The Fountainhead

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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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Customer Reviews:

Meh........2007-10-03

I'm entirely too selfish to write a review here. So I won't. Hey, what's in it for me?

Read this in 2 days.......2007-09-20

I was on a 24 hour train through india, and read most of this book during that time. The characters are magnets to your soul.

One of my favorites..........2007-09-11

This is one of my favorite books, right up there with 1984 and Atlas Shrugged.

Where to begin.......2007-09-10

When reading a novel or philosophical treatise you become absorbed into the mind of its author. The author's thoughts emanate throughout all characters and are apparent in all the pages. Upon reading this novel be prepared for this one person's controversial thoughts, (with holes in her philosophy), on politics, ideals and livelihood for the long 700 plus pages.

Taken as a novel, the book is far from being brilliant. Lacking realistic characters, lacking character development and change, this novel simply lacks. The two dimensional characters are set out to be a certain way and that is the way they remain. This stagnation in my opinion makes poor novels. Good novelists create real people experiencing a wide range of believable emotions and a deep penetration into their psychosis. Great novelists can create these characters and document a change throughout the course of the novel keeping to the deep penetration into the psychological insights of the characters.

The weakest part of the novel was the melodramatic dialogue and unbelievable character interactions. What were Roark and Dominique doing to each other? Their relationship went beyond even the ideals of romanticism to the ideals of nonsensical. It was not hot or passionate or seeking the highest concepts of love but rather was over the top, unrealistic and just plain weird.

The writing has no aesthetic value, no beautiful use of words or combination of word, no mood enhancing sentence rhythms, no flow from sentence to sentence or chapter to chapter. The primary purpose of the writing was to get the point across, similar to an averagely written article.

Setting the book as a novel and the writing style aside, I think Rand's intention was to express her philosophy. This can explain why she creates the characters as they are and as I described them, not as real people but rather as ideals, and notions. This fact that the characters are unreal is not only the flaw in the novel but the flaw in the philosophy.

It fails because she creates a human being that is perfect. No one can create a building as good as Roark. He is never wrong and it is taken for granted anything he touches is perfection. In real life no one is perfect. People can be great at what they do but not perfect. Therefore, it is possible that a real person who is a genius, (but not perfect) might miss something or make a mistake. Therefore, it is necessary that other people are needed to create things as close to perfection as possible. Getting many minds together working COOPERATIVELY is more powerful and greater than one. Rand confuses creating works of art, where the one artist makes his/her personal expression versus a thing of practicality and necessity such as buildings.

Rand promotes the idea of working only for yourself and having selfish goals. While working or caring for others is the most horrid, base premise only for the weak or the corrupt. She contrives to make the one who helps other, (Toohey) the epitomy of corruption and I would even go as far as to say Diabolically evil (which is also stupid, characters like that should only be in stories like star wars or lord of the rings).

I would like to ask Rand, can you create and work for yourself and yet for others. Can it be possible that a human being can have a heart, likes people and gets the greatest personal reward (or selfish goal) from seeing other peoples lives improved or alleviating suffering or hardship? Can the only reward someone gets is producing/creating some inanimate object such as a building? Maybe people make you happy. An individual can have a selfish goal to make people happy, it is what makes this individual happy, and it has an affect of making people better off as well.

Her philosophy promotes the creator or the genius. How many people in society does this encompass? In other words, it is a philosophy for the elite. It makes sense and sounds good on paper, similar to her antithesis (Marx and Lenin); however these are philosophies not for this world. A combination of the philosophies or a meeting in the middle is the most realistic. It seems at times like the purpose of this novel was to put down a theory of government she was against.

The books greatest achievement is the creation of a character we can all try to emulate. Roark's intense individualistic spirit is something we can all strive for. He knows what he wants and asserts himself one hundred percent never compromising who he is no matter what circumstances befall him or who attempts to manipulate him.

Her philosophy on livelihood is also displayed in the book. All actions, words and movement have the most vital dramatic purposes creating a very heavy tone and being devoid of all humor. I believe she promotes this intense profoundness in life. I on the other hand believe living this way can lead to unhappiness. I'd be curious to know if Rand was a happy person. It is important to be able to laugh at life and even yourself and take things some what light heartedly since there are so many unforeseen circumstances completely out of ones control.

