Anthem

Book Description

Available for the first time in trade paperback--this provocative book is "an anthem sung in praise of man's ego"--from the legendary author Ayn Rand

Anthem has long been hailed as one of Ayn Rand's classic novels, and a clear predecessor to her later masterpieces, The Fountainhead and Atlas Shrugged. In Anthem, Rand examines a frightening future in which individuals have no name, no independence, and no values. Equality 7-2521 lives in the dark ages of the future where all decisions are made by committee, all people live in collectives, and all traces of individualism have been wiped out. Despite such a restrictive environment, the spark of individual thought and freedom still burns in him--a passion which he has been taught to call sinful. In a purely egalitarian world, Equality 7-2521 dares to stand apart from the herd--to think and choose for himself, to discover electricity, and to love the woman of his choice. Now he has been marked for death for committing the ultimate sin. In a world where the great "we" reign supreme, he has rediscovered the lost and holy word--"I."

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A stunning and brilliantly realized future world in which individuality has been crushed is the theme of Ayn Rand's bestselling masterpiece, "Anthem". Rand presents her tale of a man who dares to make individual choices, to seek knowledge in a dark age, to love the woman of his choice. In a society in which people have no name, no independence, and no values, he is hunted for the unpardonable crime: having the courage to stand above the crowd. Introduction by Leonard Peikoff.

Customer Reviews:

great!.......2007-08-23

Of course the book is a little overdone. But I found it refreshing to read this that book celebrates individualism in a world that sometimes celebrates collectivism.

If I had my way EVERY high school student would read it.......2007-08-22

No other work I've ever come across can convey the importance of individuality and the threat it suffers from collectivism, or at least not in such a small format. This book had a profound effect on me when I first read it and it made me want to learn more.

A great message... with a meandering story.......2007-07-31

This is the first Ayn Rand book I've read, even though I was familiar with her philosophy of objectivism. The book itself is set in an alternate world, most likely during the 21st century. It is a backwards world completely controlled by the great "we" in which councils decide everything, and only the will of your "brothers" matters. It is an interesting, if at times confusing, world that she creates; but unfortunately she doesn't describe it enough to offer a firm foundation (however yes I know, it's just a novella). The main character shows great development which can be traced throughout the novel - a vivid, distinct transformation, which is wonderfully illustrated both mentally and physically by Rand.

The story, in the first three-quarters of the book, is particularly interesting, but unfortunately she wanders off-course, by forsaking the plot for the philosophical message she wishes to get across. While the philosophical message is important, as it is the basis of the book, I would've appreciated a more complete ending.

On the whole, Anthem seems to be a great introduction to Rand's philosophy and writing, but as a fictitious story it tends to fall off course. It's a short book though, so I would highly recommend it, as it offers interesting philosophical insight into the nature of individualism and collectivism.

Government.......2007-07-16

Being the normal high school slacker that I am, I chose to read this book and write a response to it, rather than read a book close to 400 pages long and give an oral response to it. And I will say at first I didn't understand anything that was going on. The writing is simple to almost the point that you see no point in reading it. The simplistic writing doesn't seem to shape up to anything. But by the time I got to the last page I couldn't believe what I had just read. It was incredible. I could have written endless pages for the school assignment. It leaves the audience with so many possiblities in the meaning of the book and it leaves you thinking. I'm off soon to purchase this book, every time I see it on the shelves at the book store I tell everyone how much I loved it, definately a reccommended read.

Not much to this one..........2007-07-13

I haven't read any of Ayn Rand's other books but this one was extremely dissapointing. The theme was very simple, and delivered so that the most simple minded would have difficulty not understanding it.

I just didn't feel like this was particularly creative, the worst part being that it is simply a poor piece of literature.

I hate to give one star but the story was seemed trite and simplistic and the writing was poor so I'm not sure if it had any redeeming factors that I could perceive.

Average customer rating:

buy it!
Eye-Opening, must-read for anyone interested in Politics/Government
Not bad, just disappointing
Hateful
Good quick read.

Anthem (Centennial Edition)
Ayn Rand
Manufacturer: Plume
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0452286352

Book Description

Ayn Rand's classic tale of a future dark age of the great “We”—a world that deprives individuals of name, independence, and values—anticipates her later masterpieces, The Fountainhead and Atlas Shrugged.

Customer Reviews:

buy it!.......2007-08-23

Of course the book is a little overdone. But I found it refreshing to read this that book celebrates individualism in a world that sometimes celebrates collectivism.

Eye-Opening, must-read for anyone interested in Politics/Government.......2007-04-08

A story about one man's struggle against an overbearing collectivist government, Anthem has (over the years) become MY anthem. The idea that ONE THING or ONE WAY can accommodate all the people of the world is a concept that has taken hold in American culture. Breaking away from this is paramount to conserving what the American fore-fathers fought for: personal liberty and personal responsibility.

