FOUNTAINHEAD .. Review on FountainHead, The - Ayn Rand

So this is one more book I would like to bring to your notice...

If I am not wrong this happened with me 5 years back. It was a usual Official trip and I layed hands on The

Fountainhead. To me it was a different book from then , it was a hook-line-and-sinker into her simplistic world of Roarks and Keatings. Of course, her philosophy, in its uncompromising form, is unworkable (indeed undesirable) in the real world. But that by no means suggests that we should discard it entirely.

It does say a lot about the strength and nobility of the human spirit and the independence of the human mind. The way it is said world would be a better (and more interesting) place were more people to follow some of Rand's initiatives.

The philosophy of life is spelt so simple and humble. For that very reason, it is presented as black-and-white, like a checklist of rules for a happy life. We cannot simply follow the philosophy blindly would be silly and immature. Philosophy exists only in the human mind.

The one who tries to apply it in life has to go thru the pain in life, I mean the smart person will always do so with a grain of salt.

THE STORY

The story of ''The Fountainhead'' is very loosely modeled on Frank Lloyd Wright, the novel is not really about architecture at all. The story really centers on a man who knows what he wants to do and intends to work only on his own terms. Howard Roark bucks architectural norms to create his own designs where form follows function. While it sounds like an auto commercial today, the notion was more revolutionary when the story was written in the forties. True to Randian form, the pack instincts of Roark's peers take over as they vow to take him down. His originality and, more importantly, his refusal to act on any terms other than his own infuriate those around him. Also true to form, our superhuman protagonist has a superhuman mate equally dedicated to pure excellence and pure ego.

The story never trusts the reader to draw the appropriate lessons from the story and therefore sets up melodramatic, scripted speeches of heroic length to drive her points home. Nevertheless, the books are interesting, with powerful plots, and mark a potent answer to the drive toward collectivization of the twentieth century

Rand encourages everyone to be self-sufficient and to base their decisions on reason rather than blindly accepting what others would tell you is right based on their own agenda. However, don't take my opinion or that of anyone else. Simply read the book for yourself and draw your own conclusions. Even if you don't agree with Rand's philosophy, the story is riveting.

Since reading this book I have viewed politics, philosophy, and human relations in an entirely new light. --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

This is not a easy task , need to go thru the Philosophy several time and compare with your philosophy. It was great to find the ways the people think about the world we live..

Denny