Fountainhead

Rating:
Summary: An Eye-Opener
Review: This is a great novel to introduce Ayn Rand's philosophy of Objectivism to those not familiar with it. The Fountainhead is a modern classic and a must-read for independents with thier own beliefs and views. This novel changed my outlook on life.

Rating:
Summary: An Amazing Book
Review: The Fountanhead is a masterfully done novel. The way that Rand tells her story, and incorporates her philosophies into it is positivley outstanding. In my eyes, this is perhaps the best book I have ever read.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent book which exposes its critics in advance
Review: The Fountainhead was very well-written and easy to read. Surprisingly well-written, given the enormity of her idea(l)s. The sentences just flowed. If she had to stretch the believability of certain characters to get her point across, then so be it. I don't see anyone knocking 'selfless' Indiana Jones or other fantasy icons. TF was entertaining and I cared about the characters. (Had Rand been a romance novelist she would have been a billionaire.) As for you (few) detractors of this book, I think Rand succeeded beautifully in clearly getting her message across; that's why people who love the book do so individually, while its second-hander socialist detractors all sound the same.

Rating:
Summary: AN EXTREMLY THOUGHT PROVOKING BOOK!
Review: The Fountainhead is certainly an extremely well written book. As I read the book I found it very mind stimulating and the way the story is witten integrates a killer story with objectivist philosophic views. As I have read this book does better each year as far as sales go and I think because the way this story is presented it will continue to do better and better as time goes by. If you are looking for a story that will change the way you look at the world and think I would totally recommend this to you. I plan to read this book many more times in the future because I believe I will get more and more out of it.Howard Roark is truly an inspirational character and I hope I can emulate this person as I get older and never become an evil man like Elsworth Toohey. Roarks triumph should be an inspiration for all of us and I hope those who will read and those who continue to read this book will feel (exuse me think) as I do.

Rating:
Summary: AN EXTREMLY THOUGHT PROVOKING BOOK!
Review: The Fountainhead is certainly an extremely well written book. As I read the book I found it very mind stimulating and the way the story is witten intergrates a killer story with objectivist philosophic views. As I have read this book does better each year as far as sales go and I think because the way this story is presented it will continue to do better and better as time goes by. If you are looking for a story that will change the way you look at the world and think I would totally recommend this to you. I plan to read this book many more times in the future because I believe I will get more and more out of it.Howard Roark is truly an insperational character and I hope I can emulate this person as I get older and never become an evil man like Elsworth Toohey. Roarks triumph should be an inspiration for all of us and I hope those who will read and those who continue to read this book will feel (exuse me think) as I do.

Rating:
Summary: Getting better with age
Review: Just finished reading The Fountainhead for the fifth time. The first time was over a decade ago, and I read it every couple years when I'm feeling down or just generally need a "pick-me-up." Interestingly, the book was much funnier this time. Maybe because I was focused in other areas in the past, but this time I caught a lot more humor and actually laughed out loud a few times ("The Gallant Gallstone," the manner in which Roark talks to Toohey, etc.). For anyone that hasn't read this book, you owe yourself. For those that have read it, read it again and enjoy the subtle humor.

Rating:
Summary: One of the greatest novels of our time
Review: If you don't know who Ayn Rand is, read this book. It was a life changing experience for me. Trust me, READ THIS BOOK! You won't regret it!

Rating:
Summary: Pure Gold.
Review: This book is gold, man, absolutely, 100% pure gold. Ayn Rand called the book's main character, Howard Roark, "man as he *should* be". I wish we all could be like Roark. I try my best, myself.

I could totally relate to his feelings about life, people and the world in general. Seems that all people care about is pleasing those around them, not for the purpose of making the world a better place, but rather to adapt themselves to the collective of the misleaded and exploitive society (speaking of which, read "Anthem" and see what the consenquences may be).

Read the first chapter of this book and you won't be able to put it down. The you will read about Roark's conversation with the Dean of his university. To my complete surprise, I found it to be a complete replica of my own with the Army Drafting Officer in my first army draft. I will find out soon if my efforts to appear as psychotic as can be paid off. I, like Roark, refuse to be exploited by the [Israeli Militaristic] Collective.

Folks, follow Roark's advice, heed his words and be whatever you want to be. You too, can be a Fountainhead of original thoughts and ideas.

Rating:
Summary: Bringing Out the Best in One's self
Review: The Fountainhead illustrates the struggles of a young man who refuses to accept the mediocre opinions of experts or anyone else. Roark is uncompromising in that if one wishes to deal with him, one shall deal with him on his own terms within his extremely high standards. He refuses to perform less than his best and he refuses to discuss performing mediocre work even if a customer desires mediocre work.

He is reduced almost to destitution at one point for refusing to take business from those who wish to dictate his style. Ultimately, he wins - his methodology is slowly accepted as superior as he refuses to give up on giving only his best.

Gail Wynand illustrates a man who "could have been." He panders to the crowd early on in his life, but somtime after meeting Roark he is inspired to be an individualist for a time. Eventually, he gives in to public pressure and lets Roark down.

Ellsworth Toohey is the second-hander of ideas. He epitomizes the stupid ivory tower socialist intellectuals. He contributes much to the culture of mediocrity by his speeches and writings.

Peter Keating is the man who is successful, but has never had an original idea of his own. He mooches off of history and, pitifully, Roark.

Dominique Francon is the most unbelievable character in the novel. I am not sure Rand really knew what do so with such a character. She is surreal and, by any standard, a lunatic. I wish Rand would have given more thought to this character.

Roark, however, should inspire anyone who has the will to take on the whole world and win. His dedication and effort are amazing.

Rating:
Summary: Yes
Review: "What you feel in the presence of something you admire is just one word-'Yes.'"

Howard Roark makes this statement in the Fountainhead. This explains exactly how I felt as a reader.

In this Novel the main character Howard Roark lives his life for the right goal, happiness. Roark seeks only to please himself. Rand makes a strong argument that this is the way to live life correctly. Rand is one of the few authors to dissect the idea of sacrifice and explore its negative sides. Her stance that the indvidual is much more important than the collective or society is advanced through Roark's dialogue and interaction with the other characters especially in his dailogues with Keating and Gail Wynand.

Rand creates a believable picture of Roark as a superman type character. She uses Nietzche's idea of the superman to formulate an explosive hero who drives the book. I do not feel it was a mistake to make roark flawless. Although many epic hereos are expected to have a hamarita Roark is the portrait of the ideal man as Rand sees him therfore he has no flaws. This makes sense the highest ideal should be free of error.

I also think that there are more than three types of character in this book. To state that there was Roark Dominique and everyone else is overgeneralizing. Toohey is a believable character and a powerful man. There is really no reason to doubt or reject the things he says or does until his final discussion with Keating. Many of Toohey's statements and ideals are present in the comman man's ethics and value sytems. Many people believe that altruism and sacrifice are noble. The reason readers reject Toohey early is because Roark is made out as the hero and toohey attacks roark form the begining. Gail is another character who is developed well as the person who could have been but wasn't. Peter Keating is also an excellent portrait of the comman man. Dominique is an interesting female character she does not appear lovestruck early in the novel especiallly before and during Keating's pursuit of her. She seems the perfect companion for Roark. And it is intersting to see her character develop form the cold unexpected vixen to the domestic wife of Keating and Wynand and then to Roark's lover.

To sum up this novel moved me it has and still does make me think more about why I do things. I think Rand did an excellent job with this book and I think it advanced her message of the individual over the collective well.