# "Atlas Chuckled" **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 14, 2019, 9:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atlas-chuckled/827725 "2019-01-14T09:40:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Yllaria](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yllaria/32/3452_2.png) [@Yllaria](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yllaria)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2019, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atlas-chuckled/827725/21 "2019-01-15T01:22:37Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > There’s an SF book I read about 25 years ago - I think it was by Margaret Weiss - the name of which I can’t remember, but which I still think of as the Grimly Book. I swear to Og, the word appeared on every single page. It was… grim. Was it one of the books in the Death Gate Cycle? ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2019, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atlas-chuckled/827725/22 "2019-01-15T01:44:53Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > Makes sense. Expressing strong emotion is a sign of weakness; a chuckle is as close as Randian ubermenschen are allowed to get to a real laugh. Actually, I think the book contains more laughs than chuckles, but it’s chuckles that stand out more when heard. ---
**Author:** ![Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2019, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atlas-chuckled/827725/23 "2019-01-15T02:02:44Z")
> [@panache45](#): > > I’ve just listened to the audio version of _Atlas Shrugged,_ available from Audible (52 hours, 20 minutes, 28 seconds). Something caught my ear that I hadn’t noticed in the print version: the word “chuckle” (noun or verb) was used 127 times in the book. The word “shrug” was used merely 49 times. There is a reason that Rand was never shortlisted for the Booker Prize or Nobel Lit, and it had nothing to do with what a hypocritical raging asshole she was. > [@typoink](#): > > Lovecraft’s use of “squamous” always sticks out like a sore thumb to me; it’s a word never heard outside either a Lovecraft story or a bad visit to an oncologist. The only other author I know who used that word (outside of Lovecraft imitators), and Douglas Adams was writing for comedic effect when using it. Stranger ---
**Author:** ![Morgyn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morgyn/32/3041_2.png) [@Morgyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgyn)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2019, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atlas-chuckled/827725/24 "2019-01-15T02:24:52Z")
Most of Ludlum’s characters spend their time shrieking or screaming at each other. They never seem to just \*say \*something. (Despite that somewhat annoying verbal tic, I enjoy his books and own most of them.) ---
**Author:** ![Asuka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@Asuka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asuka)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2019, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atlas-chuckled/827725/25 "2019-01-15T03:34:02Z")
Having read a few Randall Munroe books (XKCD creator) that dude loves the “joke” where he says something obvious then appends [Citation Needed] to it, for example “Humans need to eat to live [Citation Needed]”. I swear he uses that joke on literally every single page of one of his books. I understand his books are just his various blog posts collected into a single work but he also likes to use that joke multiple times in the safe paragraph. ---
**Author:** ![Tinker\_Grey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tinker_grey/32/8136_2.png) [@Tinker\_Grey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tinker_Grey)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2019, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atlas-chuckled/827725/26 "2019-01-15T04:01:41Z")
> [@Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](#): > > Plus, everything is “eldritch” and/or “puissant”. _Everything_. 'zactly. (Or, are you being mordant?) ---
**Author:** ![Rick\_Kitchen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rick_kitchen/32/522_2.png) [@Rick\_Kitchen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick_Kitchen)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2019, 4:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atlas-chuckled/827725/27 "2019-01-15T04:07:43Z")
I can’t imagine listening to Atlas Shrugged. You’d have to do a lot of fast forwarding to get through the boooring ass radio address. ---
**Author:** ![Kimstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecd19e/32.png) [@Kimstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimstu)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2019, 4:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atlas-chuckled/827725/28 "2019-01-15T04:35:54Z")
> [@Tinker\_Grey](#): > > _Thomas Covenant_: Nobody needs stuff; they have exigencies. See also: [this 2014 thread](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=715144). ---
**Author:** ![Tinker\_Grey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tinker_grey/32/8136_2.png) [@Tinker\_Grey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tinker_Grey)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2019, 4:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atlas-chuckled/827725/29 "2019-01-15T04:57:44Z")
> [@Kimstu](#): > > See also: [this 2014 thread](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=715144). This guy got it right: [https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=17098278&postcount=84](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=17098278&postcount=84) When I was in middle school I thought this was great. I was learning a lot. As an adult, I learned it was bad writing. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2019, 5:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atlas-chuckled/827725/30 "2019-01-15T05:40:48Z")
> [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](#): > > There is a reason that Rand was never shortlisted for the Booker Prize or Nobel Lit, and it had nothing to do with what a hypocritical raging asshole she was. In what way was she hypocritical? 😕 ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2019, 6:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atlas-chuckled/827725/31 "2019-01-15T06:45:32Z")
