Summary: Dagny oversees the work on the Rio Norte Line with the new contractor Ben Nealy, making decisions and calling for more Rearden Metal. Her progress earned the respect of Ellis Wyatt, and Hank Rearden. James Taggart tries to persuade her to stop using Rearden Metal, and then she leaves after learning of a surprise debate with Bertram Scudder. She finds a small diner, warms herself with coffee, and discusses morality and John Galt with the patrons. Dr. Potter of the State Science Institute fails to persuade Rearden to stop or to sell the rights to his Metal. Mr. Mowen refused to make Dagny’s switches with Rearden Metal, and the SSI said more study of the safety of Rearden Metal would be good. Dagny met with Dr. Robert Stadler, of the State Science Institute, but failed to persuade him to publicly correct the SSI statement. He described his competition with Hugh Akston over d’Anconia, Danneskjöld, and John Galt. Dagny finds James, and decides to break off from Taggart Transcontinental and finish the Rio Norte Line herself, and call it the John Galt Line. Dagny asked d’Anconia for an investment, but he refused, and she condemned him as being on the side of the moochers and looters. Instead she raised most of the money from others, and Rearden agreed to invest the remainder. Rearden dealt with a delayed copper shipment. His Mother met Hank at work to try (unsuccessfully) to persuade him to give a job to Philip. Rearden agreed to help Mr. Ward with an order of Rearden Metal, when Gwen Ives (age c. 28) informed them that the Equalization of Opportunity Bill had passed.

Start by reading the first-tier comments, which are all quotes of Ayn Rand (some of my favorites, some just important for other reasons). Comment on your favorite ones, or others' comments. Don't see your favorite quote? Post it in a new comment. Please reserve new comments for Ayn Rand, and your non-Rand quotes for "replies" to the quotes or discussion. (Otherwise Rand's quotes will get crowded out and pushed down into oblivion. You can help avoid this by "voting up" the Rand quotes, or at least the ones you especially like, and voting down first-tier comments that are not quotes of the featured book.)

Atlas Shrugged was written by Ayn Rand in 1957.

My idea for this post is discussed here:

http://www.galtsgulchonline.com/posts...