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cunningba's review against another edition
2.0
I read this book after seeing the moving during my freshman or sophomore year in college.
I found the characters even more two dimensional in the book than in the movie.
I learned that I really dislike Ayn Rand. I found none of her characters engaging or well characterized. They are simply symbols she is pushing around on the page to promote her political ideals.
I found the characters even more two dimensional in the book than in the movie.
I learned that I really dislike Ayn Rand. I found none of her characters engaging or well characterized. They are simply symbols she is pushing around on the page to promote her political ideals.
ramyasjp's review against another edition
5.0
The book I consider a work of a genius. I still dread that it is way above my standards, yet could decipher some golden quotes. The more number of times I read, the more are the revelations.
Rand's phenomenon, you'd either hate or love it, there is no particular indifference. This book hit the jackpot with the carefully woven characters. To talk about the protagonists,I know not where to begin. I cherish intellectual characters and one among them is Howard Roark, the main protagonist. He makes a spectacle of himself by behaving the eccentric way yet aces collectivism throughout the series of events and bunch of intelligent people who hinder his progress.
The book teaches how not to fit into situations and live a life of dissatisfaction, instead bring life to the inner longings and cravings of an ordinary yet genius person.
Rand's phenomenon, you'd either hate or love it, there is no particular indifference. This book hit the jackpot with the carefully woven characters. To talk about the protagonists,I know not where to begin. I cherish intellectual characters and one among them is Howard Roark, the main protagonist. He makes a spectacle of himself by behaving the eccentric way yet aces collectivism throughout the series of events and bunch of intelligent people who hinder his progress.
The book teaches how not to fit into situations and live a life of dissatisfaction, instead bring life to the inner longings and cravings of an ordinary yet genius person.
emmabjones's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
An absolutely incredible book from the characters to the writing to the story. Rand’s characters are complex and intelligent. The world she created and the interactions between people made me think about relationships and social situations in ways I never have before. It’s a story about architecture in the briefest sense but it is so much more than that.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape
pinksreads's review against another edition
3.0
To pretend to like this book would be the most ironic incident; because a good chunk of The Fountainhead is spent ridiculing people who pretend to like big books with big words that seem intellectual - but when read, don’t make sense at all. And most ironically, Rand created what she described in her own book, like breaking a 4th wall. The Fountainhead leaves much to be desired.
Writing style: garbage. It is too long-winded in its approach to explain moral issues and concepts. It took me so long to get through what Rand was trying to say, only to come to the other side of the paragraph and realise that it was a load of bullshit.
Ideas presented: not too bad! While, in the true essence of the word, I am the exact opposite of the protagonist Howard Roark - who is an ardent individualist with no regard for community - I can agree with a lot of philosophies presented in the book. However, it’s focus on linking individualism with art has many flaws, and Howard Roark’s character is repugnant.
Coming to characters; all of them fall flat in one way or the other. In fact, Peter Keating seems to be the most flushed-out character, even if he is portrayed as a sore loser and bootlicker (which he is). Character resolution is very poor.
It could’ve been a 300-400 pages short, and it could do without a rape scene. Just saying.
So the 3/5 is for some of the ideas, most of the speeches and some of the plot. Most of it sucked.
Writing style: garbage. It is too long-winded in its approach to explain moral issues and concepts. It took me so long to get through what Rand was trying to say, only to come to the other side of the paragraph and realise that it was a load of bullshit.
Ideas presented: not too bad! While, in the true essence of the word, I am the exact opposite of the protagonist Howard Roark - who is an ardent individualist with no regard for community - I can agree with a lot of philosophies presented in the book. However, it’s focus on linking individualism with art has many flaws, and Howard Roark’s character is repugnant.
Coming to characters; all of them fall flat in one way or the other. In fact, Peter Keating seems to be the most flushed-out character, even if he is portrayed as a sore loser and bootlicker (which he is). Character resolution is very poor.
It could’ve been a 300-400 pages short, and it could do without a rape scene. Just saying.
So the 3/5 is for some of the ideas, most of the speeches and some of the plot. Most of it sucked.
omi3's review against another edition
5.0
Listened to the audiobook during my morning runs and read while sipping coconut water at people's food coop.
An Ann Arbor summer
An Ann Arbor summer
stevenrouk's review against another edition
3.0
Some of Rand's ideas are inspiring, and I find myself seeing the wisdom in them. Unfortunately, the philosophical antagonists of her story (selflessness, altruism, caring about society as a whole) are caricatured and taken to too far of an extreme. To me it seems that best combination comes from blending her idea of "human as heroic" with a broader utilitarian ethic that acknowledges the well-being of others as morally important.
Ultimately, the story was engaging and the ideas were interesting, and I found value in reading it—but I believe Rand could have dug a little deeper and found the root of morality, "well-being", and then her philosophy could have been better grounded. As it stands, she has a couple of good ideas and blends them with straw men and generalizations that aren't as relevant in the modern era. Which, incidentally, could make her work a bit dangerous for someone who doesn't have a more thorough philosophical understanding. "We don't need to care about others at all? Alright, sounds good to me."
Rather than solely "I" and "ego", the better combination is "I + others", "ego + altruism". Not only does philosophy show this, but practical experience holds this to be the case as well.
Ultimately, the story was engaging and the ideas were interesting, and I found value in reading it—but I believe Rand could have dug a little deeper and found the root of morality, "well-being", and then her philosophy could have been better grounded. As it stands, she has a couple of good ideas and blends them with straw men and generalizations that aren't as relevant in the modern era. Which, incidentally, could make her work a bit dangerous for someone who doesn't have a more thorough philosophical understanding. "We don't need to care about others at all? Alright, sounds good to me."
Rather than solely "I" and "ego", the better combination is "I + others", "ego + altruism". Not only does philosophy show this, but practical experience holds this to be the case as well.
krista_billings's review against another edition
5.0
This book was so good!!! My faith in humanity was lost then found then lost then found, and lost and found again.
dkatreads's review against another edition
3.0
Read this in high school and at the time, found it a compelling story and surprisingly touching romance. Rand’s philosophical and ethical commitments are disturbing to say the least however. Her writing remains shrouded by her pessimism and disregard for the universal beauty of all life. I have no doubt if I tried to read it again I wouldn’t be able to get through it. But what it meant at the time, I can’t deny.
frostap's review against another edition
4.0
I'm surprised that I liked The Fountainhead less this time than when I read it as a teen. Most troubling this go-round was Dominique's repression and self-loathing. Howard Roark is still one of my favorite book men, but the story surrounding him was weak, frustrating, and didactic (but I guess the didactic part is what Rand was going for). I'm only denoting one star because I did love it mightily in high school, but my now-twenty-four-year-old self was not impressed.