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The Fountainhead (Audio CD)
by Ayn Rand
| Category:
Fiction |
| Market price: ¥ 368.00
MSL price:
¥ 348.00
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Pre-order item, lead time 3-7 weeks upon payment [ COD term does not apply to pre-order items ] |
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MSL rating:
 Good for Gifts |
| MSL Pointer Review:
A true masterpiece in the realm of philosophy and ethics. Oh yes, a manual for being a real human being, as a bright mind put it. |
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AllReviews |
  1 2 Total 2 pages 15 items |
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An American reader (MSL quote), USA
<2007-01-26 00:00>
Everyone should read this book. Everyone should read this book, not because the philosophy it espouses will be one that will have unanimous consent; not because the story is realistic or plausible; not for any of the wrong reasons, or even for any of the right reasons. For example, this book is an extremely fast-paced read that manages to suck you in within the first 50 pages and not let go of you until the very end. This book is also interesting and worthy of thought. However, this book's greatest merit, and if this were its only merit, then it would suffice to make the book great just by it being there, is that this book will change you.
After reading Ayn Rand, you will see things differently. You might not become a Howard Roark or a John Galt. You might not even become one of the lesser, but still virtuous characters. You might even have nothing but contempt for all of these supposedly virtuous characters who design their lives around self actualization through egotism and selfishness. But, you will see the world differently. You will suddenly see these traits of people. You will make comparisons. You will ask yourself the question "What would Ayn Rand think?" That is just how the book is written. It is written to create an indelible impression on every reader.
I know this, (Actually, I think that Ayn Rand uses this expression constantly in her book.) because my life was changed by this book. Not only because I neglected to do a lot of things because I would rather have read another chapter of this long book, but in the sense that my current ideology is shaped by the philosophy that she espouses. I don't necessarilly agree with all of the precepts, but I certainly sympathize with many of the more overarching ideals.
Sure, after reading this book you might become a jerk. Many people do, but at least as a jerk, you will be one that is somewhat well read. Any maybe, you will become quite the opposite, just to spite objectivism, but that's not too bad either.
In this way, the book is a work of art. It is guarenteed to create an impression of some sort and afterall, I am dubious that this could be said about every book, or even most books. In this way, Ayn Rand is more than a self-obbsessed philosopher, but a legitimate artist, whose works should be read by everyone who thinks. Yes, even if you are a liberal or a Communist or a Christian or even a Muslim. |
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J. B. Williams (MSL quote), USA
<2007-01-26 00:00>
A portrait of a man who has a vision and lets nothing interfere with his quest. Very inspirational. This book uncovers the phallacy of charity. To give a man something without getting anything in return, disrespects the recipient as well as the giver. Expect more of yourself and your fellow man. We are great even if we forgot it. Don't be a sucker. |
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D. Elgin (MSL quote), USA
<2007-01-26 00:00>
In a macroscopic sense, The Fountainhead is about the struggle of the exceptional mind (innovators and geniuses) versus the mediocre mind (intellectual leaches and society-at-large). In a microscopic sense, this novel is about the relationship of Howard Roark (the exceptional) with his contemporary, Peter Keating (the mediocre), and his nemesis, Ellsworth M. Toohey and the rest of society (the unthinking herd).
The Exceptional: Howard Roark is an architect who has not only pushed the envelope, but has broken the mold. Reviled and undermined by his architectural peers, Roark, despite being the most brilliant, innovative, and cost effective architect of the time, is left to scrounge for any work he can get. Since his work IS his happiness and highest ideal, this doesn't bother him, because he knows the day will come when superlative achievement and action, not masks of prestige and back-room deals, rule the day.
The Mediocre: Peter Keating is loved by all and is called the greatest architect of his time. Yet he has attained his celebrity and prestige not by standing on the shoulders of giants, but by stealing the shoulders himself. Peter is a shell of a man and has no talent. He is actually reliant on Roark for his architectural renderings. Peter is a product of what OTHER people want, and his life and subsequent downfall represents the travesty of complete sacrifice of self.
