Rating: 
Summary: A fantastic book which will boost your positive ego
Review: This book, I would strongly recommend to all youngsters, who are about to begin their lives. This book does not tell you, what to do, nor should you exactly follow what Howard Roark did. But, this will really give you a boost to your positive ego and tell what a man can do if one has the confidence in oneself
Rating:
Summary: An honest evalutation
Review: Not a great novel, but a great book. I'll confess that I like Rand's ideas, although I don't follow all of them. It is true that the novel is unrealistic. Rand called this "Romantic Realism". The characters are idealistic, but they're relevant to the real world. If you want a realistic story with normal characters, however, it's not for you. Also, the book contains no violence. All the conflict is through reason and ideas. Even the sex is this way. There's lot on people thinking about what other people are thinking about, etc. I liked it, but you may not. I did not like the plot. The first 1/2 was great, but then it dragged more and more. The book's message can be uplifting, but you'll have to decide for yourself.
Rating: 
Summary: Well...
Review: Sorry, this book didn't change my life. But I did find the story very interesting. I recommend this book only if you have a lot of free time.
Rating:
Summary: Attention Fountainhead Haters: This is really funny!
Review: I have already written a review saying how much I liked this book. But I have now read a lot of the other reviews. This book is kind of like Howrd Roark, you love him (because you understand him), or hate him and wished to see him destroyed. I hope the irony is not lost on haters of this book. Most people who don't like this book don't say, "I just didn't like this book". But they have something really violent sounding that makes it almost seems that they are yelling. Rand isn't telling people what to think or how to act, the fact that some people have become so negatively emotional about it says (to me) that it got it's message across. If you think this book is telling you what to think or how to act, (whether you liked it or not), I think you missed the point. Howard is not the model citizen and everyone should not act like that. My God I hope that everyone would not act like him. He chose to neither lead or follow and that made others hostile and threatened. I loved this book but I would never want to be Howard or anyone else in this book. I would only hope to be myself and no one else. If Peter just accepted himself and didn't worry about what other people thought and didn't need other people's acceptance he might have been happy. But he wouldn't have been a Roark clone by any means. But for those of you who hate this book so much, don't you think that you kind of resemble Ellsworth and how he wrote of Roark?
Rating:
Summary: Everyone should read this book!
Review: This book is outstanding and interesting right from the begining. It tackles a concept so universal that no matter what your personal beliefs, religion, philosophy, you walk away with something valuable. I can't amagine anyone reading this book all the way through and not loving it.
Rating:
Summary: Objectivism: A first step
Review: I've just spent hours reading these reviews. The good and the bad. At first I was astounded that reviewers criticizing Rand could communicate intelligently and even, on a few occasions, with eloquence! It was after further consideration that I may have come to understand the emotionality behind their responses.The two major criticisms are that Rand preaches an unrealistic or incredibly simplistic philosophy. Let me address the perception of simplicity first. I agree with reviewers that experience some aversion to individuals spouting Objectivistic philosophy as the messiah that humankind has long awaited. I think Rand would also. Instead of saying that The Fountainhead is more appropiate for high schoolers or individuals in the prime of their lives, perhaps it's more fitting to say that Objectivism is a good foundational philosophy. Rand doesn't so much teach what values to hold sacred as she is presenting a framework for evaluating belief systems. Rand is espousing a modern rendition of Socrates' "To thyself be true." How one is true is a subjective experience that should be analyzed objectively. To try and be Roark is not the answer. Rand articulates a model in which one can be themselves. Her philosophy as unrealistic? What philosophy is? Almost by definition, a philosophical system pertains to the ideal, not reality. It could be that we're witnessing such intensity of feeling because the framework she puts forth IS realistic and attainable by those willing to try. Those that may consciously or unconsciously consider themselves too weak to assimilate this system may be the ones shouting the loudest. To paraphrase: They're protesting WAY to loudly! A final comment: some have questioned the validity of her framework because of its incompatibility with the concept of altruism. Perhaps, as theorists in philosophy and psychology have been doing for eons, we should be questioning the validity of altruism?
Rating:
Summary: One of the best Books I've read so far!
Review: The only thing that stopped me from rating this book at 10 is the hope that there might be something better out there. Truly well written book..both content wise and presentation wise. The characters are admirable, the philosophy even more.For those who consider this book childish, I would only say, it requires a real CHILD to make the world a better place!!Respecting tradition is fine, but if you dont enrich it from time to time, the world would never progress..and to enrich the world, you HAVE to go against the flow, and challenge its flaws..through your actions. This book shows just how..Its a masterpiece!
Rating:
Summary: More than art or architecture.
Review: This novel is not a commentary upon society and the community. Rather, it serves as a means of disection by which we slowly peel away each layer of that very same society and community. In a sense, with each page, we slowly disect ourselves. With the sharpest of blades, the novel slowly slices away each layer, until we reveal the tender regions of what we trust, beleive and rely upon. This is why one can both praise (as helthgiving), or hate (as painful), and why many miss the point or refuse to see it(as one does when a serious matter involving their health arises.) Ayn Rand's skill with the knife makes her cuts almost undetectable. And that is the same reason why her novel is so wonderful and so cruel. She simply choses to cloak the instrument in the finer aspects of humanity so as to lessen the pain. For Ayn Rand, Art and Architecture are the novicaine of our culture and thereby a means to an end.
Rating:
Summary: Everything you hear about it is true
Review: Fountainhead is a book everyone has an opinion on and you either hate it or love it, theres no in between - If your the kind of person who reads this book and loves it then join the club, cause everything you hear about it is true - It can change your life and the way you think, but to enter the club you gotta believe in the philosophy - Hats off to you madame Rand you have truly given us something to think about - theres no book I have read and dont think there will be one which will affect me like this book - After reading it dont be surprised if you start believing your Roark cause thats what happened to me.
Rating: 
Summary: thanks
Review: This was the first novel about an architect's life I've found, so I'm giving it a rating of "1", hoping to find many more excellent books in the genre. I did enjoy The Fountainhead. It's a good book. The neat story line was easy to follow, and the 700 pages of simplified philosophy about life of human being as a creator gave me long-lasting relief from reality. I recommend this novel to any artists/designers out there, who are seeking the most basic form of inspiration.
|
