Rating: 
Summary: Very captivating
Review: This was my first book by Ayn Rand and now I want to read all her books. The author's style of writing is very captivating- all the characters in the book are so real - Howard Roark, Dominique Francon , Ellsworth Toohey, Peter Keating. While one realises that the world is so full of Peter Keatings and that its not difficult to be a Keating yourself, one admires the character of Howard Roark which though is a little hard to achieve. The author's philosphy that its only Individuals who finally do something exceptional is totally undisputable and has been very well presented in the book. Its a book to read over and over again - worth having a personal copy !
Rating:
Summary: 20th Century Masterpiece of Philosophic Fiction
Review: I enjoyed this work of Rand even more than Atlas Shrugged. It moves much faster and is less complex. If you dig this one, then move on to Atla Shrugged (I made the mistake of not reading them in that order). Rand developes her philosophy through her characters in a way that captures much of what it means to be a human being, and the evils of collective, mind-numbing dogma. Although Rand wrote while the threat of communist U.S.S.R. loomed large, most of the main premises remain very relevant today. Remember, a free thinking mind is the greatest asset one can have. If you are new to Rand, this is a great place to start.
Rating:
Summary: For Intelligent People Only!
Review: The Fountainhead has been my favorite novel since having been assigned to read it over 10 years ago. Since that time, I have read it over and over. I greatly enjoy the depth of the characters and the numerous interpretations you can derive from the story. In reading some of the previous reviews, I saw that some people mentioned whether or not they felt inferior or that the philosophy was essentially garbage. I believe that a mature reader derives pleasure out of a good story and does not just throw it down or scorn it because it mentions things they do not agree with. I disagree that Ayn Rand was trying to make people feel inferior, that is not at all what individualism is about. I have read all of her books and greatly admire her writing style and the passion which she conveys towards her beliefs. Whether or not I share those beliefs is irrelevant and you can enjoy the book either way. Please look farther and don't dismiss such a valuable classic so easily! This book is amazing and is one that should not be missed by the avid reader who wants a stimulating and compelling read that they will not soon forget! Thanks.
Rating:
Summary: an uncompromising masterpiece
Review: Rarely do I come across a book that is as striking, disturbing and thought provoking as "Fountainhead".. while some of the reviewers argue that the characters of the novel are a bit too extreme in many ways and unrealistic, I would argue that there was no other way to deliver the message and to provoke the appropriate level of self-analysis and questioning of the world around us..In the world where spinelessness, conformity and obedience often get rewarded, Ayn Rand has boldly risen to defend the virtues of personal integrity, principles, idealism and individuality.. While each of us has had to compromise our own ideals at one point or another to reach our objectives, the book cries out to limit the compromise we undertake in our daily lives to a minimum, for every little compromise chips away from whatever remains of our character and individuality.. and the compounding effect of all the little compromises eventually destroys what we are and what we intended to be.. While this is my first experience with Ayn Rand's writings, I feel like I've identified with many of her ideas long before I picked up this book, as I have often resented the world around me pushing me in the directions I don't want to go to.. This novel calls for leading the life according to our own ideals as opposed to expectations of others.. and those who will be able to extract the message are likely to attain internal peace and self-understanding..
Rating: 
Summary: I HATED this book!
Review: I am a relatively tolerant person. I can read a book I disagree with and live. But this book was impossable. I threw it in the trash can halfway through. I don't have a problem with her characters, necissarily, but the way in which she portrayed the less perfect and heroic characters infuriated me. Those people are you and I, keep in mind. There is no Howard Roark; none of us can carry on a relationship with another person without speaking or contain the meaining of life in our art. It's jsut not possable. So if you want to read about how inferior and unaware you are, go right ahead and indulge yourself.
Rating:
Summary: I am at the bottom so no one will read this...
