relaxed.
I like two chapters per week, with the thread starting on a set day (like Saturday) each week. But I’ll do whatever.
Thanks again for putting this together!
I like option 3
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