Despite all of this the philosophy was obviously thought provoking, has substance and really is saying something. It is controversial material and I thought I saw a tremendous amount of holes in her reasoning which further reinforced my own beliefs. However Howard Roark's individualism and integrity is something that all can look to strive towards and I thank the person for bringing this book to my attention for all the thought derived from it.

Drawing my own conclusions.......2007-09-08

Having heard that Rand was the poster-child for unrestrained capitalism, I wanted to read The Fountainhead with a mind to hate Rand. When I finally had an opportunity to buy a used copy, a 50th Anniversary Edition, it was shamelessly full of in-my-face self-promotion and Ayn Rand marketing hype. Before I could even begin to read the story, she had two-strikes against her.

Inexplicably, I found myself liking the story, and even appreciating what Rand was trying to tell the reader through the voice and actions of her characters. It was also a fun read, a page turner for at least the first 400 pages. And, while there was a lot of tedium in the last 200 pages, the story climaxed fruitfully at the trial. I was climbing walls during Toohey's God-awful monologue in Peter Keating's apartment.

At extremes of believability in the four or five main characters, there was Wynand on the believable end of the spectrum, and Toohey on the list of the century's least believable characters of any novel. I felt that Rand had to satirize the Collectivist in order to scapegoat him. Ellsworth Monkton Toohey wasn't just satire, he was a caricature.

Keating, Roark and Dominique each had their shining moments, but Roark's didn't come until the end: Once, when Keating sold his dignity (yet again) for the Cortland Homes, and also at the trial. Before those flourishes of verbosity, it was as if Roark was unable to speak in complex sentences. If you had to ask yourself honestly, how was Roark any different from an idiot savant, you wouldn't be able to show that he was.

Though her characters wouldn't necessarily behave like people you or I might know, Rand used them effectively to teach her little lesson about where America seemed to her to be going. As for character types, I know Peter Keatings and Ellsworth Tooheys. My disgust for some of these people in my own life actually came into focus after reading The Fountainhead.

And, each of us have seen the bad and ugly side of capitalism, but compared with the prospect of losing individuality, creativity and the purity of our own excellence, I guess it is an idea worth defending. This review comes a day after reading that Osama is telling all Americans we must convert to Islam, and only then will he stop terrorizing us. Pause for thought.

The Fountainhead was predictable at every step of the way. I found myself saying, "Keating will stab this guy in the back and get his job," "Keating is going to ask Roark to do his work," etc, from start to finish. There was one event I didn't know how it was going to turn out, and that was what defense Roark was going to use at his trial, and the trial's outcome. But, even Guy Francon, Dominique's father kind of gave that away when she and he were talking over the phone. That defense, by the way, seemed rather brilliant to me. First, it explained satisfactorily why Roark did what he did; second, it was a genius bit of psychology to cause the jurors to think of themselves as Creationists and not Collectivists. Put in those terms, who could refuse?

Ironic that the Second-hand Man was so reprehensible to Roark, and yet he ended up marrying a second-hand woman. I conclude the whole dysfunctional relationship with Dominique could only be explained as Rand's sexual fantasy. After all, look at Roark: The strong, silent type. Red hair, sweats a lot, full of testosterone. Look at his antithesis, Toohey: diminutive, doesn't engage in anything physical, 100-percent cerebral.

If you can read The Fountainhead as a novel without getting carried away by the Ayn Rand philosophy merchandising, then there is no reason why it should not be an enjoyable, educational read.

Incidentally, I recently got to see some of Rand's world played out in real life. Two camps of people were promoting a new town flag, or condemning its artistic merits. The against side were invoking some pretty specious accusations, ones that seemed they couldn't substantiate, when questioned. A third man walked into the conversation from off the street. "Very nice," he said, making a statement of his own, without asking anyone what he should think. Later, another woman was asked, and she looked from face to face, unable to form an honest opinion all by herself. "I don't know, what am I supposed to think? Am I supposed to like this, or not? I'm not a history expert."

