Ayn Rand and Leonard (AFT) Peikoff - Fountainhead

Review: "Fountainhead" in one of the most successful integrations of fiction and philosophy in literature. It is a literary manifestation of Rand's concept of Objectivism, and it's purpose is to tie this philosophy to a concrete example and champion, Howard...

The Bottom Line: Read it when you're young, with a large shaker of salt. DO NOT TAKE THIS BOOK SERIOUSLY

Review: And I will howl at you if you take this bloated tome too seriously. I mean, the hero is a rapist and the female lead a self-loathing adulteress. Enough said.

A favorite of sophisticated high schoolers everywhere, Ayn Rand's "The...

Review: There are times one's true principles matter--a principle that cannot be crushed even by the heaviest and the strongest power of society...and Howard Roark lived his life as if it was the last time he'll be able to stand up to what his instinct and...

Review: I am prejudiced.
I really like the work of Ayn Rand. I?ve read all of her works repeatedly over the last 35 years. I have a large collection of Rand Memorabilia. I think she is an important person with a lot to say, a fascinating individual.
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The Bottom Line: Bored by the choices offered by today's society? Here's a chance to think about more vivid alternatives and feel like a college student again.

Review: Note to High School and College Students:

This review isn't for you. This review is for old people like me who are no longer as idealistic as yourself, but who might get something out of reading The Fountainhead if they're not scared away...

The Bottom Line: A 50 page essay stretched out to 704 pages. Impress your friends and neighbors by being smart enough to not read it.

Review: When I was in 7th grade, I was given a book list by my English teacher of books that all "educated" people should read in their lives. Granted, it was about 20 years old and didn't have some contemporary authors that are worthy of reading, but it...

The Bottom Line: I recommend The Fountainhead as a readable novel with compelling ideas.

Review: I see The Fountainhead has drawn quite a few reviews, so rather than writing a general review, I'll share some comments on Ayn Rand's writing techniques.

There's something to be learned from reading just about any novel. This is certainly...

Review: I may be in architecture, but I don't read a whole lot about it.

When I read, it's more for pleasure, not so much for enlightenment, though that's certainly welcome. Pleasure for me comes from fantastical worlds and wildly creative stories...

Review: Ostensibly an anthem for humanists gathering under the banner of "Objectivism", The Fountainhead tells the parallel tale of two men. The first, Howard Roark, is a strong-willed individualistic genius architect who avoids any semblance of success for...

The Bottom Line: While the novelist develops characters well in this book, all of them are ultimately unlikeable and most are spouting dogma that is sickening.

Review: "The Fountainhead" is a long, long book and the problem is, too often, it feels long. Why does it feel long? Mostly because it's repeditive on issues of character and most of the characters only show great insight once every hundred pages.

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