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Summary: The definitive literature of the 20th Century.
Review: Perhaps a few hundred years from now, critics , students and teachers of history and literature will recount this book with great passion and the effect that it had on the people of the 20th century who read it.
The Book sets out to prove a single point and in the authors own words it is: "Man's Ego is the Fountainhead of Human Progress". A Man who stands for himself and what he beleives in usually stands alone. That is the way to live, the reason for creation and the only human morality. Ayn Rand in this book defines the true meaning of human ego and what it takes to be a true egotist. A good thing "ego", not a bad one. I for one is someone who has read the book and for the most part beleive in it's presentation, conclusion and application of the ideas presented in the book in real life. Whether or not you fully agree with the principles presented in the book, it is a must read if you fulfill one criteria.. you must be a human
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Summary: eat this like you've never eaten anything before
Review: this book became my social and mental life for a while
you finish and you wonder where you can find these people
in your life
you will realize what it takes to be who you want to be
and why you should go through with it at all costs
if you want to have a brain, read this
Rating:
Summary: Gives you reason for being clear about what you like and why
Review: This book is about a person who has got clear ideas about
what he wants. These ideas let him develop his skills in the
best possible way. The guy is perfect in his work. To get
accepted he had to fight the world, because world is resistant
to any change from the normal behaviour. He had to spend some
time to make people understand what he is upto. He gets some
support from the persons who are similar to him in some ways.
Ultimately this guy gets the deserved appreciation for his work.
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Summary: An obvious shot at any ploitical policy of cooperation.
Review: The Fountainhead, in true Ayn Rand style, mocks the notion of collective thought and cooperative action. Using the principle, opposing in character architects, Keating and Roark, Rand illustrates her philosophy of individualism as god and collective thought as the downfall of man. It is well written, twisting the lives of several dynamic characters together in one man's final struggle for the freedom he desires. Roark is an architect, not because he enjoys money, not because he wishes to bring joy to his customers, but rather because he creates buildings that need to live. Keating, on the other hand is an architect for the prestige, borrowing every bit of any building he designs from past greats. This story, much like her 1984-ish Anthem, shows the struggle between the id and the super-ego. Overall, this book is worth reading- whether one is a capitilist or a socialist
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Summary: Powerful work of Modern Philosophy; Compelling Story
Review: Ayn Rand was the foremost advocate, and indeed the creator
of objectivist philosophy. Howark Roark is the champion of every man or woman who has ever felt beaten down by a system
created by and for self-serving incompetents. His unwavering
devotion to himself and his ideals is an impressive testament to Rand's philosophy.
Rating:
Summary: Fountainhead
Review: I stayed up late nights to read this book. I turned page after page. There is something Ayn Rand has seen through, something she articulates so roundly, that it relieves a burden I hadn't even realized I'd been carrying. I can put my burden down as I read -- she has seen me. I no longer have to scream at the top of my lungs. I love to read her books. And there are many, many aspects of human nature which she sees very deeply. Not everyone could have written that rape scene, for example, and gotten it right. She is one of the 20th Century's great authors...... despite the fact that you can mail in a card enclosed in the book and join some save-the-world organization dedicated to her work. I really think they should take out the cards. They only make the right people ignore her and the wrong people read her for the wrong reasons. And yet the cards reflect the vestiges of an ideologue which still lives in her. She's a Russian turned Jeffersonian. But I still feel the European ideology thing going on. Most Russian immigrants to the US take up capitalism and its freedom of speech in their own way. But I've seen precious few of them who so genuinely understand and embrace the Jefferson in America - and I've known a lot of Russian immigrants. I was married to one. (For that matter, I've met few Americans who get it consciously, but that's another matter.) The ideologue in Ayn Rand shows up, for example, in her categorical condemation of anything suggesting 'spirituality' or 'God' or whatever. I even ran across an erratum somewhere where she apologizes for using the word 'spiritual' in a fit of passion... of course there's no spiritual, she explains. Of course not. No, no, no, no. But her passions spoke true, and her mind couldn't follow them. For she is essentially spiritual and just in denial about it. It's that she can't rationally fit it in with all the stuff that she does see so clearly with 'spirit' and 'God'. And the reason she can't do that is that she can't think of religion as a private matter between a person and God. Religion for her belongs to a state and a society. So she puts her head before her heart a little sometimes, and the result is that she lacks the lyrical powers of Emerson, Goethe or Shakespeare. But I'm so happy she lived and worked.
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Summary: If I had to pick
Review: If I had to pick only three books, they would be these: Steinbeck's "East of Eden," McCrae's "The Bark of the Dogwood," and this one, "The Fountainhead." All three had, and continue to have, a powerful impact on my life. These are not just great books, but novels of "ideas." By far, the most important of these is Rand's book. It was quite a big deal when it first appeared on the scene many decades ago, and still is for those who read it. Pity that after all these years of exposure to it, things haven't changed that much. There are still the sun-slappers and the self-soilers out there who refuse to see humanity for the wonderful thing that it CAN be. If you're looking for food for thought, this is your book.
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Summary: This book is a tool.
Review: Ayn Rand brings to light a side of humanity that is often overlooked. America is a stage for countless players described as second - handers. Thank God for those people with passion and convictions. You could be a Roark. This book is a capitalist's survival tool. It is your responsibility to yourself to use it and benefit from the insights it contains. Learn from the mistakes of the villains. This book could have used a better editor (typos, missing words, etc.), however in essence it contains many perceivable truths. After you're done, you'll realize you could have spent all that time creating something instead of loafing around and reading.
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Summary: A Great Book -- But Not Perfect
Review: I think the Fountainhead is inspiring and capable of actually changing one's entire attitude towards life. However, it can also be a bit damaging in that it makes unrealistic demands of its "converts." One thing that really bothers me: Ayn Rand seems to believe that repressing all emotion, even the deepest pain, is "heroic" while allowing emotion to show is a sign of "weakness." Howard Roark seems to be completely untouched, emotionally, by the setbacks and attacks he suffers. To me, this seems inhuman, but the message in the book is clear: He's superior to those of us who spinelessly exhibit emotion. In fact, in Atlas Shrugged, one of the good guys is actually physically tortured and barely exhibits discomfort! Does this mean that to be a true "hero" of your life you - almost literally - must not feel pain? I still think this is one of the greatest books ever and it influenced me deeply in a lot of positive ways. However, be alert for the flaws. Ayn Rand and her philosophy were not quite perfect. I spent a few years after the first time I read her works believing that if I got "too emotional" over a situation, or preferred a folk song to a symphony, that I had serious character defects. Still and all, I'm glad after all these years people are still reading and being inspired by her works.
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Summary: I don't have much to say
Review: If you are interested at all in art, creativity, individualism, the masses vs. the individual, etc., you should read this book. You would find it very intriguing. Ignore what other people have said regarding Rand's philosophy...just read the book and make your own decision. I thought it was quite interesting (and also very satisfyingly fast-paced), but now that you've read my review, you should read the book yourself. That's it, really.
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