Report About Capitalism/Entrepreneurship - Book Report/Review Example

The story of the novel happens in the US in a time in future when the nation has turned totally into a corrupt corporate entity. The story begins when Eddie Willers, walking on the streets hears the question, 'who is John Galt?', a question that puts more fuel into his prevailing gloom. The question is not answered. The presence of poor people everywhere is felt from the very beginning of the novel suggesting that the country is in an economic mess. Eddie's father had been employed by the Taggart family, the owners of the fastest train service in the nation and Eddie also works for the same firm.

When Eddie meets James Taggart, the reader comes to know that James is a self-indulging, and failing businessman and that they were buying steel from a company that was not up to the standards. It is also revealed that the Taggart rail firm was losing its edge to its competitor. From Eddie's words, it is also revealed that Dagny Taggart, the sister of James, has some disagreements with the way James handles company affairs. In the next scene, Dagny Taggart, is introduced. Dagny Taggart, is the Operating Vice President of Taggart Transcontinental.

In this chapter, the brother of Dagny Taggart is also mentioned, in a remark that compares him to Dagny. The way Dagny unassumingly traveled in an unreserved seat in a day coach and how her would never have done that is mentioned. Soon the reader realizes that as the nation was facing an economic crisis, Dagny was trying hard to keep the finances of the company robust. Eddie is her assistant. Dagny disagrees with the contract James had given to an incompetent company to supply steel and instead wants James to buy from Reardon steel, to which James does not agree.

In the next chapter, Hank Reardon is introduced as an innovative steel manufacturer but scorned by his family for being so. Hank soon meets Dagny and they seem to develop a liking for each other. Franscisco, an ex-boyfriend of Dagny also comes in into the narrative. Hank and Dagny together is trying to save the rail line and the new John Galt Rail line launched by Dagny is successful. Hank and Dagny grow intimate. Suspense builds as the story evolves and Dagny is seen followed by a shadowy man.

Meanwhile in an old factor, Dagny and Hank finds an old motor that can use static electricity, which is a discovery indeed. Dagny sets out in search of the inventor of the machine, could not find him, but stumbles upon Hugh Akston, Francisco's philosophy professor. The financial turmoil thickens and Dagny is desperate. She is trying to reverse engineer the motor using scientists and engineers. Hank is also in a business crisis and is forced to hand over Reardon metal to his competitors. New comes out that the Taggart tunnel in Colorado had collapsed in an accident, and soon Dagny suffers a plane crash while trying to find John Galt, who she believes is the destroyer of the whole system.

When awake on the crash cite, she meets John Galt. Hugh Akston and also comes to know that Francisco is also one of their associates. The reader comes to know that Dagny was now in a new territory hidden from the eyes of the watchful national government, a valley where people live as a self-sufficient community with the help of the wonderful mechanical and engineering skills of Galt. Dagny realizes that it was just like an alternative nation, though with less evil. But when asked to make a choice, Dagny decides to go back to the “