Rating: 
Summary: Emotions
Review: While I was reading this book every paragraph seemed to give me a different feeling. Most parts were laughable on how blunt the woman could be to get her point across. Others stuck a nerve to a deep realization that what she says has truth. While reading this novel you can definitely tell she wasn't writing for the casual reader. Speeches drag on, characters disappoint you, but for some reason people have latched on to her like she is the goddess of objectivism and can't be question with. I did enjoy the novel to the point where I respect the thoughts it contains and what the novel has done for many peoples lives. For my own satisfaction I would not read the novel again. It did teach me many lessons but after reading the Fountainhead there seems to be no hope for mankind and leaves a deep depressing thought in ones mind after reading. Many people would just say I don't understand and comprehend, but you can't believe everything one woman says just because she was one of the first that questioned society this way.
Rating: 
Summary: Read this if you have the brain of a 5 year old.
Review: To call this book "bad" would be an insult to all the genuinely "bad" books. I often found myself skipping the long drawn out speeches the so-called heroes would give...loud, tacky lessons on the various ideas of "Objectivism" (Rand's philosophy).TORTURE. For all the whining about being "rational" it's quite disturbing to see the very unstable moralism that underlies every one of her beliefs. Don't read any of her other works, there is not a thing to learn, to call her a philosopher is a shame. Academics ignore her entirely, let alone mention any contribution (if any) of her's to philosophy etc. Terrible writing that comes off as a pathetic and desperate attempt to be "different".
Rating: 
Summary: Commentary on the human condition
Review: Ayn Rand takes every aspect of the human experience and personifies it in Howard Roard, Ellsworth Toohey, and the various other characters in her work. while I am not individualist and only read this work to see why Rand was such a famous author, the philosophical issues brought up require thorough examination adn thought - THIS IS NOT A FLUFF BOOK. You cannot read this book once and put it down, satisfied and ready to move on to other fiction. While some readers complain about the lack of "romace" in the relationship between Dominique and Roark, you must realize that the relationship is less about romance than about expanding the horizons of experience. Some of the reviewers here have decided that the innate violence of the interpersonal relationships is unnecessary, but it is a stark reminder by a woman who had first-hand experience in the Soviet system that humans are inherently dangerous animals. If you keep in mind that the book si not so much a story in and of itself as it is a commentary on teh human condition and teh different levels of self-actualization, I think you will find that this book is well worth the concentration and time invested. If you liked this one, and want a bigger taste of the dangers of communist idealism, try Atlas Shrugged, also by Ayn Rand.
Rating: 
Summary: Fascinating
Review: This was the most interesting book I've ever read. The greatest part of it was the way the author seemed to mock her readers: by totally agreeing with her philosophy, arren't you just as bad as Toohey's supporters. On the other hand, if you don't agree with her concepts, then you're actually more of a second-hander than the average human because you don't even know that the kind of power Toohey got was the exact type of thing that happens today. As a high school student I know well that her portrayal of the public is right on, because we live in a world where people strive to emulate their fellow man, but why do all kids have to wear the same name brands, and why do modern buildings need Reniassance or Classic style? Why is it that we seek happiness through the acception of our fellow human beings, shouldn't happiness come from inside of ourselves. In the end, isn't your own body the only thing that is truly yours? I don't agree with everything in the novel, I believe in an ordered society and in religion, but how can we have a wonderful society without great individuals to contribute to it? This novel was a wonderful piece of work, written in the extreme to clearly convey Rand's philosophy, I found it thoroughly enjoyable.
Rating:
Summary: Implications for the coming years
Review: My reviews generally focus on novels and non-fiction works dealing with advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence, genetics and the like rather than sixty year old novels, but Rand's ideas will become even more important - and controversial -- in the coming decades. Although she has pushed objectivism to an untenable extreme, she is still the most relevant and important philosopher of our time and will remain so through the first half of this century. Why? Because scientists will incorporate her ideas into the new minds, both human and artificial, made possible by these rapidly evolving technologies.Ayn Rand is a great but flawed philosopher. Her Howard Roark is one the most admirable and terrifying characters to appear in any novel: a man of rigid, absolute principles; of talent and determination; and of intellect and emotion. Also a man who will stop at nothing, even violence, to gain his objectives; who cares not a whit about the needs of others, even his paying clients; who regards virtually all of humanity as parasites, living off the abilities of men such as himself. Roark could be a great man; he could also be a monster. These strengths will be attractive to many, leading science to develop methods to enhance our machines and our genes. The latter will be particularly attractive: who wouldn't want these characteristics for your child? The genetic inheritance of Howard Roark will be engineered into our genes, but which ones? And where would such men take us? The Fountainhead is a great read as fiction, and Rand challenges us with her ideas. Rather than fading into the background, such powerful ideas become more important as time moves on.
Rating:
Summary: Integrity and Sense of Life
Review: A lot of the reviews I read have not read the book carefully and made errors when describing it, and just like to repeat what critics websites say so here's why you should give the Fountainhead a shot: The Fountainhead tackles two great themes worth of attention, integrity and 'sense of life.' Roark is the shining example of integrity throughout the book, making hard choices but they are the right ones. He is an individualist, because he knows what is right and sticks with it despite what the rest of society may want him to believe and do. The 'sense of life' theme is even more interesting than the first. The whole book is first a battle between seconhanders like Peter Keating and Roark, but more importantly it is a battle between the intelligent people (Dominique and Gail) that are also cynical and do not think good can succeed in this world (can they learn to love life? read it). It is a story of a hero, one with integrity, purpose and a good outlook on life. If a man such as this is something you value, the Fountainhead has something to offer you in an action-packed book that has the philosophical insight to back it up.