> [@Yllaria](#): > > Was it one of the books in the Death Gate Cycle? It might apply to them too, but I \*think \*it was the fourth book in the Star of the Guardians trilogy. ---
**Author:** ![Nonsuch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nonsuch/32/2922_2.png) [@Nonsuch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nonsuch)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2019, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atlas-chuckled/827725/32 "2019-01-15T16:17:37Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > In what way was she hypocritical? 😕 The usual cited example is that, while raging against any and all forms of socialism throughout her life, she relied on [social security benefits](https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/ayn-rand-social-security/) in her later years. I’m sure there are others. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2019, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atlas-chuckled/827725/33 "2019-01-15T16:48:30Z")
> [@Tinker\_Grey](#): > > _Thomas Covenant_: Nobody needs stuff; they have exigencies. > [@Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](#): > > Plus, everything is “eldritch” and/or “puissant”. _Everything_. Or “preternatural.” :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2019, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atlas-chuckled/827725/34 "2019-01-15T17:54:47Z")
> [@Asuka](#): > > Having read a few Randall Munroe books (XKCD creator) that dude loves the “joke” where he says something obvious then appends [Citation Needed] to it, for example “Humans need to eat to live [Citation Needed]”. I swear he uses that joke on literally every single page of one of his books. I understand his books are just his various blog posts collected into a single work but he also likes to use that joke multiple times in the safe paragraph. It was sort of funny back when he had novel different sorts of things called “citation” he could link to, but I think that well’s run dry. ---
**Author:** ![XT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xt/32/456_2.png) [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2019, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atlas-chuckled/827725/35 "2019-01-15T19:09:55Z")
Just finished re-listening to the Armageddon Reef series and everyone is always chuckling as well. When I read the series originally, or even listened to it later I didn’t pick up on it, but when you listen to the books one to the next it becomes noticeable. When I saw this thread it was the first thing I thought of…everyone is always chuckling. :smack: ---
**Author:** ![Santelia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eb9ed0/32.png) [@Santelia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Santelia)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2019, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atlas-chuckled/827725/36 "2019-01-15T19:38:17Z")
I’m amazed Sherlock holmes ever gets anything done for all the ejaculating he does 😃 See, now I’ve used _done_ and _does_ in the same sentence, better change one of them to \*accompli…\*ah screw it ---
**Author:** ![Tinker\_Grey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tinker_grey/32/8136_2.png) [@Tinker\_Grey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tinker_Grey)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2019, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atlas-chuckled/827725/37 "2019-01-15T23:07:19Z")
> [@Santelia](#): > > I’m amazed Sherlock holmes ever gets anything done for all the ejaculating he does 😃 > See, now I’ve used _done_ and _does_ in the same sentence, better change one of them to \*accompli…\*ah screw it Or any Zane Grey characters. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2019, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atlas-chuckled/827725/38 "2019-01-15T23:44:08Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > I can’t imagine listening to Atlas Shrugged. You’d have to do a lot of fast forwarding to get through the boooring ass radio address. There wasn’t one chuckle in that entire speech! > [@Nonsuch](#): > > The usual cited example is that, while raging against any and all forms of socialism throughout her life, she relied on [social security benefits](https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/ayn-rand-social-security/) in her later years. Actually, it was Alan Greenspan who pointed out that she had paid many millions of dollars in taxes over the years, and she was entitled to get some of it back. ---
**Author:** ![Yllaria](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yllaria/32/3452_2.png) [@Yllaria](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yllaria)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2019, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atlas-chuckled/827725/39 "2019-01-16T02:14:12Z")
> [@Santelia](#): > > I’m amazed Sherlock holmes ever gets anything done for all the ejaculating he does 😃 > See, now I’ve used _done_ and _does_ in the same sentence, better change one of them to \*accompli…\*ah screw it The show QI had an episode that included exploring instances of Holmes and Watson ejaculating. I forget which one once ejaculated from a window. ---
**Author:** ![Elmore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e9a140/32.png) [@Elmore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmore)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2019, 7:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atlas-chuckled/827725/40 "2019-01-16T07:53:42Z")
> [@Dr.Strangelove](#): > > China Miéville uses the word \*pinioned \*way too often, but it reached a height in (IIRC) _Perdido Street Station_. I swear that book contained more instances of the word than every other text I’ve read combined. And pugnacious. Guy loves pugnacious. Tbf if you ever see a picture of the guy you can see why Edit: [Pic of China Mieville](https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Creator/ChinaMieville) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atlas-chuckled/827725.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atlas-chuckled/827725.md?page=3)