Fountainhead

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Summary: Those who bash Rand either fear her or don't understand her.
Review: Contrary to what some people might think this book is clearly NOT about facist ideas. Quite the contrary, Rand was against concepts such as facism. Rand does not anywhere that I can see in the book say that doing something that benefits society is wrong. What she does say is that it is individualism that makes a society great. She illustrates how a "collective" mentality only produces mediocrity. There is nothing wrong with doing something that benefits society, as long as it is not being done because society demands that you do it or in some way has rights over you as an individual. Take the housing development that Roark builds as an example. Society benefited from the project but Roark did it simply to satisfy himself and his vision. He did NOT build it to win praise or admiration from anyone. This is what Rand tries to convey in her works. All of the best things that we have in society are because an individual dared to say "I can do that". Those that bash her I believe do not grasp her message or perhaps worse, fear her message.

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Summary: Great book for artists and true individuals!
Review: I read this book in art school and loved it. 15 years later, I am still very much indebted to this book for changing the way I look at things. I understand that because Alan Greenspan recently mentioned Ayn Rand, everyone is going out to purchase this book. All I can say is, this book is not for everyone. If you are going to take the characters in the book at face value, you will hate this book. If you are a working architect, you might laugh at this book. If you are a "team-player" you will not want to pick up this book.

Lighten up people! Howard Roark is an idea, not a person. He is an idea that lives in all of us. A desire to be individuals in whatever we do. I may not agree with Objectivism all the way through, but this book definitely made me look at what makes up an individual. Then and now, I respect and admire Ayn Rand for writing it.

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Summary: Passion
Review: I would definately recommend this novel to anyone. It speaks of truth and independance, and passion for life. It depicts, in Rands words, "man as he could and ought to be." Anyone who adheres to the pronciples of personal autonomy and responsibility, should read this book. It is an encouragement, and it changed my view of the world around me.

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Summary: Cowards, beware!
Review: This novel is not for the weak. If you are scared to look deeply into your heart and mind, if you are terrified of changing yourself and your life, do not read The Fountainhead, or anything else by Rand. But if you long for honesty and integrity, if you want to be proud of your achievements without guilt, Rand provides priceless inspiration.

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Summary: Intensely philosophical genius
Review: I first read The Fountainhead as a junior for my English research paper. I was skeptical about such a large book, and my attitude toward reading it was likewise. However, after reading it the first time, I could not stop talking about the intense philosophy Ayn Rand introduces with Howard Roark. The idea of Objectivism, essentially the glorification of individual man's prominence, is intriguing and worthy of consideration. I love the character of Howard Roark because he is the perfect example of a man who becomes successful despite the restraining presence of a society bent on the normal. Our greatest historical thinkers were Howard Roarks: Galileo, Einstein, Newton, and the list goes on and on. This book, although fictional, gives proof to the reader that mankind has the desire to move forward regardless of other people. I see Roark not as a depressed and pitiful weakling who blames society for the downfall of man, but as a true hero among men. He stands out because he does not fold under the pressure of the majority; he does not bail out on the obvious answer when he knows a deeper meaning exists. Now, I am reading the book again, one year later, and I find myself underlining most parts of the book. The story line is filled with true-to-life situations; social darwinism, society v. man, revenge, desire, lust, and every other symptom of life the reader could think of. The Fountainhead is truly more than a classic, and it is worth reading time and time again. The more it is read, the more the reader knows about the idea of Objectivism and how accurately it pertains to the life of mankind. This is definitely a five-star reader, and I encourage everyone to give it a look.