Rating:
Summary: NOT For The Close-Minded
Review: I'll start right off by saying this: if you can't accept some shocking, startling, controversial ideas (I fully believe that that is the only reason many of the previous reviewers of this book gave it one star), DON'T READ THIS BOOK! It is completely essential for the reader of Ayn Rand's "The Fountainhead" to accept ideas that are different and - in the case of some - differing from one's own. That is what this book is: a differing idea. The only bad point of this book (though not bad enough to detract any stars) is the length. It's amazingly long - not only in length (my copy had 700-something pages) - but in content, if that makes sense. However, it doesn't ever FEEL long. I remember the point where I reached Part Three (at page 502 in my copy). It didn't feel like I'd read 500 pages. However, the length does become an issue when you realize you've been sitting alone for hours. Third I need to mention the characters. Most of them are one-sided. Both female characters - Dominique and Katie - have relationship problems, but this only adds to their character. There is no hero in this book - Roark is ANYTHING but a hero. The characters, I think, are unlike anything put into a book before. However, they're really amazing - GREAT - characters. In closing, I want to stress the fact that you CANNOT read this book if you're not willing to be exposed to differing ideas. This book is perfectly written - amazing style and characters. Read with an open mind!
Rating:
Summary: the best
Review: the best book i've ever read...i found the end a bit disppointing.a friend of mine had recommended the book to me.it is surely a masterpiece.the character of dominique and roark was very impressive well described.roark the hero of the novel..somebody who's just in love with his work and the emotions and relationships are not importand for him,he is not artificial and fake.he is how a man should be..he stuck to his principles all through his life.i think everybody must read this book.
Rating:
Summary: WOW
Review: After reading Atlas Shrugged I was a bit hesitant about reading The Fountainhead. I should have not hesitated. I literally could not put this book down. While the language is somewhat stillted and archaic, the characters are interesting, well developed, complex and conflicted. All the elements needed to produce an interesting story.
The story concerns several people: Howard Roark: A man of absolute principles. A genius at his work, and unbending in his desire to do it "HIS WAY." Peter Keating: Just the opposite. No scruples, and a third rate architect. Dominique: A Puzzle. Always seems to do the opposite of what she really wants. Ellsworth Twohey: An intellectual snob. Out to rule the world because the "masses" need him. Gail Wayland: Publisher. A tortured confused man. In many ways more the center of the story. The story is basically about the triumph of genius against the lowest common denominator of society and the battle against mediocrity and committee rule. Each character is explored in depth and made interesting.
If you were put off by Atlas Shrugged, you should read this, they are very different.
I highly recommend this.
Rating:
Summary: The best novel ever written.
Review: If there is any piece of literature that accurately reflects the best in humankind it is this one, and this is done using only one character. It might perhaps be difficult at first to accept that the incredible achievements of the human species could be exemplified in only person, but the author succeeds in doing so in this book, giving the reader a character that is both likeable and very human. Howard Roark stands in clear contrast to the other three in the book, who represent the temporary flaws in human conduct. The character and actions of these other three reflect what is most rare in human experience. Their outlooks and goals are shown in the story to lead to physical or emotional disintegration, a consequence of their sustained efforts to follow paths that deviate from those that are most resonant with the human psyche. The author's message is clear: sustained behavior such as that practiced by these individuals leads to severe dysfunction. The sly manipulations of Ellsworth Toohey leads to his disgrace; the parasitism of Peter Keating results in his mental breakdown; and the power cravings of Gail Wynand make him powerless. Toohey fails because he overestimates his abilities to charm and mesmerize, and underestimates the power of a mind that cannot be bought, that cannot be corrupted, that is creatively rich and dogmatically rational. Keating fails because he cannot comprehend, and has no understanding, of what it truly takes to achieve greatness. Seduced by fame and recognition, his mind polluted by the pettiness of social climbing and the hitchhiking of another's ideas, he cannot sustain, tragically, any measure of human dignity and self-esteem. Wynand fails because he is seduced by the quantity of his readers and is ultimately fooled by their independence. He gives in to the crippling monster of cynicism, wiping out forever any chance at obtaining the real power of personal integrity and focused intelligence. Roark succeeds because of his deep awareness and understanding of the essential needs of human experience. Creative accomplishment, originality of ideas and goals, and sustained concentration are the proper tools of the human mind, and like food and water, these cannot be ignored. Roark has penetrating insight into what it means to be really human. He is comfortable with himself and with others who believe the same. He knows that conflict will arise when interacting with those that don't, but he knows that such conflicts are temporary. A mediocre mind cannot compete with a competent one. Deception cannot compete with truth. Roark stands on his building at the end of the story, and this ending is appropriate. He symbolizes the many in human history who have stood on the buildings of art, literature, science, philosophy, technology, and music. The names of these individuals don't always get put in the history books, but the impact of their genius is overwhelming. Although they may be unknown, they are not rare, and it is these individuals who move the world.
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