Rating: 
Summary: coolio book!!
Review: I usually read very...teen-ish books and magazines... but i was assigned this for a literature class and i love it!! its a very odd sorta fantasy book that explores a world without any individuality or freedom. the narrator is named 'equality 7-2521' and refers to himself as 'we', which really confused me in the beginning. everyone has these creeeeeepy names like equality 7-2521 and international 4-8818 and union 5-3992 and liberty 5-3000... and this short book takes place waaay in the future when communism has completely taken over. this is really similar to the children's book 'the giver' by lois lowry, but 'the giver' is not as extreme as 'anthem' and is more story-telling-ish and creative. very cool book!!!!
Rating: 
Summary: Attack On Collectivist Philosophy
Review: A literary critic once wrote a passage regarding Ayn Rand's Anthem, "You will think-you will weep-you will be inspired to new determination not to let the creeping evil of collectivism happen here."Granted, we must bear in mind that 1946, the first year Anthem was published, was a year in which collectivism, socialism, or anything even remotely linked with Communism was seen as dastardly and evil philosophy bent on the destruction of the American way of life. It was only a few short years later that Senator Joe McCarthy's HUAC witch-hunts created a dark blemish on American history. Sadly, the philosophy of Ayn Rand and others like her may have led, in a small way, to the paranoia that led to these "witch-hunts" and the tortured lives of many innocent Americans. Ayn Rand paints a picture of totalitarianism, and a world of oppression completely void of human spirit. This is not the "spirit" of Communism or other forms of collectivism. Now, if she intended to portray the totalitarian Soviet Union and Joseph Stalin's purges in this manner, she has done superb job. But, she did not provide a far portrayal of collectivist philosophy. If she wants to attack philosophies in opposition to her own objectivism, she should also attack Jeremy Bentham's utilitarianism and other forms of utopianism. Although my political beliefs are obviously opposite of those of Ayn Rand, I must admit that I found her writing style quite intriguing and very effective in persuading the reader to ingest the opinions that she is trying to espouse. Regardless, of one's political affiliation Anthem is indeed a very good and thought provoking novel.
Rating:
Summary: The Ultimate in Equality?
Review: I read this in an afternoon, being only 105 pages. This book covers the loss of individualism and the onslaught of total community. "I" is abolished and "We" takes its place, almost like a prototype for Star Trek's "Borg", although in this story, their minds are not necessarily joined mechanically. It's closer to _1984_ than _Brave New World_, and particularly frightening for an equality-driven person like me.
Another idea that is covered is that of individuality rising. The main character begins to realize that he's not like everyone else, and he wants to escape, even though he doesn't until he's forced to. I recommend this book.
Rating:
Summary: One person's utopia, another's prison
Review: This is a great novel based on the future where "politically correctness" is taken to an extreme, along with a collectivist governing system. In this world, it is evil to be better than others, intelligence is punished. It is evil to consider another person a "friend," as "friend" suggests preference over another person. It is evil to say "I" as "I" suggests singularity and individualism, which is strictly forbidden. In this world, individual rights and liberties are sacrificed, all in the name for the good of all mankind, thus, making all of mankind bound by laws, forbidden to be free, and, in turn, misearble as a whole. Remember the themes in this book when some politician wants your vote to expand medicare, welfare, social security, or some other free service provided by the governmnet, and remind yourself it isn't quite free, as you are paying for it through higher taxes and contributing to a bigger, more controlling government that knows how to spend your hard earned money better than you do. Maybe paying higher taxes for cigarettes, soda pop, red meat, fast food, or candy bars is good, as these items are "evil" and to be removed from people's lives, as these things put a burden on national medicare. However, some people enjoy these things, they have a right to.
Rating:
Summary: Great, Great, Wonderful.
Review: I read this book twenty times over. The adventure of Prometheus in the collectivist society is remarkable, and gives us a deep (very) lesson about life, individual, and the society. Every aspect of ethics, politics, and personal life is explored in terms of collectivism and individualism. Better than any other Ayn Rand's books.
Rating:
Summary: Great concept...
Review: This is Ayn Rand's take on a Utopian society that George Orwell would do in 1984 and Aldous Huxley did in Brave New World, both marvelous books.
Overall it was a good book, and has probably the best closing line in any book; "the scared word: 'I'." My only complaint with this version was the rough draft of the book... had it just been the story and not the editing, this rating would be higher.
Rating:
Summary: a good book
Review: now that i read this book i have proud in my self, i am not a shamed to be ego, that is very good THANK YOU ANY RAND
Rating:
Summary: Great read. Unique work among Ayn's others.
Review: There is less philosophy in this book and much shorter than her others. Like "Planet of the Apes", it takes place in our future, with man's past lost. Very well written and very interesting. A rather short book and a quick read.
Five Stars just because it's Ayn! Atlas deserves a hundred stars.
Still, it's much better than Orwell or others.
Rating: 
Summary: A short, very interesting book
Review: I had never heard of this book before I was given it for summer reading, but it is an extremely interesting, thought provoking book. It's a very quick read, it took me about an hour, and Ayn Rand has some very interesting points that she gets across quickly. I would recommend it to anyone who wants a kind of peculiar, thought provoking, quick read.
Rating:
Summary: Anthem has redifined my life
Review: I had to read this book thrice before understanding it and I'm not sure whether I've got the real meaning.
Hats off to Ayn Rand who has churned out masterpieces one after the another.
Anthem is one short, concise, to the point book about Objectivism. She has got the best of Capitalism against the worst of the Socialism. The evils of Socialism has been potrayed in an exaggerated manner. However the emphasis is on the individual rather than the state which is basics of objectivsm.
The book gives a very good defination about the word 'ego'. It dispells the common belief that ego is a vain and bad word. It is a must read for all those souls who are confused and insecure. After reading this book not only was I more confident but I took pride in myself.
| 
