by Ayn Rand, Leonard Peikoff
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Book Description
Get your "A" in gear!
They're today's most popular study guides-with everything you need to succeed in school. Written by Harvard students for students, since its inception SparkNotes™ has developed a loyal community of dedicated users and become a major education brand. Consumer demand has been so strong that the guides have expanded to over 150 titles. SparkNotes'™ motto is Smarter, Better, Faster because:
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Amazon.com
The Fountainhead has become an enduring piece of literature, more popular now than when published in 1943. On the surface, it is a story of one man, Howard Roark, and his struggles as an architect in the face of a successful rival, Peter Keating, and a newspaper columnist, Ellsworth Toohey. But the book addresses a number of universal themes: the strength of the individual, the tug between good and evil, the threat of fascism. The confrontation of those themes, along with the amazing stroke of Rand's writing, combine to give this book its enduring influence.
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Average Customer Review:
0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
 clearly this book appeals to the masses, 2008-07-04
If this book is so appealing to the masses (as it certainly seems to be) doesn't that mean the book itself is the opposite of its message?
Or if you are one of the people who enjoyed this book can you stand the irony that you are the type of person she is mocking in this book?
i can't tell you the number of whiny, uninteresting no-talents i have met who have recommended this book and consider it validation for why the world doesn't understand or appreciate them.
1 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
 Not the Inspirational Motivational Book I Expected, 2008-06-04
I like to read what other successful, powerful people read. So when I heard that Marc Cuban swore by Ayn Rand's "The Fountainhead" I ran here to Amazon to get it.
Written in the mid 30's, this is a VERY wordy book. Don't misunderstand...I like to read and am not put off by words...but far too much time was spent describing one's dress or the shape of one's face or the color brick of a building or...
Further, and more importantly, this is a book about unhappy people trying to find fulfillment in life without giving up their values and morals. On teh surface, that sounds Inspiring. However, 90% of the characters in this book are unscrupulous and immoral. The lone purvveyor of integrity goes thru life struggling to stay employed, and ultimately commits a crime so dangerous that you simply cannot understand how he's a 'good guy'.
And speaking to THAT last point: when you read his Courtroom monolouge, and then see how the jury voted, you will laugh OUT LOUD. No, it's not meant to be funny. It's implausable. In fact, it's improbable.
Perhaps in 1938 this was a motivational, inspirational tome.
I think I'll stick to Brian Tracy and Tony Robbins.
0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
 timely and essential, 2008-05-24
If you are a conservative, a libertarian, or at least a thinking person this is a must read. Objectivism would be such a valuable paradigm for people to embrace, especially in the 'modern' world where 'second-handism' seems to tbe the coin of the realm.
Do yourself and the rest of us a favor, and get this book as well as Atlas Shrugged.
Read, Reflect, Repeat
1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
A must-read for the intelligentsia, 2008-05-13
The Fountainhead is a philosophical journey into the life of Howard Roark, a young man struggling as an architect in a society that can not accept his innovative style. Set in 1940's New York City, Roark toils in the shadow of a prolific and publicly-favoured rival Peter Keating, and must work despite the crushing power of the influential columnist Ellsworth Toohey. Roark's modern and efficient style of architecture appeals to a very select crowd of people, but his stubborn self-interest prevents him from bending to the wills of society. Thus his work is shunned, ostracized, and he is repeatedly put out of work either by lack of clients or by lawsuits against his almost offensive creations.
Under the surface of this straight forward plot lies vital insight to Ayn Rand's philosophical views of society, producing the book's main themes: the importance of self-interest and the strength that individualism possesses over the universally appealing virtue of altruism (collectivism); and the inherent evils contained in a collectivist (almost communist) society, and their consequences to the individual.
The long and tedious beginning and middle sections of the novel are overwhelmed by the value held within the closing chapters. Rand takes ample time to intricately develop each character through tiresome descriptions, but this is necessary to understand the events, interactions, and the mindset of different characters at the book's climax; which delivers her philosophical message in one final, exciting knock-out blow. This novel is very thought-provoking, and is a great read for the politically, ideologically, or philosophically-minded person. Be forewarned that this book is not an adventure novel by any stretch of the imagination, but is a must-read for every member of the intelligentsia. I truly enjoyed this novel, as it was an excellent source to develop one's own philosophical ideals, depending on which stance is taken against Rand's blatant presentation of "Objectivism" (Rand's philosophical adaptation of individualism and capitalism).
1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
Completely redifined "selfish", 2008-05-03
At first, this book's size was intimadating but it flowed wonderfully. The story is incredibly deep and if you're not in the mood to read something that will make you think then you definitely need to look elsewhere.
The characters are incredibly well thought out and possess such strong presence that it's easy to get a clear visual of everyone of them. I often found myself smiling at the constant mental acrobatics that took place between them and their fervent need to one-up each other. If people truly spent this much time analyzing one another, I don't think we'd actually get anything accomplished.
At the heart of this novel is Rand's theory of objectivism which completely asks us to redefine what we believe to be "selfish". Often many people who are considered selfish are those who seek money/power/recognition from others, but if your concern is primarily based around the preception of others then you're not really focused on yourself and so how can you truly be "selfish"? All drive and motivation needs to come from within and stay there.
I found myself reevaluating some of my past (and current) decisions throughout the entire time I was reading this book. I was completely enthralled in Rand's world and will definitely pick up Atlas Shrugged to see where she went next.
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