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Summary: The beginning of my rebirth.
Review: The Fountainhead, above all things, is a brutal vision of the world. I was torn by this book. Introduced to me by a bitter English teacher who had taken objectivism to his heart and soul, this novel kept me reading, without food or sleep, for two days. I cannot say that it is the greatest book I have ever read, for I have read better, but I can say that after reading The Fountainhead I could not help but think about the world, about my friends, and, most frightening of all, about myself, in a whole new light. Ayn Rand will make of the most torpid idiot, with a single brilliant, vicious stroke, a philosopher. I suggest you read Atlas Shrugged, and look for the description of Atlas, shoulders dripping blood, tears streaming from his eyes, bearing the world upon his shoulders. Rand believes, above all, in the ultimate greatness of man. A few hundred pages is a small prize to pay to share in her belief.
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Summary: A MASTERPIECE!
Review: I have read The Fountainhead several times, not surprisingly, everytime I understand it differently. The language is just fantastic and if one enjoys prose, I strongly recommend it. I mention this in part to respond to some of the rather less experienced reviewers who strangely found the book too long. The philosophy of Objectivism by no means a new concept, is portrayed in a great novel. A treat!
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Summary: CHECK YOUR PREMISES!
Review: Must great literature be boring and tedious, filled with effeminate and exasperating despcriptions of household objects, completely void of plot, and concerned exclusively with the depths of human anxiety, paranoia, and depravity? Are Margaret Atwood, Toni Morrison, Edith Wharton, and Thomas Mann the exclusive representatives of serious literature? NO! Ayn Rand's fabulous novel is everything... it is the overture to a philosophical system which few intelligent people fully appreciate, it is a thrilling page-turner, it is a delightfully sarcastic and witty parody of Modernism of the Joycean variety, and it is a steak driven mercilessly into the heart of weapy welfare statist "love everyone!" fools.*It's a long book, but we're all grown-ups and should make time to explore serious ideas. *It doesn't conform to the literary standards you're used to - intentionally! Don't try to judge it as you would "Beloved" or "Ethan Frome"! You will b! e as foolish as a man who tries to judge Shakespeare by the aesthetical standards of the beat writers! Take it for what it's worth, because Ayn Rand has deliberately and consciously created something unique. *Make up your own mind, don't take my word for it! And don't take "Orthodox Objectivists" at their word when they say they have exclusive rights for interpreting Rand. Think for your self!
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Summary: One of the best books ever
Review: I recommend this book to anyone who can think. Many of the reviewers of this work obviously cannot. Two reviewers proclaimed putting Rand on a pedestal defeated her purpose, Rand was a strong advocate of "hero-worship" that is looking up to the great, not walking on them or degrading them to a lowly standard. Rand belongs on a very high pedestal, as proving that she is one of the greatest authors of the 20th century. Those who find this book as "hypocrisy" (as one reviewer put it), should read Atlas Shrugged. If Atlas Shrugged is too long for your small conceptual ability, read the 50 page John Galt speech it does a good job in smashing your review into pieces.
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Summary: The Fountainhead
Review: I am tired of people saying that they really enjoyed The Fountainhead, but that Rand could of said what she needed to say in a more condensed manner. What person out there would care to summarize genius? Mozart was also told that he should just take a few notes from his symphonies and then they would be quite perfect. People thought that his music was too strenuous for the human ear. Perhaps we should also begin to take out,at our whim, a figure from the composition of a great painting. What I am trying to say is that you can't take only a piece of a book,painting,or musical composition, and love it only sectionally, while seperating it from the whole. How can you justify destroying profound inspiration and thought in this manner?
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Summary: Fountainhead rules
Review: The struggle of an architect to defy the norms of societies perception of "style" is magnificent. The underlying romance and inner torment between the main character and the strong, self-willed female is exciting as well as a bit disturbing. I highly recommend this read to anyone who is unafraid of a bit of in depth thinking and self investigation. Jason P.
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Summary: a good read
Review: i came here and read quite a few reviews before i actually read the book and i got the impression that everyone either totally liked or totally hated it. but i found i had neither of these feelings. i enjoyed reading it, for although it incorported a lot of philosophy, it wasn't too heavy- this may be due to it's length. i thought the author presented many stong points, but took them a little too far. my suggestion is to read this book with caution if you are someone who is easily swayed. i wince when i read the reviews where people say "this book changed my life" because it would be a very scary world if everyone was like Howard Roark. on the other hand, i think a lot can be learned from this book, and even if you do not agree with the author's views, the story is engrossing enough that it can still be well worth the read.
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Summary: The Fountainhead
Review: I was one of the "Kids who read the Fountainhead" for the scholarship opportunity. I found the book a slow read up until maybe page 300, but in the end I thought it was worth it. In spite of popular belief that we the youth believe we have all the answers after reading this novel and other writings, I found rather that it posed more questions. The ideas Rand posed in this novel are quite thought-provoking. The story is intriguing if not believable. I enjoy her prose, though, yes, after 700 pages one feels numb. In the end, I couldn't write the essay. Just as another youth wrote, putting Rand on a pedastal would go against everything she believed in and advocated. Rather than harp on her ideas for the $10,000, I decided that the new ideas and questions I came out with were worth much more.
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Summary: The Fountainhead was great but...
Review: I read it in about a week. the ideas that were presented could unfortunately, as another reader suggested, have been expressed in several hundred less pages, no mater how great they were. Rand seemed to ramble a great deal through several hundred pages, but, ultimately, she accomplished her goal of expressing her ideas to a large population. I look forward to someday reading Atlas Shrugged
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Summary: No adjective expansive enough can describe this work
Review: I wage a personal war against all those who critizise this book as promoting egotism (in in conventional sense, not in Rand's) and republicansim. Those who deride this brilliant piece as such have either not read the book (such as the writers of "Dirty Dancing" in which a total egotistical jerk says it's his bible) or just could not understand Rand's true, complex messsage. I pity you if you fall into one of those catagories, for I found this book to be thought provoking, even if disturbingly so. I couldn't get this book out of my head for months and am still trying to decide to what extent I subscribe to Rand's philosophy. Much of what Anne Rnad has to say will strike a chord within you. However, I do have problems with certain aspects...for one, in order for Rand to make her point, her characters become a little linear, and she becomes rather repetative. However, my main problem with Anne Rand's philosophy/novel is it's hopelessness: we can NEVER achieve the ideal that she presents, nor would we necessarily survive the process to achieve the ideal. If you are prepared to live with that wrenching reality, read and love the novel. Otherwise, be careful, for you can neither read this novel lightly nor survive it without a few scars. Still, a gut feeling tells me that those scars are worth it and that everyone should read this book. It should be required for living even if you don't agree with the philosophy! Having totally frightened you all off :), I still hope that you above all ENJOY The Fountainhead! I wish you happy and fun reading!
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