The Fountainhead

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Summary: To Manners
Review: As a 'Do-er' you should not care what Howard Roark or anyone else for that matter would do.

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Summary: Is this a review board or a bulletin board?
Review: What on earth is the "review" headed "message for all ayn rand lovers:lets meet guys" doing on this board? Are Ayn Rand fans such social misfits that they can't make friends with live people? Are they just so illiterate that they can't read Amazon's review guidelines? Or are they just so sociopathic that they think they don't have to *follow* those rules?

This let's-get-together message not only doesn't belong on this board, the fact that it's posted here says something about Rand-lovers that the poster probably didn't intend.

I wonder if Howard Roark would have done such a thing.

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Summary: Polemic sacrifices character development for doctrine.
Review: In my 20's, I devoured every Ayn Rand book I could lay my hands on. "Right On!" I cheered. "Make room for the do-ers." A quarter of a century later, after rereading "The Fountainhead," I am a bit more critical. The characters are rather one-dimensional, intended to emphasize a philosophy, at the sacrifice of character development and storytelling. E.g., Toohey is a cartoon socialist; Keating is an opportunistic, weasel-like shell of a mediocre person; Mrs. Keating is a stereotypical, overbearing, guilt-tripping Jewish mother; Dominique is beautiful, wealthy and schizoid; Howard is brilliant, uncomprising, heroic, and ultimately prevails, but let's not forget his first encounter with Dominique was rape. So is he really as heroic as Ms. Rand paints him, or is he really a bull-headed, opinionated jerk? So who are the great characters of the book? I propose Mike, the construction foreman for loyalty and competence; and the sculptor, for creativity and passion. Read the book, by all means, for an interesting social theory and for great prose, but keep your eyes wide open for the ultimately one-sided, B&W doctrinaire propaganda espoused by Ms. Rand.

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Summary: message for all ayn rand lovers:lets meet guys
Review: guys, i am extremely happy to read your reviews. it seems there still are people who think and wanna enjoy life creatively.i think we guys should be in touch with each other. tell you what- mail me at [e-mail] i have a ayn rand club and i am a member of the ayn rand institute maintained by leonard peikoff-it gives you latest info. about objectivity i will mail you concerning that so i cannot wait to talk to you guys.........

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Summary: The book that had the most impact on my life.
Review: It is the simply the most thrilling book that I've ever read. It literally changed my entire attitude towards life. I feel as if I have stepped over to the other side of the world, a world where I can see, feel, and where the moments of sadness and elation are what make life the most valuble. I look at certain people around me and realize that they are wasting their precious bodily fluids and that they are fragil and spiritless. They can be zapped easily, crushed with their precious bodily fluids spilling out everywhere. I, on the other hand, have a back bone, and that I am closer and closer in reaching the sacret temple that stands tall inside of me.

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Summary: Sometimes trite but always entertaining
Review: "TheFountainhead" was my first encounter with AynRand. I have read many works since. Yes, her characters here are blackand white, and wouldn't you know it - out of 7 million souls in New York City, a handful central to the theme are constantly rubbing elbows. And yes - it sometimes reads like a cheap tabloid, but despite the obvious ending and overbearing idealism, this is an entertaining piece of work and weel worht the long read.

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Summary: Sometimes the truth is so close it gets pulled over our eyes
Review: Thank you Ayn Rand for this piece of fiction which is closer to the truth than a lot of us want to believe. If only we were all strong enough to reveal the roles we and others play in real life....

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Summary: The best book ever written - period.
Review: Rand shows to us the way man was meant to be. The Fountainhead shows us a glimpse of what we, as individuals, are capable of. A masterpiece.

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Summary: I thought the book opened up my eyes to everything near me.
Review: Howard Roark was a man that everyone should be he's laid back and he lives his own life. He doesn't care about material items. All he cares about is his love, archieture. That to me is what life is all about, your love. Everyone should read this book. My reason for that statement is that it lets you look at yourself and realize who you are and what you're doing with your life. I'm a 16 year old high school student and I believe this book should be part of the school reading list. Thank you if you read my review!

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Summary: The worst book I've ever read
Review: My God in heaven I wish I'd never read this book. I could stand Anthem, but this was just a load of dogmatic garbage. I don't care if some of you think I'm purile or something for not liking this, it's my opinion you peckerheads.