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Insightful,
Dark,
Interesting

8 reviews

The Fountainhead
by Ayn Rand

Published: 1996-09
Mass Market Paperback : 720 pages
13 members reading this now
15 clubs reading this now
9 members have read this book
Recommended to book clubs by 6 of 8 members
When The Fountainhead was first published, Ayn Rand's daringly original literary vision and her groundbreaking philosophy, Objectivism, won immediate worldwide interest and acclaim. This instant classic is the story of an intransigent young architect, his violent battle against ...
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Introduction

When The Fountainhead was first published, Ayn Rand's daringly original literary vision and her groundbreaking philosophy, Objectivism, won immediate worldwide interest and acclaim. This instant classic is the story of an intransigent young architect, his violent battle against conventional standards, and his explosive love affair with a beautiful woman who struggles to defeat him. This edition contains a special afterword by Rand’s literary executor, Leonard Peikoff, which includes excerpts from Ayn Rand’s own notes on the making of The Fountainhead. As fresh today as it was then, here is a novel about a hero—and about those who try to destroy him.


 

Editorial Review

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.

Excerpt

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Discussion Questions

Suggested by Members

Who was the most intriguing character?
by rnns1999 (see profile) 09/14/13

Discussion Questions available: http://www.litlovers.com/guide_fountainhead_ayn_rand.html
Ayn Rand biography "Ayn Rand and the World She Made" by Anne Heller specifically the chapter on Fountainhead
Compare the 1949 version of the movie with Gary Cooper to the book . Screenplay was written by Rand
by ncvlib (see profile) 02/03/11

Notes From the Author to the Bookclub

No notes at this time.

Book Club Recommendations

Our group watched a couple of youtube videos prior to our discussion:
by ncvlib (see profile) 02/03/11
Howard Roarks defense from the movie: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nq9udFmsNO0 Ayn Rand 1959 interview with Mike Wallace part 1 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ukJiBZ8_4k Your group may want to watch the 1949 version of the movie with Gary Cooper which Rand wrote the screenplay

Member Reviews

Overall rating:
 
 
by Allison W. (see profile) 11/01/22

 
by Daniella B. (see profile) 01/03/21

 
by Chris B. (see profile) 06/29/15

 
  "The fountainhead"by Pam P. (see profile) 09/14/13

We read Atlas Shrugged as a club and chose to read this as a follow-up. Very detailed and interesting concept but dialogue got preachy and long. Atlas Shrugged was the better written

 
  "The Fountainhead"by Lora Glass N. (see profile) 02/03/11

While the majority of the group did not enjoy reading this book, we did have a great discussion. The characters, themes and the author herself provided excellent material for discussion. We can now say... (read more)

 
  "The Fountainhead"by Nancy T. (see profile) 02/03/11

I think everyone should read this book at some point in their lives if only to understand how different we are in beliefs and values.

 
  "The Fountainhead"by Lora Glass N. (see profile) 11/10/10

 
  "The Fountainhead"by Marsha M. (see profile) 11/10/10

Interesting picture of self absorbed people. I disagree with the author's philosophy, but it was an interesting, though slow read.

 
  "A Challenging Read"by Cari R. (see profile) 11/08/10

This provided some very good discussion for our group and whether we liked it or not it was thought provoking.

 
  "The Fountainhead"by Cathryn S. (see profile) 06/02/10

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