The main character's "transgression" of seeking knowledge for it's own sake (and not necessarily the sake of mankind) should be held in the highest regard, yet many believe as those in the book do, that anything not good for the whole is not good for any.

Of Ayn Rand's novels, Anthem is by far the most accessible; at ~100 pages it can be read in a day by almost anyone w/ a 5-6th grade reading level, and the premise and ideas are easily understood. Recommended to anyone w/ an interest in government or politics, but especially to those in junior/highschool with an authority problem :)

Not bad, just disappointing.......2007-03-07

First, the good parts: Anthem is too short for Rand to have shoved too much of her fatuous pseudo-philosophy into it. Second, it is fun to read. This is where the good parts end.
Everything worth noting in this book was done earlier by Yevgeny Zamyatin in his spectacular book We. He did it better and with more style and finish than Rand ever managed in any of her books. This is obviously a cheap rip-off of We and not worth buying.

Hateful.......2007-02-15

As usual, Ms Rand is so worried about her philosophy of greed that she sacrifices her credibility as a writer. We should be happy that the president is illiterate, as he would be fueled by this message were he to read it. All one needs to know about Ayn Rand is that she does not believe that people have the capacity for selflessness.

Good quick read........2006-09-25

I'm typically not a fan of fiction, but Ayn Rand's philosophies are (almost) in lock-step with my own, so I decided to spend an hour of my Sunday evening reading "Anthem," with which I was not disappointed.

The first twenty or so pages serve as an introduction to the future faux-utopia, where everyone is assigned a name/number and profession. The main character, Equality 7-2521 keeps a journal of his independent thoughts (forbidden by the collectivist society in which he lives) and feelings, including those for a young woman (relationships are forbidden, reproduction is achieved through a "mating ceremony") and an amazing invention he's created secretly (it is forbidden to create or to do anything outside of your assigned duties), yet plans to show to the Council of Elders, thinking they will find favor with him. The unraveling of the built tension comes from there.

The plot at sometimes seems stretched to the point where, even in a science fiction novella, it is unbelievable, or too obviously structured around her philosophy so it gets in the way of suspending disbelief, but as the story goes on, it becomes less and less of a concern. There is a short lecture near the end on Objectivism, masked as the character's thoughts (don't get me wrong -- it was never Rand's intention to mask the fact that this novella was about her philosophy. All of her fiction works were), which is quite interesting.

"Anthen" is a worthy introduction to Objectivist thought and Ayn Rand that can be read in the course of an hour and some minutes...

Average customer rating:

Classic Individual versus the collective

Anthem
Ayn Rand
Manufacturer: Signet
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0451166833

Customer Reviews:

Classic Individual versus the collective.......2006-06-01

At first glance, one might think of Huxley's 'Brave New World' but this book goes beyond just showing one course that the future of man might take. 'Anthem' shows the course our future will take if mankind loses the most important aspect of being man - the ability to recognize individuality, the sense of our uniqueness, and the 'I' in us all. Ms. Rand's philosophy of Objectivism is underlined in this one small story - a story that shows us an awful glimpse of the future and then gives us hope that we can avoid such a fate. I first read this book as a teenager, and have since read it (and all her books) dozens of times. It never loses its value.

Average customer rating:

Unnecessary for this particular book
A surprise

Rand's Anthem (Cliffs Notes)
Andrew Bernstein
Manufacturer: Cliffs Notes
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0764585576

Book Description

The original CliffsNotes study guides offer expert commentary on major themes, plots, characters, literary devices, and historical background. The latest generation of titles in this series also features glossaries and visual elements that complement the classic, familiar format.

CliffsNotes on Anthem is an excellent introduction to Ayn Rand’s philosophy of human nature. The novella’s theme and central conflict – the individual versus the collective – is an important element of her moral and political philosophy.

This study guide will help you understand the story of Anthem which takes place in an unnamed Communist- or Facist-like dictatorship of the future. Meet the hero, Equality 7-2521, a brilliant young man who yearns to be a scientist but is held back by a government that fears his intelligence. Your grasp on this novella will be strong with these features that help you study:

Character analyses of major players
A character map that graphically illustrates the relationships among the characters
Critical essays
A review section that tests your knowledge
A Resource Center full of books, articles, films, and Internet sites

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

Customer Reviews:

Unnecessary for this particular book.......2001-08-30

For a book which takes three hours or less to read, and ideas which are common pop-philosphy, Cliff's Notes for "Anthem" is a little over-kill. The essays are more difficult than the original book. The entire concept of having Cliffnotes for a book like "Anthem" is antithetical to one of the points Rand is trying to make, to think and assess for one's self.

Her thesis comes to a simple idea: it is up to the individual to think for the individual. "Anthem" is just an allegory to present the idea.

I recommend this, but barely. It can help the reader unwilling to read Rand's short book, or unable to process her basic tenets.