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Summary: Abhorrent
Review: Like most people, I read THE FOUNTAINHEAD in high school, right in the midst of feeling out of control and feeling like no one "got" what I was trying to do with anything. I found the struggle of Howard Roark fascinating, the characters intensely developed, and the massive, epic sweep of the novel astounding........Later on through......ouch, this book is flawed, on some kind of basic level. First off, the whole Objectivist philosophy is pretty abhorrent, unless you think that the planet would be better off if everyone was totally self serving. Howard Roark is a Fascist, refusing to see anything but what he wants to see. Which isn't a problem, except the book makes a hero out of him, wants us to realize that being just like Howard Roark is the highest standard one can acheive to be. But that's just philosophic differences. The book itself, is pretty pathetic. Everything in it, the plot, the characters, are just tinsel and paint that cover up Rand's manifesto. The characters are deeply developed, but come off feeling like one dimensional caricatures, their dialogue pathetic, their motives worthless. Howard Roark moves through the book like a walking Deux ex Machina, all at once omnipotent and always functioning with total flawlessness of actions. Still, I'm glad I read it, just to realize how far I wanted to set myself away from it.

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Summary: The Fountain Head Spouts Bilge
Review: As a Brit, I'd never even heard of Aryan Rant until I moved to the USA a couple of years ago.

Once here, her name cropped up many times, especially when Alan Greenspan (a former disciple of hers) was mentioned, or I talked to some of my young American colleagues. They seemed to idolize Aryan Rant, and speak of her and her works with great reverence.

So, with much anticipation I bought this monster of a book, fully prepared to read and enjoy a cult piece that had escaped my attention, or failing that, get a view of Architecture during the peak of the Modern Movement - the people responsible for all those huge concrete cubes in every city in the Western World.

Months later, its sad to realise that at the age of 35, I came to this book at least 20 years too late. Its an immature, second rate novel, challenging only because of its great length and turgid writing style (forgivable perhaps, since English was Rant's second language).

As for its philosophy; "fascism with an adolescent face" might summarise it in five words. The main character, Howard Roark clearly believes himself above all other men (and especially women). He never feels doubt or uncertainty, and acts towards everyone with humorless contempt. Amazingly we observe that he's bitter, isolated, and can't relate to anyone. He also feels desperately misunderstood and undervalued by an ignorant and cruel conformist society. Boo hoo! How cruel the world is to unrecognized genius!

Which I suppose, explains this novel's enduring popularity among bright (mainly male) adolescents - this is a character they can REALLY relate too, although unlike Salinger's Holden Caulfield, he shares his creator's complete lack of wit and humour.

Seldom have I struggled so hard to finish a novel, Moby Dick was a breeze compared to this weighty turgid lump. Occasionally there's an illuminating thought to be extracted like a piece of soap trapped deep in a sodden sponge. But mainly I felt disbelief; amazed at the extraordinary naiveté of the author, did she imagine any business, let alone architecture, functions in this way? I was stunned that someone held to be master philosopher and Literary (note the capital L) author could create so many two dimensional forgettable characters, and so many forgettable scenes, each to be dissected and explained for us idiots in the next 30+ pages, just in case we missed the point the 4th time it was made.

In desperation, I read around the book a little and started making excuses; Rant's sole exposure to architecture was a six month stint (working for free mainly as an observer) in Frank Lloyd Wright's office. This is a philosophical novel, bravely expounding a fascist viewpoint when America (and the rest of the free world) was busy fighting Nazi Germany and its ally Japan. Rant, openly admitted (years later) that she knew nothing of psychology (quite an admission for a novelist, you might think).

Eventually, I emerged from finishing "The Fountain Head" as bewildered as I had been by page 30. This is an adolescent book, written by an intelligent but deeply flawed author, who creates deeply flawed cardboard characters and overtly manipulates them to explain, at great length, a philosophy so unrealistic that it cannot apply to a world any of us recognises.

The truth is The Fountain Head spouts bilge. Gallons and gallons of toxic bilge. Pity the poor adolescents who lap it up - sooner or later it will do them terrible harm.

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Summary: SIMPLY A MASTERPIECE
Review: I have been waiting to read a book like this for a long time. Ever since I read Marx's and Engel's "Communist Manifesto" in college, I had very refutable thoughts against their visions of the ideal state and a human's relation to it and in it - I just couldn't articulate them. I knew that there was something not right with an individual giving up her/his own self for the "good" of the people (or state). It just didn't sit well with me, but I had a very hard time trying to articulate my thoughts and arguments.

