Who is John Galt?

Atlas Shrugged:  What happens to the world when the great brains of the world disappear?  No one knows where they've gone.  Have they retired? Run away? Are they on strike or been kidnapped?  Dagny Taggert, a great industrialist and the main character of this book, is trying to run a railroad but at each turn she finds incompetent fools are taking the place of the brilliant men and women who have gone missing.  The times become dimmer and dimmer and the government steps in more and more. You can imagine what happens.  This book is a story that was written by a philosopher, and so you will learn about Ayn Rand's beliefs as you read it.  You don't have to agree with her philosphy to enjoy this book.  Be prepared - it is a large novel, and I'm not just referring to the number of pages!  SG

Philosophical Fiction

Rene is an aging and seemingly unremarkable concierge in a posh French apartment building, and Paloma is a twelve-year-old intellectual prodigy whose family owns an flat in the same building. Outwardly, no two tenants could appear to be more dissimilar. However, in following their stories, told in the characters' own inimitable voices, the reader will discover that the two tenants share a careful and philosophical view of the world that is a privilege to unravel.

The Elegance of the Hedgehog, written masterfully by the French author Muriel Barbery, is tale for those who have a fondness for language, literature, and deeply complex characters. OEO

Not what you'd expect!

Set in the not-too-distant future, Bernard Beckett's novel Genesis puts a modern spin on Plato's Republic. This brief but deep story of dystopian society paints a grim portrait of what Earth has become following years of war and plague: Civilized society has been confined to a remote, walled island near the bottom of the world. Here, inhabitants sacrifice their freedom in exchange for safety and security. This way of life is all young Anex has ever known. Now, hoping to receive a highly-coveted invitation to join the elite Academy, the country's governing body, Anex undergoes a very rigorous enterance examanation. For this, Anex chooses to research and speak on the trial and eventual fate of Adam Forde, an infamous historical figure who defied the government's demand of ultimate submission in order to rescue an outsider. As part of Adam's punishment, he must work with a highly advanced robot named Art. Brings up the argument: What makes us human. The ending will shock you! Not a light read by any means, but definitely worth checking out!