Review: I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It is rare that I can read anything with 700+ pages in less than a month and in this case, it happened. To the people who have said that this book is pure propoganda, sure it is, but what novel isn't? In most cases that author tends to throw in his/her own philosophies and this is no exception. It was beautiful to me to see the people in the stories attempting to break one another, but unable to. And the last line is beautiful. Pick it up.
Rating:
Summary: fountainhead as an anchor to integrity
Review: this is quite possibly the best novel i've become involved in - and i use the phrase wholeheartedly. it is impossible to come to the last page of the novel without acknowledging at LEAST some amount of self-involvement. i definitely would not say it's a book by which one models his/her life; roark is referred to as a hero. if a hero is someone whom one aspires to be, roark is not that. if a hero is someone whom one admires, roark is that. if other critics consider this the flaw of the novel, they haven't considered the loose definition of a "hero" anyway. this novel could result in self-improvement only in the reader acknowledging the pedestal which humanity too often ignores, too often dismisses as too distant a reach for his piddly self. the wistful beauty of this book is that hopefully, the reader will gain full awareness that roark's integrity cannot be matched. as other critics stated, he is basically untouchable, unmarred by his surroundings - well, the breathing types of surroundings in actuality. whether the reader hopes or not to match this, the fact remains that his character does not dictate the human heart - just its stifled cry for wings. however, the entirety of the novel may provide inspiration and a much-needed mirror. excellent piece of literature. great for any beginner on the concept of objectivism.
Rating:
Summary: AMERICA AT ITS FINEST
Review: As an American, I find this book fantastic. However, this manifesto of reason, capitalism, and individualism, has created many foes. All that can be said is that this book illustrates accuratly and with grace the American culture, and particularly America's founding principles. To those dissenters that say it is for morally "ugly" people, they should really live in a political system that embodies their principles: they shall make nice dogs for Mr. Gadhafi
Rating:
Summary: Ayn Rand: The Only 20th Century Novelist Worth Reading
Review: If you are looking for a breezy book to read at the beach, "The Fountainhead" isn't it. This is a book that requires you to think. The majority of you will not understand the book. Some will understand it but not agree with it. Only a small minority will understand and appreciate the book. "The Fountainhead" is a classic tale of good versus evil. To Rand, the individual is good, and any restriction on the individual is evil. The ultimate form of evil is collectivism. The protagonist, architect Howard Roark, is Rand's perfect man. His life is his work, and vice versa. He works on his terms or not at all. The plot centers around attempts to crush him--by those who do not understand him and by those who understand him too well. Some of the characters are good, some are evil, and some are not quite one or the other. Some, you will know which way they fall almost from the beginning, and others not until the end. The characters often appear to take actions opposite to what you think they should. You must look beyond the short term to see the true motives and why each action has a purpose to the overall plot and why each action helps the character achieve his ultimate goal. It helps to remember the times in which this book was written (i.e., 1930s and 1940s). Socialism was gaining ground in Europe. Ayn Rand had seen this firsthand in her native Russia. She saw a very real possibility of socialism taking over in the United States, and her goal was to prevent it. The book is not without its flaws. Rand's writing can be rather strident, and some of the wording sounds dated. She overuses certain terms. The last twenty pages do not live up to the first 660. But these are minor drawbacks. The plot development and character development are masterful, and the pacing is just right. If you are in the minority who understand and like this book, I would also recommend "We the Living" and "Atlas Shrugged."
Rating:
Summary: Comprehension
Review: I've read the good reviews. I've read the bad ones. They share one point in common - they don't - get - the book. They don't understand. It's not about the rape. It's not about the setting. It's not even about the details. This is a modern-day myth, the same as any ancient Greek, Sumerian, or Norseman might have written; it's not strict reality, and it's not a realistic picture of what should, could, and might have happened, but like all myths, it is merely a tale of how to live. Set in a crystalline world with sculptured characters, it isn't meant to be taken literally. It was written in the style of all the best myths, and should be enjoyed as such - unrealistic, unbelievably beautiful, and a stern and delicate reminder of the best in all of us.
| 
