The Fountainhead (Centennial Edition Hardcover) by Ayn Rand Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of The Fountainhead (Centennial Edition Hardcover)
Book Review: Fountainhead rules
Summary: 5 Stars
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.
Book Review: Damn the critics, full speed ahead!
Summary: 5 Stars
Ayn Rand saw art, including literature, as "a selective re-creation of reality according to an artists metaphysical value judgements". She was incapable of writing a "day in the life" story, warts and all. She wrote about "how man ought to be", not how they are. She chose to highlight the contrast between good and evil, so that the reader would not be left guessing which character trait she endorsed. She was an eternal optimist, although one often wonders why."The Fountainhead" achieves all of this in spades. Howard Roark is the most uncompromising Rand character IMHO. Through him, the message of Objectivism is in all honesty, rammed down the readers throat. It is difficult to escape, short of putting down the book. It is not a gentle introduction, but I'll wager her message was not lost on anyone who bothered to read the book in its entirety. To make a point, she gets in your face regardless of how you squirm, and lets you have it from several angles, just so there is no doubt.
This book is not charming, it will not make you feel all warm and fuzzy, it does not attempt to boost your self esteem. Do we really need any more of those kinds of books? What it will do, if you read it through, is dare you to justify any actions you undertake other than for the sake of rational self interest. And before you write her off as a greedy ***** who couldn't give a damn about anyone but herself, ask yourself why she chose to publish her work in the face of a world conditioned to view such ideas as poison. I think she saw people as naturally rational, and refused to treat them as idiots, incapable of understanding her ideas. Ask yourself how many philosophers you can say that of today.
Ayn Rand communicated her ideas in a second language ( English ) better than most do in there native tongue. Certainly better than any of her whiny collectivist critics. Give this book a read. It's definately worth the effort.
Book Review: It is Novel worth reading!!!!
Summary: 4 Stars
Doesn't it say something about a book that is as loved and loathed as this one. Read it and form your own opinion.Book Review: I Was A Teen-age Objectivist
Summary: 5 Stars
Yes, I too was once an insufferable teen-age Objectivist. As the "Playboy" Ayn Rand interview explains, the ideas of Ayn Rand exert a strong hold on the minds of intelligent adolescents because intelligent adolescents are especially open to compelling new ideas. It is very difficult to read Ayn Rand and remain impervious to her Weltanschauung, and teen-agers are particularly susceptible. I may have been better off not to have read it first as a teen-ager or I may have been worse off not to have; I can't quite decide. In any case, this is a well-written, imaginative, and cleverly plotted novel. Yes, some of the prose is flawed, but none of it is "purple", as a reviewer below has suggested. It is certainly significantly different from any other novel I've ever encountered. I hold it in high regard but recommend it guardedly.Book Review: Changes How You View the World
Summary: 5 Stars
This is one of the best books I have ever read. It has disturbed me and shaken the very convictions that I have built my life around. I have never read a book that had such power to do that, and it has opened my mind in a way that is almost frightening.