Rating: 
Summary: An interesting philosophy trapped in an utterly absurd novel
Review: As an architect myself I have never read an attempt as absurd as this concerning the architectural profession. Mrs. Rand makes her philosophy abundantly clear but fails to create a story that is even marginally believable. The plot is absurd, the characters shallow, and the dialogue ridiculous.
Rating: 
Summary: Very good
Review: Just wanted to share my two-cents. The Fountainhead as a very very good book with very well developed characters and themes. I can understand why it lasted through the test of time!
Rating: 
Summary: argh
Review: keep me alive inside. This book is not a good lesson in how to think. If you would like to live in a democracy please say no.
Rating: 
Summary: Great book
Review: Defenitely one of the best books I've read. I agree 100% with most of Ms. Rand's ideas. Her defense of selfishness is very well based and she proves her case. The characters are amazing and make you realize what the "modern" ideas are really about. As revolutionary and important today as it was when first published, especially for people living in countries such as mine, where populist and colectivist propositions still fool the majority and where freedom is not praised by many; a country where individuals are left no good options when it comes to choosing authorities. A book for people who have principals and stick to them.
Rating:
Summary: THE BEST BOOK EVER
Review: THIS BOOK IS THE BEST EVER WRITTEN. iT HAS ever facet of literature available. i reccommend this book whole heartedly and feel that it should be recquired to read so that may one continue to live.
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Summary: Eye Opening Account of Humanity
Review: The Fountainhead is more than just a story, it goes beyond fiction. The story is rich in symbolism, and anyone who enjoys intellectual stimulation will get more out of this book than any review will tell. Rand gives quite the eye-opening account of humanity. A must read.
Rating:
Summary: Absolutley Amazing
Review: The Fountianhead is an awe-inspiring novel. It's confusing throughout and quite disturbing; however, the resulting realizations are worth every troubled thought. The Fountianhead is worth reading: whether you hate it or you love it will not matter. It's inexplicable in words, the theme is somewhere in one's heart.
Rating:
Summary: Atlas was better...
Review: but this is still enjoyable. A good book to give your friends if you're not sure how they'll react to Rand.
Rating:
Summary: A strange contradiction
Review: Ayn Rand's Fountainhead has confused me. I've just finished reading it for the second time, a year after I read it first. It has confused me simply in the fact that I don't understand my own reaction to it. I loved the book both times, no doubt. But the more carefully I read and re-read passages, the more I hate what the characters are saying--ALL of them, protagonists and antagonists alike. I still love the book, but Raynd's philosophy bores me with its pretentiousness, and her description of Toohey and his followers is far too simplistic- he's written so blatantly evil that the reader is insulted...Did Raynd think we wouldn't pick up on his wiles if she didn't spell it out for us this way? And, strangely enough, the book has made me somehow more aware and embracing of my religion, instead of shunning it as one would expect to be affected by the book. I'd say everyone should read this book; it affects the way you think about things. But I don't think it has the effect on all people that Raynd necessarily wanted. In shamelessly plugging her own philosophy and attempting to win people over to it, she has contradicted the very things for which is purports to stand, leaving a funny taste in my mouth...I don't know. Like I said, I'm confused.
Rating:
Summary: Reprehensible
Review: In brief, the book is about Howard Roark, a man striving to become a modernist architect in a society which despises modernism and adores classicism. He falls in love with Dominique Francon, the daughter of the most prominent New York classical Architect. The story tells of his struggle, and Dominique's struggle with some of her own issues.The three things which struck me most about this book are: 1: The characters are all utterly deplorable
2: Todays society is run by facsimiles of the characters
3: Objectivism (Ayn Rands Philosophy) offers despair as its reward.
The book itself was fabulous. I had a difficult time putting it down. The book has many dialogues, some of which did not make it clear who was speaking, on the other hand, many of the dialogues were the sharpest I have ever seen. At one point I was physically buzzing due to this (When Dominique - the main character, first meets Gail - the wealthy newsman.) Rand describes a stuffy society, run by wealthy men but controlled by unions. She builds a society of "second-handers"- people who spend their lives imitating all that has gone before them. Her main characters obviously depict her Objectivist philosophy. They are the outcasts in a hostile society. Rand showed many of the errors of her philosophy (unwittingly, I am sure) in this book. Reversing the roles of the selfish and the selfless. She manages to make it look like a person, selfish by todays standards, is in fact a selfless person, and vice versa. The method she uses is highly transparent. I would recommend the book for people who love to read and will read anything. I don't recommend Mrs. Rands philosophical ideas - and if you do choose to read this book, you will see why. The character I loved: Gail Wynand
The character I despised: Ellsworth Toohey
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