The Rat: Actively working against what Roark stands for is Ellsworth M. Toohey. Toohey is a "meek" man, but he doesn't want to inherit the earth, he wants to drain it of the superlative, and replace the void with the ordinary, the mundane, and the mediocre. Why? Because these are the easiest people to control. Toohey endorses the "average" and promulgates self-sacrifice for the betterment of others. These are his tools he uses to gain immense social power; Toohey is an up-and-coming dictator.
Roark represents the highest virtue of man: unadulterated, egotistical achievement. It is through the self-centered, egotistical achievements of men and women, like him, that society prospers through laissez faire economics, though "altruistic" power mongers (Ellsworth M. Toohey) want to usurp those thinking, reasoning minds in order to corral society into the grips of a collectivist dictatorship, all in the name of the "social good."
This book is easier to digest in that the storyline utilizes more plausible occurrences as opposed to Atlas Shrugged; the Fountainhead is easier to believe. The Fountainhead is also more of a scary parallel of what is beginning to emerge in the United States as well.
The overall "take-home" message of the novel is simple: the combination of multiple individuals acting in their own self-interest (NOT self-sacrifice) add up to create the social good (good ole' Adam Smith, The Wealth of Nations) |
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Brian Bagnall (MSL quote), Canada
<2007-01-26 00:00>
Ayn Rand was probably the 20th century's most profound American philosopher, and the best female philosopher who has ever lived. Her ideas are startling and powerful. However, chances are many people go through their entire life without ever hearing her name. Strange, isn't it?
The reason is because Ayn Rand has a philosophy of individualism. She believes people should think for themselves independently. Doesn't sound like anything scary, does it?
Well, the establishment hates her for this reason. If people start thinking for themselves, they might come up with ideas the establishment doesn't like. If people start thinking for themselves, the establishment has less control over what you say or do. If people take up a philosophy of individualism, they will be fewer dependants on the government and they really don't want that.
Pre-Internet, you probably never even heard the name Ayn Rand. That's because the media establishment controlled everything - television, magazines, radio - you name it. Ideas were in the hands of a few. Do yourself a favor and read The Fountainhead. It's a manual for being a real human being. |
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An American reader (MSL quote), USA
<2007-01-26 00:00>
Unbelievably, I actually didn't hate this book. Despite my husband's insistence upon hanging Ayn's portrait in our den and the fact that it ultimately contributed to the demise of my marriage.
When my husband at the time bought it for me so that I could try to understand and relate to his obsession with Ms. Rand's philosophy, I was a good sport. I actually enjoyed the book, and we even enjoyed the movie together. But I warn readers and potential readers: Tread cautiously. And if you meet someone claiming to LOVE Ayn Rand - run fast and don't look back.
It's not cool or noble to emulate Howard and Dominique to prove to the world and yourself just how important it is to only think of yourself and no one else. Living your life like this on a daily basis can cause destruction, pain, years of heartache and can damage the lives of those around you for years to come.
This is what my former husband did. Woke up one morning and out of the blue, told me he didn't want to be married anymore. What did he cite? Ultimately, Ayn's edict of selfishness. My inability to understand this caused my husband to leave me. Operating for himself and only for himself, he continued to disintegrate little by little - taking a married woman as his mistress, breaking up hers and our marriage, isolating himself from friends and family, and several years later - continuing to live a lie - all masked under Ayn's philosophy of selfishness.
The end of my marriage nearly killed me. If I could stop the sad reality of divorce in this country, I would. In my 31 years of existence, I've experienced nothing worse. But now I'm happy to report that I have found a partner who exhibits more selflessness on a daily basis than I ever thought was possible. And I've been blessed to witness the other extreme. This is how we're meant to live on earth - making the world a better place and helping those in need. I'm not saying that one's own needs aren't important - they certainly are - just not at the expense of dozens of loved ones and certainly not to appease Ms. Rand as she rots in her grave.
Read the book and see what I mean. Read the book to become well-versed in Rand's banter and atheist philosophies. Just don't read the book and become an advocate of selfishness. The world doesn't need any more of those. |
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