The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand, Leonard Peikoff Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of The Fountainhead
Book Review: understanding and living... a new view
Summary: 3 Stars
I'll tell you, reading this book made me laugh several times and shake my head just as many. I loved it... for the first time I realized why so many people hated me... it was for being confident and self-fullfilled. Though I do not agree with much of what she says, this book truly did open my eyes to that fact. Though, to many people this book can be a life saver and a great help, it also has the potential of being a book who inspires a mad man. What I feel Rand did not understand was that njot everyone has the mental ability to grasp what she says, and these "individuals" need to be accepted and helped (altruism). She would rather leave them in the gutter than teach them to do their best (God forbid it is not THE best). Her views on male dominence are shocking to say the least (she is a woman?!?!). Though I am sure you will love her book and be persuaded by it, try to realize that it was written like the bible, with that purpose in mind and must be tak! en that way (though I believe so should the bible, atleast saying this about Rand is acceptable). Go out, buy the book... you will enjoy it, if not the philosophy and the message, than the story. It is also a great love story.Book Review: valley of skyscrapers
Summary: 4 Stars
I am a 30 year old architect. I read fountainhead for the juicy details of big time architecture. Rand wrote a story that is both bigger than life and true to life. She was a voracious researcher and a highly imaginative writer. Art imitates life in Fountainhead, in glorified fashion. I can attest from personal experience that a career in architecture does indeed include elements such as school rivalries, office politics, insecurities, megalomania, long hours designing, critiques, skyscrapers, mansions, engineers, contractors, tradesmen, and wealthy clients.
There is mediocrity in American architecture, and there was a modernistic movement in the early twentieth century. Rand abridged it for her story. The lives of her magnified characters are entangled in destiny. This could never happen in real life, could it?
Many scenes are so confident and gritty I cannot forget them. Also, her building descriptions are vivid and beautiful.
As you can tell, I needed some extra excitement in my 9 to 5. I thank Rand for the greatest American story about architects that I know of.
Only, I wish she would have finished it.
I have a big problem with the last third of the book. A misplaced dialectic of philosophy cuts into her ending. The ending is missing something. If only Rand would have kept her artistry and philosophy more separated.
Thus, as is, Fountainhead ultimately is not literature to me, but propaganda. And every person should be wary of propaganda. The message of this story is not universal. It is a mistake for young readers to imitate Rand's protagonist.
Roark is the most wooden hero. He is a robot programmed to design masterpieces. A puppet in a book, not to be confused with a real life fountainhead.
Instead of anthropormizing Roark, look for real life leaders who struggle and ultimately change our world. I know I'm just a regular architect. If I was a fountainhead, I would know it. Don't be a player hater.
Book Review: vgh
Summary: 5 Stars
Great book. Good read. Strong ideals. Rand writes with authority and conviction. Objectivism seems to be perfection to an atheist. I am not an atheist so I dissagree somewhat with her ideology but still highly recommend the book. (It's the only book I've read twice.)Book Review: well written, but completely psychotic
Summary: 4 Stars
Ayn Rand's "The Fountainhead" is brilliantly written. But that's where the brilliance ends. The characters are completely unbelievable. If you've read this you know that Roark claims that he doesn't care at all, about anything but himself. He claims that he doesn't need anything but himself and his art. If that is true, why was he so unhappy when Dominique was with Wynand? I don't understand the characters at all. I know a lot of women and none of them would risk their own happiness the way Dominique did. The only character with genuine emotion is Wynand.