The Fountainhead

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Summary: Outstanding character setup and language
Review: This book was one of the best that I have read. Shortly after reading it, I found that it was based on the life of Frank Lloyd Wright, who was one of the pioneer architects of his time. His person was amazingly split into the main characters. I love the language used by Rand pertaining to the way she says what she wants us to know, as well as the deep thoughts that she shares with us. Besides a few chapters that were about sadomascism, I think this book was a great pick!

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Summary: A classic. Mandatory reading for aspiring architects!
Review: A classic. Literature in the true sense. Mandatory reading for aspiring architects and impossible to put back down by anyone else who cracks it's cover. That "The Fountainhead" is often ridiculed by today's architectural press for portraying an architect who stubornly stands alone rather than being a "team player" is of little importance to this architect reviewer. The plot, characters, and undercurrents of intellectual ideology are more than enough to induce fascination. This book remains relevant in any era. Even better as a reread, "The Fountainhead" when revisited after several intervening years will awaken new understanding and meaning. To enhance this understanding read noted pshchologist Nathaniel Branden's biography of Ayn (ryhmes with "mine") Rand, "Jugement Day", written around 1990. More fascinating than the novel itself, her life story provides a sure footed foundation upon which to build an understanding of this author and her writings. Learn the part that such noted architects as Richard Neutra and Frank Lloyd Wright, not to mention present day economist Norman Greenspan each played in her literary career. Fascinating!

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Summary: Fountainhead: Wordy and huge, but worth it.
Review: Ayn Rand's "The Fountainhead" is probably one of the best pieces of literature I've ever read. I'm a high-school student, on the advanced-track curriculum and have been taking college level Englsh courses for the last two years. Having initially grumbled at the idea of wasting my entire christmas break reading "The Fountainhead" in preparation for upcoming class discussion, I was pleasantly surprised by the level of interest that the first two chapters generated within me. Soon I was hooked, and I got the book finished in four days, despite Ellsworth Toohey's insufferable monologues. The book is a must read: It grabs the reader and propels him through the story, the sheer momentum gets you through the boring parts, in anticipation of the excitement that is sure to come. All though not "action" in the Clancy-esque sense of the word, the book is one that is difficult to put down. I reccomend it for everyone!

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Summary: The best ever
Review: Philosophically, no other book could ever touched me. But Fountainhead did this. And atleast for me this is the bible of my life.

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Summary: It opened the world to me.
Review: The underlying philosophy of The Fountainhead, masterly conveyed by Ayn Rand through the plot-theme and her characters, showed me man and life as they ought to be.

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Summary: More than a great book, The Fountainhead is an experience.
Review: Anyone can read The Fountainhead, and if you are a deep thinker, you will grasp the full meaning. In many respects, it is a book that was designed to make you think. It takes you on an introspective journey, one that you will never forget. I do not completely agree with Ayn Rand's philosophy, but it is not necessary in order to appreciate this thought provoking, beautifully written work; reading this book with the assumption that Rand is trying to impose her views on the reader is a limited and false perception. Rand challenges you to think independently! If you read this book with your mind, with your ability to reason - your sense - you will surely enjoy it. The plot is well organized, and this is evident upon completion of the novel. Truly a masterpiece of all time, once you begin, you will find it hard to put the book down. I also recommend this book to anyone involved in the field of architecture.

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Summary: can't be understated
Review: There is no imaginable way to understate the magnitude and importance of this book. It is written extremely well and you will rue the moment you must close it for any reason. This book is a true statement of what every man, woman, and child should be-rational. I only hope that readers will try to immulate Howard Roark at least partially in their day to day lives so that the vastness of human stupidity will begin to contract. Logic is the only regulator of people's actions that is based in reality and this is clearly shown in the book. Read it, it will be an overwhelming experience.

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Summary: Ayn Rand Predicts The "Dumbing Down" of America
Review: Have you ever wondered how we as a people could be so happily discarding good taste for bad? Has it ever occurred to you that there is a trend toward an ever lower common denominator in music, art, politics, ethics, morals, and virtues? Perhaps you've always believed that this was inevitable or just the sad "way of the World". Read this book and think again!

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Summary: Ayn's Masterpiece
Review: After reading Atlas Shrugged (AS), I found it hard to believe that A.R. could out do herself. I must admit, however, that I found the Fountainhead to be far superior. What makes it better is the dialog and characterization, which are much more natural and deeper than in AS. In AS, it seemed as if all the characters are one dimensional actors, only there to illustate A.R.'s philosophical principles. Toohey's character is particularly outstanding. I have never encountered a character that more accurately embodies evil in its purest form. What makes Toohey especially frightening is that his evil is of the intellectual, rather than the physical, variety. His speech to Keating on the nature of power (at the end) is a classic!

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Summary: Outstanding literary edition of the century
Review: This book is an ultimate victory for objectivism. The struggle of a passionate architect-Howard Roark against the conventional world and his ultimate victory over them clearly portrays the need for self growing - 'ego'. Ayn Rand has done a marvelous work in framing each character of the story. Infact, it looks as if she had lived herself as each character. Though I came across this book accidentaly,when I started reading it, I got attracted and clinged to it till I finished it ! Hat's off to Ayn Rand.

TSV