Average customer rating:

great companion to Fountainhead
Very Helpful
Very helpful.
A huge surprise

The Fountainhead (Cliffs Notes)
Andrew Bernstein
Manufacturer: Cliffs Notes
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0764585584

Book Description

The original CliffsNotes study guides offer a look into key elements and ideas within classic works of literature. The latest generation of titles in this series also features glossaries and visual elements that complement the familiar format.

CliffsNotes on The Fountainhead explores the modern classic that made Ayn Rand famous. The book carried forth the author’s anti-communist ideals and conviction that individuals should not allow their lives to be dominated in any way by the beliefs of others.

Following the story of architect Howard Roark as he attempts to achieve success on his own terms, this study guide provides summaries and critical commentaries for each part within the novel. Other features that help you figure out this important work include

Personal background on the author, including a look at the philosophy she termed “Objectivism”
Introduction to and synopsis of the book
In-depth analyses of a broad cast of characters
Critical essays on the author’s writing style and more
Review section that features interactive questions and suggested essay topics and practice projects
Resource Center with books, film and audio recordings, and Web sites that can help round out your knowledge

Classic literature or modern-day treasure — you'll understand it all with expert information and insight from CliffsNotes study guides.

Download Description

The novel that made Ayn Rand famous, The Fountainhead is perceived as a modern classic.

Taking place in New York City in the 1920s and 1930s, it chronicles the efforts of architect Howard Roark to achieve success on his own terms.

It is Rand's first book to carry forth her anti-communist ideals, that individuals should think and believe independently and not allow their lives or careers to be dominated in any way by the beliefs of others.

As Roark's designs create a rub against the acceptable styles of the day, he continually is faced with selling out to the masses. But continually he refuses, and his career becomes one marked by his capacity to hold fast to his own intellectual and artistic innovation.

Customer Reviews:

great companion to Fountainhead.......2004-01-05

This book really helps a reader see "the big picture". I read it when I was about 60% of the way through the book when I grabbed the Cliff Notes. It's a good way to do it; I wouldn't have been able to grasp the overall concept of Fountainhead without it.

Very Helpful.......2002-12-28

Bernstein clears up many misunderstandings or deliberate distortions by unsympathetic critics. Rand's style of writing may be jarring to those who prefer Naturalism. It is worth reading or re-reading Rand with a guide and/or commentary. However, don't deprive yourself of the experience of entering and immersing yourself in Rand's world, which requires reading the novel. Use the guide sparingly as clarification is needed. Unfortunately, Bernstein sometimes refers to future events in chapters not yet read - be forewarned.

Very helpful........2002-10-15

Dr. Bernstein is becoming a prolific writer. This helpful assistance for those studying The Fountainhead will not dissapoint. I could've used this more than twenty years ago, when first reading that wonderful novel. Be glad it's available for you today.

A huge surprise.......2000-07-18

I have read the Fountainhead many times and I was pleasantly surprised by this cliffs notes summary and analysis of the book. It includes a short biography of Ayn Rand but the bulk of the book is spent on detailed going over of Ayn Rand's plot, theme, and characters. It is fascinating to read an intelligent analysis of the characters I love. The gems of the book are the two critical essays; The Literary Integration of the Fountainhead and Ayn Rands Writing Style. This book is written by an Objectivist author and is definately worth buying.

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INSIGHT INTO THE GREAT CLASSIC!

Essays on Ayn Rand's The Fountainhead
Robert A. Mayhew
Manufacturer: Lexington Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0739115782

Book Description

In this unique study of The Fountainhead, Dr. Robert Mayhew brings together historical, literary, and philosophical essays that analyze the novel's style, its use of humor, and its virtues of productivity, independence, and integrity. The essays make extensive use of previously unpublished material from the Ayn Rand Archives, offering a new collection of material to explore and consider.

Customer Reviews:

INSIGHT INTO THE GREAT CLASSIC!.......2007-09-25

Most people don't read literary criticism for pleasure. With good reason: most of it's pretentious, muddle-headed, even corrupt, spouting the poisonous dogma that your mind can't see facts, all it sees is warped by "class, race, and gender." (Then how can they claim that as fact?)

This book is a glowing exception.