Anthony Trendl

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

I have read Anthem many times and I was pleasantly surprised by this cliffsnotes summary and analysis of the book. It includes a short biography of Ayn Rand but the bulk of the book is spent on a 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 three critical essays; The Meaning and Importance of "I", The Role of Free Will in Anthem, and the Regression of a Future Collectivist Society into a Second Dark Age.

Book Description

Anthem is Ayn Rand’s classic tale of a dark future age of the great "We"—a world that deprives individuals of name, independence, and values. Written a full decade before George Orwell's "1984," this dystopian novel depicts a man who seeks escape from a society in which individuality has been utterly destroyed. Rand expertly shows how collectivism (including social programs in the United States) destroys freedom and individuality. Her philosophy is simple: "planning" is a synonym for "collectivism," and "collectivism" is a metaphor for communism and tyranny. This important book should be read by all who are concerned about the role of government in modern life. Newly designed and typeset in a modern 6-by-9-inch format by Waking Lion Press.

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Anthem
Ayn Rand
Manufacturer: Blackstone Audiobooks
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: 0786182296
Release Date: 2004-11-01

Product Description

He lived in the dark ages of the future. In a loveless world he dared to love the woman of his choice. In an age that had lost all trace of science and civilization he had the courage to seek and find knowledge. But these were not the crimes for which he would be hunted. He was marked for death because he had committed the unpardonable sin: he had stood forth from the mindless human herd. He was a man alone. Ayn Rands classic tale of a future dark age of the great We, in which individuals have no name, no independence, and no values, anticipates her later masterpieces, The Fountainhead and Atlas Shrugged.

Average customer rating:

A True Anthem
An Inspiring Tale of Individualism & Human Triumph

Anthem
Ayn Rand
Manufacturer: Dutton Adult
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0525948937

Book Description

The year 2005 marks Ayn Rand's Centennial Year.

Customer Reviews:

A True Anthem.......2007-08-08

True to form, Ayn Rand uses words with an exact meaning. This short story presents the devotion/loyalty to the philosophy of Objectivism accurately.

Anthem is a great place to start when learning about Ayn Rand.

An Inspiring Tale of Individualism & Human Triumph.......2006-12-17

Anthem is an outstanding introduction to the fiction writing of novelist and philosopher, Ayn Rand. I first read Anthem as a freshman in high school and it had a profound impact on my thinking. Rand is a truly talented writer and anyone reading this book will certainly feel inspired to read her more advanced novels, The Fountainhead and Atlas Shrugged. Anthem is a must read for any serious thinker.

Average customer rating:

FASCINATING!
Rand Scholarship...the way it might be and ought to be

Essays on Ayn Rand's Anthem
Robert Mayhew
Manufacturer: Lexington Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0739110314

Book Description

The essays in this collection treat historical, literary, and philosophical topics related to Ayn Rand's Anthem, an anti-utopia fantasy set in the future. The first book-length study on Anthem, this collection covers subjects such as free will, political freedom, and the connection between freedom and individual thought and privacy.

Customer Reviews:

FASCINATING!.......2007-09-25

Most recent literary criticism cannot be read for pleasure. 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 welcome exception.

It's a clear, straightforward, helpful and ultimately fascinating look at Ayn Rand's second masterpiece, written by noted scholars. Here are just some of the contents:

"Anthem" in Manuscript: Finding the Words, by Shoshana Milgram

"Anthem:" '38 and '46, by Robert Mayhew

"Anthem" and "The Individualist Manifesto," by Jeff Britting

"Anthem as a Psychological Fantasy, by Tore Boeckmann

"Anthem" in the Context of Related Literary Works: "We Are Not Like Our Brothers," by Shoshana Milgram

Sacrilege Toward the Individual: The Anti-Pride of Thomas More's "Utopia" and "Anthem"'s Radical Alternative, by John Lewis

"Anthem" and Collectivist Regression into Primitivism, by Andrew Bernstein

This book provides fascinating glimpses into Ayn Rand's great classic. Don't miss it!

Rand Scholarship...the way it might be and ought to be.......2006-04-09

I was impressed by the scholarship of this volume. Each essay was rich with fresh angles, new insights, and interesting asides into Ayn Rand, Anthem, and Rand's philosophy. I also learned a lot from the philosophical essays, particularly Onkar Ghate's essay on free will and determinism, Greg Salmieri's essay on individualism and the concept "I", and Darryl Wright's essay on the psyche in Rand's early thought. Each of these authors makes a number of interesting and illuminating philosophical points that--to my knowledge--have not been addressed anywhere else in the literature.

Overall, highly recommended.

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Anthem, Large-Print Edition
Ayn Rand
Manufacturer: Waking Lion Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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To Kill a Mockingbird

ASIN: 1600962599
Release Date: 2006-07-06

Book Description

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Anthem
Ayn Rand
Manufacturer: Hard Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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