Ep. 613: "Patella Screws"

Published in 1959, 'The Manchurian Candidate' is a gripping political thriller that delves into the world of mind control and manipulation. The story revolves around Raymond Shaw, an American soldier captured during the Korean War and brainwashed by his Communist captors to become a sleeper agent. Upon his return to the United States, Shaw is programmed to carry out an assassination plot against the President. The novel follows the efforts of fellow soldier Bennett Marco to uncover the truth behind Shaw's brainwashing and stop the assassination. Condon uses satire and humor to critique the political establishment and highlight the absurdity of Cold War politics, while also exploring themes of family dysfunction and the abuse of power.

Published in 1957, 'Atlas Shrugged' is Ayn Rand's magnum opus and her longest novel. The story is set in a dystopian United States where increasingly burdensome laws and regulations strangle innovation and productivity. The plot follows Dagny Taggart, a railroad executive, and Hank Rearden, a steel magnate, as they struggle against 'looters' who exploit their work. A mysterious figure named John Galt leads a strike of productive individuals, persuading them to abandon their companies and disappear. The novel culminates with Galt's three-hour radio speech explaining his philosophy of Objectivism, which emphasizes rational self-interest, individual rights, and the importance of the human mind. The book explores themes of capitalism, property rights, and the failures of governmental coercion, presenting a provocative vision of a society in collapse and the potential for a new capitalist society based on Galt's principles.