It's a clear, straightforward, helpful, and fascinating look at Ayn Rand's immortal classic, written by noted scholars. Here are partial contents:

"The Fountainhead" from Notebook to Novel: The Composition of Ayn Rand's First Ideal Man, by Shoshana Milgram

Howard Roark and Frank Lloyd Wright, by Michael Berliner

Adapting "The Fountainhead" to Film, by Jeff Britting

"The Fountainhead" as a Romantic Novel, by Tore Boeckmann

What Might Be and Ought to Be: Aristotle's "Poetics" and "The Fountainhead," by Tore Boeckmann

Three Inspirations for the Ideal Man: Cyrus Paltons, Enjolras, and Cyrano de Bergerac, by Shoshana Milgram

Unborrowed Vision: Independence and Egoism in "The Fountainhead," by Tara Smith

Rorak's Integrity, by Dina Schein

A Moral Dynamiting, by Amy Peikoff

Highly recommended! Don't miss it!

The Fountainhead of Chinese Erotica: The Lord of Perfect Satisfaction (Ruyijun zhuan) With a Translation and Critical Edition

Average customer rating:

Scholarly, but still fun

The Fountainhead of Chinese Erotica: The Lord of Perfect Satisfaction (Ruyijun zhuan) With a Translation and Critical Edition
Charles R. Stone
Manufacturer: University of Hawaii Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0824824121

Book Description

The Lord of Perfect Satisfaction (Ruyijun zhuan), a short work of fiction from the early sixteenth century, tells the story of the Tang Dynasty's notorious Wu Zetian, the only woman to rule as emperor of China. It is famous not for the history it relates, but for its graphic sexual descriptions--the first ever in a Chinese novel--purportedly given from a woman's point of view. For the next century, most works that include explicit sexual descriptions refer to the Ruyijun zhuan or employ some of its vocabulary.

Despite its renown and unmistakable influence on later writing, the origins and significance of the Ruyijun zhuan have never been explored, in any language, and until now it has never been translated. Its date of composition is unknown, its author unidentified. One of its earliest appraisals, written by a contemporary scholar known for his conservatism, maintains that the Ruyijun zhuan is a moral work notwithstanding its sexual content. Combining a complete translation with a detailed and far-ranging study of the text, The Fountainhead of Chinese Erotica places this important cultural document into historical context and offers possibilities on its possible meaning. Charles Stone's meticulous work reveals the Ruyijun zhuan's author to be a scholar of Tang history who employed a wide range of historical and classical allusions that serve as a surprisingly subtle commentary on the actions of central characters.

The Fountainhead of Chinese Erotica is a scrupulously researched, critically sophisticated, and urbane work of scholarship that illuminates an important primary text and Chinese erotic writings in general.

Customer Reviews:

Scholarly, but still fun.......2006-03-07

I had very little idea what this book was about - a translation and commentary on the Ruyijun zhuan, plus whatever clue lies in the title. I got a lot more than I expected.

The central part of this book is the promised translation. The fiction in it turned out to be based loosely (maybe very loosely) on the historical life of emperor Wu Zitian. She was not only the one female emperor in China's history, according to the translator's notes, but an erratic, brutal, and debauched libertine. Some historians credit her excesses with the fall of the Tang empire. As a result, her brazen personal life made a good foundation for a sexually outrageous story. So did history's view of her, somewhat like Shakespeare's Richard III, as a character that could be vilified safely.

Despite its explicitness, Stone is careful to point out that this is not pornography in any meaningful sense. It contains many literate allusions to history and to the classic texts, unlike the mindless "organ recitals" before and after it. And, unlike those lesser works, its imagery is not centered on physicality brought to completion. Instead, there are odd interruptions in the story and wide variations in the level of descriptive detail.

Stone's commentary adds a lot to the reader's appreciation of this brief (45 page), bawdy story. He fills in the historical context that makes the Ruyijun zhuan make sense, and positions it with respect to later works that plagiarize heavily from it. He also addresses the mystery of its author, making a strong case for Huang Xun - a prim, proper, and otherwise unlikely functionary of the early/mid sixteenth century.

