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: Oh, my god! This book is absolutely fantastic.
Summary: 5 Stars
Maybe that is not the exact word, it is much more. But the word wich describe it, doesn't exist. The first time I read it was when I was 13. since then I have read it about 50 times . This was my first book in my life, and made me feel something that I hardly can explain, because the carreer I wanted was Architecture, and now that I am nineteen, I haven't change my mind of the perspective that Howard roark is. A perfect man who loves life and Architeture. I think you can understand me, I hope..., and I believe that this is the reason because all of we, at least my person, found that five stars are not enough.Book Review: Get this book...
Summary: 5 Stars
If you're only going to read one book in your life, make sure this is the one. It's one of the very few books that will actually change your attitude to life (and career). So go and read it and you'll soon be recommending it to all your friends and relatives. My own personal favorite book (so far =).Book Review: Inspiration in print
Summary: 5 Stars
Thank you Ayn Rand. This book has inspired me beyond words.I first came to hear of Ayn Rand's seminal text through a reference in The Proud Highway, by Hunter S Thompson. He cited The Fountainhead's ethos of individualism as a way of life that he wanted to follow.
We learn of a headstrong architect, Howard Roarke, who will not compromise his visionary designs for commerciality or collectivism. His travels through adversity and continual temptation expose the superficiality of the great characters that surround him. This is a story of romance, ambition and competing ideologies that remains relevant today.
Roarke represents the whole philosophy of Objectivism. A school of thought that believes in the individual and political Capitalism.
Beware this book could change your life..
Book Review: This book should carry an 18 cert
Summary: 5 Stars
This is not a criticism. I first read this when I was 12 or 13, (a christmas present from an architect in the family). At that age I cannot say I grassped the theory, although I thouroughly enjoyed the prose. I then read the book again 5 or 6 years later and was blown away by the message and for years I would not be swayed that this was the way I had to live my life. However, others persuaded me to delve deeper and to read contrasting opinions and although I still believe in the underlying message of Objectivism, it would be impossible to live my life in such a narrow tunnel. Too many people pick up this book and believe they can be Howard Rork, a single minded individual with an uncanny grasp on the world and it's shenanigans, unfortunately the truth is, that to show such dedication to any one philosophy would require a sacrifice that any normal human is unable to give. I would say read this book but compare it with other texts, Karl Marx for example. Do not try to use this as a bible for life but merely as a tool to expand your knowledge.Book Review: Interesting but not life-changing...
Summary: 3 Stars
Having been told by all and sundry that Ayn Rand's books Atlas Shrugged and The Fountainhead are remarkable, life-altering texts, I decided to read one. I chose The Fountainhead because of my interest in architecture, and I read the book over the course of about three months, finishing it yesterday.My overwhelming emotion is "What's all the fuss about?". The Fountainhead is quite well written, although her characterisation is rather uneven and often very weak. Her grasp of English is good - she writes interestingly on common themes of love and despair - but not exceptional.
I must admit I am a good candidate to find Rand appealing - conservative, humanist, anti-collectivist (all these things before I ever heard of Rand), but I found her philosophy rather childish. Perhaps if I had been a teenager when I read The Fountainhead, I would have been more swayed. I just thought she overstressed an idea which is, at best, idealism, at worst, idiocy.
I have to admit, my favourite characters were Peter Keating and Gail Wynand because they were the only humans in the story. Roark, Dominique and Toohey were little more than 2-dimensional posters for their respective ideals. Boring.
The book is saved by occasional passages of great beauty. Rand evokes space and distance with skill, and her obvious passion for architecture is infectious. Unfortunately, she spends too long dragging a simplistic philosophy to its natural conclusion (VICTORY! HURRAH!) and not long enough making Roark a likeable character.
Better than some books I have read, but certainly not the life-changing tome I had anticipated. Hard not to be disappointed, really...