"Atlas Shrugs" is a novel by Ayn Rand published in 1957. It explores a dystopian future where society collapses due to government overreach and the suppression of individual creativity and productivity. The story follows key characters, including Dagny Taggart and Hank Rearden, as they struggle against a system that punishes success and rewards mediocrity. The title refers to the mythological figure Atlas, who carries the weight of the world on his shoulders. In the novel, "shrugging" symbolizes the withdrawal of the productive individuals from a society that exploits them. The book emphasizes themes of objectivism, individualism, and the importance of personal responsibility.