I’ve been wanting to read the Fountainhead for quite sometime now…but man is it long. Much longer than the last book I read, “Horton hears a who”.
I’ve enjoyed the inside cover many times but just haven’t convinced myself to embark on the lengthy journey. Is it worth the read?
Watch the movie. It’s the hootiest mess I’ve seen in many a day and, since the screenplay was written by Ayn Rand, should help you determine whether to read the book. I kind of want to read the book after seeing the movie if only to find out whether the book is anywhere near as swoony. But since I have about 60 books waiting to be read that’s not enough reason for me to invest the time.
It’s a good book, I enjoyed it immensely for the storytelling.
As far as Ayn Rand’s philosphy of objectivism, it’s pretty much a crock. So when you get the part toward the end of the book where they are at a trial and the defendant starts his speech to defend himself, you can skip ahead about 20 or 30 pages.
It’s not bad…but it isn’t what I would call a gripping read. I actually found Atlas Shrugged to be more readible – even if it is twice as long.
You can skip the 50-page radio monologe toward the end (of Atlas Shrugged)…if you have been paying attention as you read the rest of the book you already know pretty much all that Galt is saying.
It’s a pamphlet filled out to book size.
Well, after reading this post by Elucidator,
After that, I promised myself to stay away from Ayn Rand as far as possible. I’ve read Atlas Shrugged (not The Fountainhead) and decided it was a waste of time. The same probably applies here.
Depends on:
How old you are - if you are 17 or so, it is engaging and worth reading, although you will annoy the heck out of people if you embrace her philosophy too much
Whether you enjoy debate - by reading it, you get a sense of Rand’s philosophy (a “sense” in that she immerses you in it until you choke on it), and are better positioned to debate it with rabid Rand-heads, of which there appear to be many
Whether you want to say you did - it is a well-known, dare I say infamous book, worth reading just to add to your list
Your patience for a soap-operatic plot and two dimensional characters - lurking amongst the philosophy is a not-bad story, but you have to be willing to read a bit to find it.
Let us know what you decide.
Otto – I’ve seen the movie and read the book. The book is not great writing, but it’s not at all “swoony” like the movie is. I read the book first. When I saw the movie, I of course noted a bunch of stuff that had been left out, as occurs whenever you turn a bookstop-size book into a two-hour picture. But even more interesting were all the things that, to my eyes, years later, looked like obvious changes to make the movie more soap-opera dramatic, and yet less racy. I assume this was to make the thing sell, yet still get it past the censors of the day. (Though the book isn’t really all that racy to begin with, so perhaps I’m reading too much into the changes.)
Oh, in response to the OP: No.
Here we go again, I really wish that people would either just totally stay away from threads with Rand’s name in them or at least be somewhat polite.
I do think that if you have been wanting to read it then just read it. I don’t think it’s what, more then 5-600 pages long. There is a good story there, you might even learn something from it. I would though go into it, and any other book for that matter, not caring about what other people think about it and make up your own mind.
If you do read Atlas Shrugged it might take a bit to get into it, and I found We the Living very difficult to get into though I did enjoy the story. I just re-read The Fountainhead last year and can not remember if it was that difficult to get into but I don’t think it was. All in all it is one of my favorite books and worth the read.
Florid and ridiculous; misogynist and fascist.
To paraphrase Dorothy Parker, The Fountainhead is not a book to be tossed aside lightly; it’s a book to be hurled with great force against the wall.
On the other hand, I’m glad I know now what to think of people who like Ayn Rand; you get a much better sense of her moral and artistic bankruptcy, of course, from reading her writing, than from listening to her silly followers.
I was also amused by elucidator’s post, and having had a similar experience in my own heartless youth I have, in the spirit of the Masturbate for Peace cause, created a few slogans to trot out whenever someone starts down the road to Objectivism.
Don’t read that crud, pull your pud!
Don’t become a crank, stop and wank!
Ayn Rand? Right hand!
Put down The Fountainhead and make your head fountain!
Atlas wanked!
Ourselves Alone, and that’s the way we like it!