Then along comes Ayn Rand with "The Fountainhead" (HALLELUJAH!) She does an outstanding job defending the right of the individual and self. Moreover, she presents it in the form of a novel and not a step-by-step detailed list of her ideas, which is much more enjoyable reading. It is a brilliant story set in America in the 1930's during the time when most of Europe was being consumed under the dark cloud of communism. And that dark cloud was setting its course overseas toward America.

I won't provide any details about "The Fountainhead" (besides, there are plenty in others' reviews) but I will say that I thoroughly enjoyed reading it. Yes, the novel has its shortcomings, such as its length (ever read "War and Peace"?) but even that isn't so bad once you get into the book. Some have argued that Rand herself is guilty of propogandist ideas, but everyone has her or his own thoughts/judgements, and herein lies precisely the theme of the book - YOU have a right to your OWN thoughts, ideas, judgments, and no one or nothing else could or should control them or make them for you.

Love it or hate it, it is a must read for all; I recommend it highly to all college students. And, I can't wait to read more by Ayn Rand.

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Summary: A Zenith in 20th century literature
Review: The concepts and ideas contained in this novel were very compelling to say the least! I thoroughly enjoyed the style of writing and the level of explicit character development present. Rand's realization of each important character (a unique manifestation of some abstract ideal) was brilliant. The book is extremely well written and thought provoking. If you despise compromise this book will reach you with certain intensity.

If allowed one criticism it would be Rand's overuse of some obsolete slang (e.g. bromide).

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Summary: A Stunning Literary Achievement
Review: The first time I read "The Fountainhead", I was deeply impressed with the plot, characters, and events it portrays. Howard Roark is one of the few fictional characters I've encountered that I would definitely want to meet. His capacity for sheer joy is almost unequaled in literature. Yes, the characters are abstract, but that's infinitely preferable to yet another novel about yet another damsel in distress, or poor man crushed by the evil capitalists. In my opinion, Dominique Francon was the least "believable" of all the characters, but one of the most interesting...her motivations may not have been realistic, but she is fascinating from a philosophical perspective. After reading "The Fountainhead", you'll be amazed how many Peter Keatings you see in everyday life.

After reading reviewer after reviewer complain about the book's lack of realism, I want to say that I was amazed at the number of events in this book that rang true for me. The description of Gail Wynand's schooling still stands out in my mind, along with the contest held by Wynand's Banner to see whether they could raise more money for an unwed mother or a struggling scientist. I've said this before, in my review of "Atlas Shrugged" - Rand's minor characters are incredible. Mrs. Keating is exactly what she needs to be, and she is such an accurate picture of so many well-meaning but intervening parents! The description of Mrs. Wayne Wilmot, a potential client of Roark's, is just staggering - it so perfectly characterizes so many people.

I'm currently in the middle of my second reading of the book, and I'm surprised how many little details I'm noticing now that I skipped right over before. This is definitely a book you have to read twice. Rand had such an acute sense of contrast and irony, and it's such a shame to miss all the little details she put in for the reader to find. It's like an irony gold mine. Just compare the descriptions of Roark and Keating walking down the same street and you'll see what I mean.

There's just one thing missing from this book - illustrations. I would give anything to see a building that Howard Roark could have designed, and the movie adaptation's models were so bad I cringed when I saw them. I'd love to see someone design the Stoddard Temple, or the Enright House, or the Wynand Building...basically any of the buildings Roark did. Even the gas station. It would be great if the Ayn Rand Institute or some other Objectivist institution sponsored an architectural contest for a design for one of these buildings.

The first time I ever heard of this book was in an essay about Objectivism which called "The Fountainhead" poorly written and awkward. Nothing could be farther from the truth. Say whatever else you like about Ayn Rand, she was a phenomenal writer (that English wasn't even her first language still amazes me). I highly recommend "The Fountainhead" to everyone - even if you don't agree with the philosophy, the story and the writing are sheer delight.