Stone's copious footnotes alternate between dry bibliographic references and insightful notes on historical context or untranslatable wordplay. His commentary, the large majority of the text, is generally lively and interesting. This book reads somewhat like a doctoral dissertation. If that's what it is, it's among the better written ones. It's also the best expression I've seen of an author having plain old fun in work that a lesser researcher would have rendered dry and dull.

//wiredweird

Masterwork Studies Series - The Fountainhead: An American Novel (Masterwork Studies Series)

Average customer rating:

A brief but wonderful discussion of a masterpiece
A measured and very insightful treatment
At last academia is acknowledging a masterpiece!

Masterwork Studies Series - The Fountainhead: An American Novel (Masterwork Studies Series)
Den Uyl
Manufacturer: Twayne Publishers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0805779329

Book Description

The first, full-length analysis of Ayn Rand's most widely-read work.

Customer Reviews:

A brief but wonderful discussion of a masterpiece.......2000-02-11

I concur with Tibor Machan who writes at The Daily Objectivist website:"The bulk of Den Uyl's analysis shows that not only is Ayn Rand's book inspiring, as art often ought to be; not only is it philosophically meaty, as many classic novels surely have been; not only is it a brilliantly crafted story in which complex lives of characters develop in intriguing ways-but it is also a literary masterpiece, however much the major players in the literary culture may have ignored and sometimes demeaned it. Den Uyl's tone of understated respect and admiration is anything but fawning. Sadly, we have come to expect works on Rand's achievements-an example is the authorized documentary "A Sense of Life"-to be mostly uncritical, with shamelessly little if any attention to possible problems. Or else we see angry denunciations, which give Rand credit for nothing at all, let alone literary merit. This gentle but exacting discussion is a complete relief from both Rand partisanship and Rand bashing."

A measured and very insightful treatment.......1999-07-17

Den Uyl has produced a unique treatment of this controversial book by its controversial, iconoclastic author. It is measured, analytical, showing a low-key but unobtrusive passion for his subject. The novelties of the analysis are wonderfully developed and will surprise many. Finally, no one will be able credibly to just dismiss Rand's writing any longer -- Den Uyl has identified The Fountainhead's merits without fawning or worship, based simply on the work's literary attributes.

At last academia is acknowledging a masterpiece!.......1999-07-10

This slim volume is authored in the cool, precise, meditative voice of academia. Den Uyl places Rand's novel in its literary, cultural, and philosophic context. He makes an interesting case for Dominique actually being the character most readers have the most in common with, and so, relate to the best. But most important, Den Uyl concludes his work by acknowledging that The Fountainhead is actually the mythical "Great American Novel" that so many literary types are always moaning for. Well, here it is, live and in-person, Den Uyl says, calling it the perfect novel about what is most essential to America: individualism. Nice to see an academic Ahab finally harpoon the "Great American Novel!"

Average customer rating:

The Fountainhead
Rand Ayn
Manufacturer: New American Library (Signet Books)
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000K605F4

Ludwig Von Mises: Fountainhead of the Modern Microeconomic Revolution

Average customer rating:

Excellent introduction to Von Mises.

Ludwig Von Mises: Fountainhead of the Modern Microeconomic Revolution
Eamonn Butler
Manufacturer: Gower Publishing Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0566057522

Customer Reviews:

Excellent introduction to Von Mises........2005-02-03

Professor Butler's "Von Mises" is an excellent introduction to the works and thought of Ludwig Von Mises. I am familiar with many of Von Mises' works, and was very impressed with the way that Professor Butler was able to capture the essence of Von Mises' thought in such a clear and concise manner. I strongly recommend "Von Mises" to anyone seeking an introduction to Ludwig Von Mises, or to anyone already familiar with him who is interested in a brief summary of his works and thought.

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The Fountainhead

Manufacturer: The Bobbs-Merrill Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

ASIN: B000FOM3MY

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THE FOUNTAINHEAD
Ayn Rand
Manufacturer: The Bobbs-Merrill Company Publishers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

ASIN: B000F7AB0M

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The Fountainhead
Ayn Rand
Manufacturer: Signet
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

Atlas Shrugged: 35th Anniversary Edition

ASIN: B000GWJWGK

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