The Ultimate Guide to Winning the Atlas Shrugged Essay Contest


Applications are now open for the Ayn Rand Institute Atlas Shrugged Essay Contest 2024, an exciting opportunity for aspiring writers and thinkers to engage with one of the most influential works of modern literature. This contest features a unique format, with new seasonal entry rounds occurring every three months, each accompanied by its own distinctive essay prompt. These prompts are carefully crafted to encourage participants to delve deeper into the novel’s central themes, characters, and philosophical underpinnings, fostering critical thinking and personal reflection. By exploring the complexities of Ayn Rand’s ideas, contestants will not only enhance their understanding of the book but also engage in a broader conversation about individualism, capitalism, and the role of government in society. Participants have the flexibility to compete in any or all of the entry rounds, allowing for multiple opportunities to showcase their insights and writing skills. Whether you are a seasoned essayist or a newcomer eager to explore your thoughts on Rand’s work, this contest invites you to articulate your perspective in a meaningful way. Join the ranks of past competitors and contribute your voice to this vibrant intellectual community, while also vying for the chance to win substantial cash prizes. Don’t miss this opportunity to challenge yourself and connect with others who share a passion for literature and philosophical inquiry!


Essays will be judged on whether the student is able to argue for and justify his or her view—not on whether the Institute agrees with the view the student expresses. Judges will look for writing that is clear, articulate and logically organized. Winning essays must demonstrate an outstanding grasp of the philosophical meaning of Atlas Shrugged.

2) Throughout Atlas Shrugged, there are both literal and figurative references to motors and motive power. Describe three examples of this that occur in the novel, and explain their meaning in the context of the scenes they are taken from. How does this meaning relate to the wider philosophical themes of the novel?

Ayn Rand Institute Atlas Shrugged Essay Contest 2024 ($25000 prize)

1) In the world of Atlas Shrugged, material goods that many of the characters take for granted become increasingly difficult to obtain as the plot progresses. Identify several examples of such goods, and explain how the novel accounts for their disappearance. Describe the economic and the moral-philosophical forces at work in their disappearance. Are there significant parallels with the shortages our world has witnessed in the last few years? Explain any similarities and differences (using contemporary examples).

Each year the Ayn Rand Institute (ARI), a United States organization, awards tens of thousands of dollars in prizes to students who distinguish themselves by writing essays on Ayn Rand’s classic novels Anthem, The Fountainhead and Atlas Shrugged.

The Atlas Shrugged novel essay contest is for students with a passion for reading and writing. Contestants must choose a prompt and write an 800-1,600 word essay in which they analyze and make an argument about an aspect or plot point of Atlas Shrugged, a popular classic novel by Ayn Rand. The first-place winner will get $10,000, 3 winners will get second-place and $2,500 each, and 5 winners will get third-place and $500 each. 25 finalists will receive $100 each and 50 semi-finalists will get $25 each. There are no restrictions on how winners spend the money. Open to high school, undergraduate, and graduate students worldwideAtlas Shrugged is a heroic mystery novel with uplifting philosophical themes, positively inspiring millions. It is full of larger-than-life heroes such as industrialists, scientists, entrepreneurs, artists, inventors, and thinkers. It grapples with timeless, fundamental issues of human existence. 84 scholarships available.

Submissions are invited for Atlas Shrugged Essay Contest 2024 by Ayn Rand. The last date of submission is December 27, 2024.


Celebrating the 2022 Atlas Shrugged Essay Contest Winners

To write the best essay effortlessly, make sure to read the “Atlas shrugged Novel” as the topics given for the essay are inspired by the novel. The novel holds the key to an effective and powerful essay.

What makes for a winning essay in the Atlas Shrugged contest

Students must prepare an essay on one of the three topics based on “Atlas Shrugged” provided and all essays must be between 800-1600 words in length:

Atlas Shrugged novel Essay Contest

Students must prepare an essay on one of the three topics based on “Atlas Shrugged” provided and all essays must be between 800-1600 words in length:

Atlas Shrugged Novel Essay Contest

The first-place essay from each season will advance to compete for the annual grand prize. The first-place essay from each season will be eligible to contend for the annual first-place title, with the opportunity to secure a grand prize of $25,000. Essays must be written in English only and be between 800 and 1,600 words in length. Open to all high school, college, and graduate students worldwide. The story of the Twentieth Century Motor Company is about how a private business and its employees voluntarily decide to adopt a supposedly moral plan.What are the ideas, especially the moral ideas, that lead to the company’s destruction?

Ayn Rand Atlas Shrugged Essay Contest

Deadlines June 14, September 20, December 27 (must be received by these dates), formerly November 6. Highly recommended free contest for high school, college, and graduate students awards $25,000 annual grand prize, three $3,000 top seasonal prizes, and other large prizes, for essays on Ayn Rand's novel 'Atlas Shrugged'. Essays should be based on one of the three prompts in the 'Challenging Essay Topics' section of the sponsor's website (one assigned for each of the three seasonal entry rounds: summer, fall, and winter) and be 800-1,600 words long. The winning essays in the three seasonal contests are eligible to win the annual grand prize. A student can enter any or all of the three seasonal rounds. Enter online. Contest is looking for entries that are sympathetic to Rand's rationalist, libertarian philosophy. See sponsor's website for other student contests.

Atlas Shrugged Essay Contest is Open/ How to Enter (Prize

The author, Mayles of Universidad Nacional de Colombia, expertly compares Atlas Shrugged to Rand’s essay “What is Capitalism.” While the essay is beautifully written, flows seamlessly, and continually adds more and more strong evidence to his thesis, the point that makes this essay great is this: ”However, unlike the typical defenders of capitalism, Rand may argue that rather than the loss of economic prosperity as the tragic ending, the true tragedy lies in the act of intervention itself.” Regardless of the argument, we can analyze this sentence.