The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand, Leonard Peikoff
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Book Reviews of The Fountainhead
Book Review: Brilliant despite stilted dialogue
Summary: 5 Stars
This is one of the fastest paced books I have ever read. Ayn Rand's characters come to life as she paints very clear pictures of who they are and what they represent. She does this in spite of the fact that the dialogue is sometimes a bit wooden and stilted. In this novel, she sets forth her philosophy of "objectivism." She exposes those, such as a character named Peter Keating, an architect, who seemingly achieve greatness by copying others but somehow give the illusion of originality and creativity. In order to achieve "greatness," Keating was literally willing to sell anything, including his wife. Thus despite wealth and apparant achievement, his life was empty. Rand begins to formulate her values that altruism is an evil because a society which seeks to achieve this must do so at someone's expense and therefore leads to collectivism. In the person of Ellsworth Toohey, a flamboyant newspaper columnist, she shows how the power hungry manipulate the masses by setting a standard of mediocrity which fosters collectivism.This book is full of passion, including a flaming, complex romantic affair between individualist architect Howard Roarke and socialite Dominique Francon. Their relationship develops from one in which they each seek to assert power over the other while achieving sexual release to one of true love between genuine soul mates. Roarke also has a passion for his work and is uncompromising in his creativity in accomplishing his professional goals. He will not ever compromise these goals despite enormous pressures to do so. Rand believed that there is only black and white in moral issues; there is no gray. Therefore, giving in a little is not compromise but rather, selling out your values and giving in to evil. Roarke was not a man to sell out, he had the courage of his convictions.
While setting forth her philosophy, Rand has also given us a novel which has a well developed plot. I found the novel to be gripping and I couldn't put it down. Following the career of Howard Roarke and the machinations of his enemies was fascinating. The plot had enough twists to provide surprises and to hold the reader's interest. This book is both an enjoyable novel as well as a challenging philosophical statement. I like Rand's philosophy and I love this book.
Book Review: Inspirational
Summary: 5 Stars
I have read this book three times. I read regularly, and I value this book above all others. When I read any part or page or paragraph of this book I immediately experience a certain kind of joy that is expressed very, very beautifully in the Fountainhead. Every word that drips from the pages into my mind surges with life! That is the focus of my praise for this book: As a work of art. I find it incomprehensible how anyone could fail to appreciate this, even if they disagree completely with Ayn Rand's philosophical views. In response to the reviewers that have found distaste for this book, I offer the cautionary account that I, when I first read this book, could make almost no sense out of it at all. I deduced that philosophically it was very pro-individualism, and this I liked, but beyond that my insight saw no further. I tasted the individualism, and more I didn't even realize I was tasting, and I came back to this book twice more. Since then I have matured and learned so much more about what it means to be alive, and in The Fountainhead I see a philosophical monolith both structured and woven with brilliant metaphors and an artistry of the english language rarely found. Ayn Rand was a bitter genius who saw into a part of reality deeper than anyone had previously done, and for this she was condemned? I embrace this fact fully, but I want to cast it away! Is bitterness unforgiveable? Is insight immoral? Anyone who is unable to find value in this book has never known for the most fleeting moment what it means to be alive!
Feeling unqualified satisfaction with what I have just said, I want to add that I do not agree completely with Ayn Rand's philosophical ideas. But that is not important. What is important is that the book presents her philosophical ideas as elegantly and as powerfully as a fiction novel is capable of achieving.
If you have any sense whatsoever that on occasion it is a noble thing for a human being to go to a secluded corner of the Universe and think for himself or herself, absent any regard to what others have thought before, and to enjoy this, and to use this thinking to change things, to create, then the totality of Ayn Rand's faults will seem trivial as this book causes you to exist more than you had existed before.
