Atlas Shrugged is a mystery novel like no other. You enter a world where scientists, entrepreneurs, artists, and inventors are inexplicably vanishing—where the world is crumbling. And what you discover, by the end, is an uplifting vision of life, an inspiring cast of heroes, and a challenging new way to think about life’s most important issues.
Seasonal Prompts
Every three months there is a new seasonal entry round, with its own unique essay prompt. You may compete in any or all of these entry rounds.
Seasonal Winners
The top three essays from each season will be awarded a cash prize. The first-place essay from each season will advance to compete for the annual grand prize.
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.
Challenging Essay Topics
Each entry round features a unique topic designed to provoke a deeper understanding of the book’s central themes and characters. Essays must be written in English only and be between 800 and 1,600 words in length.
Win Generous Cash Prizes for Your Education
The Essays are judged on whether the student is able to justify and argue for his or her view, not on whether the Institute agrees with the view the student expresses.
Our graders look for writing that is clear, articulate, and logically organized. Essays should stay on topic, address all parts of the selected prompt, and interrelate the ideas and events in the novel.
Winning essays must demonstrate an outstanding grasp of the philosophic meaning of Atlas Shrugged.