The virtue of self-pleasuring.
Toss that shit, rub your clit!
Who is John Galt? A guy who desperately needed a handjob!
Don’t read that stuff, tickle your muff!
Ok, enough for now. I actually kind of liked the stories as fiction, but I find the philosophy completely untenable for human beings. As elucidator pointed out, Objectivism tends to strip away compassion and emotion. It just doesn’t seem to work for humans, although for a world of thinking machines it would probably be brilliant.
Enjoy,
Steven
My initial fear, from what I gather from the jacket, is that I’m too old and conservative (read over 25) to appeciate the outlook. For example, I probably wouldn’t enjoy Catcher in the Rye anymore and I definitely can’t stomach Zen ATAOMM.
Maybe penthouse forum would be a better use of time?
And if you would please give one example of where she stripped away compassion or emotion, or even suggested it? I have asked before and no one wants to give any. FTR I find it to be the exact opposite, and she outright said that a life without emotion was not worth living. What she did say, and this is what seems to me what people like to turn around, is that you should not be forced to be compassionate.
Also FTR while I have read the majority of Rand’s work I am not some “Randivite” or whatever. I could care less about her personal life. I don’t understand economics at all so can not comment on that either.
It all amounts to the same thing. Mental masturbation on the one hand, real masturbation on the other. The amount of things that you could learn from Rand’s writings that will be helpful in the real world is pretty small(but present, for example, a strong work ethic). As pure escapist literature they’re great. Interesting(if somewhat unbelievable) characters doing amazing(also somewhat unbelievable) things.
Conservatism is no barrier to Rand’s writings. In fact if you have such a mindset you may well enjoy some of her philosophy(very strong emphasis on self-determination, free enterprise, and property rights). The place it really falls apart is when it becomes useful to put yourself in someone else’s shoes and see things from their point of view. Not only can Objectivists not do this very well, the very philosophy denies the existance of alternate points of view. Looking at the same situation should produce the same response in all observers. Disagreements are never legitimate, contradictions do not exist. If there is a disagreement then someone is either mistaken or in denial of obvious reality(called “evasion” in Objectivist-speak). Reason and Logic are the only way to evaluate stimulus, emotional or physical. I have a feeling she’s very popular on Vulcan.
Enjoy,
Steven
Ayn Rand has the amazing ability to tell a 300 page story in 1200 pages. Having said that, I do agree with some of the things she is trying to say. It is worth reading, but expect to be bored a lot.
Edward, Sure thing. Quite possibly her most famous quote.
She espouses an objective reality interpreted through the rigorous, and determinisitc, processes of Reason. This, by defintion of “Reason”, leaves no room for understanding of reality(or each other, because we are part of reality) on an emotional basis. Emotions are, by definition, irrational. They don’t fit within the framework of Reason. It is not possible to have propositions in a logical framework based upon emotions, therefore emotions have no part in our understanding of the world. Q.E.D.
Enjoy,
Steven
I read Atlas Shrugged-and made a big thread about it.
Let me just say that I weep for all of the trees who gave their lives to publish that steaming pile.
The movie was a joke, but I thoroughly enjoyed the book. I think Elucidator just didn’t like E.T. in the book. No one likes to look into the mirror too closely.
If you read only one of her books, I’d say make it The Fountainhead. Contrary to what people on this thread have suggested, there are plenty of adults who have kept it selling briskly for many years.
Plenty of adults have kept Harlequin in business for years too. Doesn’t mean it’s worth anyone’s time to read their romances.
Metro:
The fact that people don’t simply dislike Ayn Rand, but vehemently oppose her and hurl sarcastic insults at her books, is probably a good indication that it’s something worth reading. I think it’s funny that most posters here are not content to just say it’s a bad book. Burn it! Hurl it against the wall! I especially like the angle that only teenagers would like it. Any takers for LoTR? Why, that’s a children’s book about elves and gobblins.
Read the first chapter and see what you think. I often find that if a book doesn’t grab me in the first few pages, I usually don’t like the rest of it.