Book Review: Profound Ideas Promulgated in Steamy Love Story
Summary: 5 Stars
I read The Fountainhead almost ten years ago and I must tell you that it has resonated in my thinking ever since. While I can understand much of the indignation which other reviewers have expressed about the book, I suggest to you that the drama (granted, perhaps melodrama is the better-suited word) of this book coupled with the pacing and the obesession with important ideas will really rouse within most people a great deal of thinking. For those of us who are not particularly religious it is very satisfying to find something which encourages us to believe in something greater...and with Rand that something greater is the greater part of ourselves. Howard Roarke is the prototype of an individual who has unqualified confidence in "the verdict of his own mind." You do have to accept that Roarke is an abstraction, as are most of the other primary characters in the book. But this approach is common with many of the greatest books ever written. "Reality based" prose is not the measure of value for all books, although some books do shine through simply because they so fantastically convey reality. Rand, rather, conveys the divine potentials of inner strength and confidence. I see that as having been her special contribution to the 20th century; no one has more compellingly illustrated these ideals. Rand's "ideology" as I interpret it is simply to be true to yourself and your values, don't allow the mediocre masses to wear you down and away. That's good advice coming from any source. I've given this book to dozens of people and almost every one has indicated that they felt quite revitalized by it....not just for a short while but in an enduring, organic way. After you read this book you may want to climb aboard Atlas Shrugged for more of the unique kind of intellectual euphoria which Rand offers. I would suggest that you should wait a year or two before you do so. Let The Fountainhead sink in. True, it is a "love story" and that is a genre many of us avoid because it typically is so inane, but in this case you will find that setting so replete with ideas (encouraging ideas; confidence-inducing ideas) that you will really grow, and grow healthy.Book Review: Reviewers: who ARE all of you people?
Summary: 5 Stars
I've read the "Fountainhead", "Atlas Shrugged" and many other works by Ayn Rand, as well as works on herself and her philosophy. I am studying Objectivism. I have not formed a complete and final opinion of Ayn Rand and Objectivism nor will I until I have completed my studies.I realize such an approach to developing an opinion of deep and complex subjects is foreign to most of the reviewers below, both those praising and condemning "The Fountainhead" and "Atlas Shrugged". Scrolling down the column of reviews is like taking a wary peek under a rock, not knowing what kind of perversions you'll find cringing and warring in the eternal muck and darkness. Most of you people understand next to nothing about Rand and her philosophy. I've read so many statements that testify to the disgusting, wounded intellects floating around out there that I know there are not as many honest, objective readers of Rand as there could be.
Those of you who hate Rand, as Roark says, "I don't think of you." How can I? One can't consider the opinion of a person who portrays himself as a snarling beast. Some of you sound like you are an anurism away from declaring a jihad against Objectivists.
As for those others who:
a. Like the story, dislike the philosophy;
b. Dislike the story, like the philosophy;
c. Have a lukewarm response to both;
d. have read just "The Foutainhead", love it, and assume that that automatically makes their opinions of Objectivism valid to influence a person who is considering to begin reading Rand;
To all of you I say: READ ON. Read "Atlas Shrugged". Read her books on Objectivism, not just the fiction. Read Leonard Peikoff's "Objectivism: The Philosophy of Ayn Rand". If you don't you are doing yourself and others who might be persuaded by your opinion a disservice (certainly more for yourself; others don't depend on your views, but your guise of authority is misleading).
People who want to dissect Rand on the internet need to wake up. I have read few reviews not bloated with fallacies. Are you readers or are you not ?! Read on!
Book Review: Books Message: Be True to One Self
Summary: 5 Stars
The Fountainhead, by Ayn Rand
I arrived at The Fountainhead by reading the books mentioned in the Berkshire Hathaway letter to shareholders by Warren Buffet, one of which was, When Genius Failed about the rise and disastrous collapse of Enron. That mentioned The Fountainhead, which I read first, then Atlas Shrugged. The full book tree is available at my blog (The real estate investors blog at bloglines). The Fountainhead was less focused on the economy and more on the individual and how the group consciousness, collectivism and the expectancy to live ones life for others affects society, whereas Atlas Shrugged takes it a bit deeper to show the effects on an economic level.
Both approaches clearly and convincingly point out the dangers of irrational thoughts, beliefs and actions. Ayn Rand, both in this book and her others rejects the belief that man is or can be a victim of forces beyond his control, such as God, fate, upbringing, genes or economic conditions. She shows through the beliefs and actions of the lead character Howard Roark how rationality is man's basic virtue and his main fundamental values are: reason, purpose and self esteem. She illustrates that man must live for himself, not for anyone else and to live for one self takes self esteem to believe in ones own ideas, dreams and visions.
I applaud her strong burning belief in a hands off Government and laissez-faire capitalism. I read someplace that Alan Greenspan is a big Ayn Rand fan as can be seen by his hands off approach and reluctance to interfere with capital markets and security market regulations.
The book illustrates that thinking for one self is of the utmost importance in life and how not thinking for one self turns you into a helpless victim of the thoughts and plans of others.
The books theme, be true to one self is a biblical concept mixed with a modern day society to illustrate as clear as day the difference between self thinkers and those that live for others. It will just about terrify you into becoming your own person.
By Kevin Kingston, author of: A 20,000% Gain in Real Estate
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