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Anyone read the Fountainhead

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#21
Yes.
Her "novels" are for people like me, who are never likely to read a philosophical tract. "A is A" is on my bucket list to read.
"Anthem" is a great anti communist memoir. Anyone who can read that and still wishes to embrace a political system which "redistributes wealth" I would have no use for.
I wholeheartedly embrace the concept of not sharing what I have worked for. I don't mind paying enough taxes to build roads and to educate children, however the concept of people whom refuse to work and live in government projects generation after generation sickens me to the point of distraction. Safety net is fine, but don't rob my kids of their legacy because you lack the desire to try to get off the (lifetime) government dole.
 
#22
Like many of my generation (I'm 62) I read both the Fountainhead and Atlas Shrugged when I was in my late teens and early twenties, and, like many, I found them intriguing. Epic (mythic) strong individualistic characters who fight against the machine are appealing. However, after a couple of years passed and I became much more aware of how people and the world really work, I realized that Ayn Rand's basic assumptions about human behavior are very flawed. I understand how her experiencing the worst of the Soviet Union during her formative years could lead to her extremist views. I would still recommend them as part of a broad-based reading list to educate yourself on different perspectives, but I would caution against reading too much into them. Of course, the world is not a novel. Personally, I reject just about everything about Ayn Rand's philosophy and Objectivism, and I truly worry about people in power who seem to embrace those tenets wholeheartedly.

Cheers,
Dennis
 
#23
I tried to read both, couldn't finish them. I found both her writing style and 'philosophy' abhorrent. The poison fruit of her poison thought is in abundant evidence today.

I did laugh, however, to find out that she did take advantage of Medicare. I won't fault her for taking her social security payments, since she would have paid into the system for those.

Regardless, her 'philosophy' is part of what is tearing this country apart, in my opinion, and the idea that her heroes are creators, not takers, is 180 degrees out.
 
#24
Thanks, to everyone, for their info and input. I find all of the varying opinions and facts quite interesting. It seems that she does elicit a variety of responses, from praise, to anger, to blah.

I never realized that she ended up using Medicaid. Kind of funny and ironic.

I have to agree with the opinion that, although I admire the "work hard for what you want" ethic, I also know that we can not solely due that alone. It's impossible.

I never really took her opinions as completely formed ideology to be followed to the letter (a la "Scientology" for instance), but some of the underlying concepts are interesting, although, perhaps, flawed.

Thanks again, folks of TB.
 
#25
GKon said:
I read "Atlas Shrugged" and "The Fountainhead". I enjoyed both and, at the time, really liked the general message I got out of the books. Mainly, work towards your goals if you expect to achieve them, and, don't expect something for nothing, or something just because other people around you have "it".
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Yes, that's one of the messages.

Goatrope said:
That's certainly in the message. I liked the quality of the main characters in that they were creators rather than takers, and held true to their principles no matter the personal cost.
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Good point.

Immigrant said:
I'll try.

As someone who has never read Ayn Rand anything, I think a lot of the negativity about her is spread easier amongst those who, like me, have never read her stuff. From what I understand, besides a message of relying on one's self and to try hard at everything and take no "handouts", there is a message of anti-collectivism and that rubs a lot of people the wrong way. Some things in life can only be accomplished through a collective, like carrying a piano up a flight of stairs.

I was turned off to the idea I once had about trying her stuff to see what the hubbub was all about, but when I found out she went on Government "handouts" (Medicare, etc) towards the end of her life after railing against such things in her works, I decided against it. Anyone who preaches to live one way and then doesn't themself... I've got better ways to waste my time than reading what a hypocrite thinks.
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Those who haven't read Ayn Rand have no place criticizing her work. Period.

Ayn Rand's body of work is sort of like Monty Python. You either "get" Monthy Python or you don't. There's little to no in between area. Regardless of her personal idiosyncrasy, I consider her body of work to be sort of like Jesus in the Bible in that perhaps the WORDS truly are more than the man.

People who believe in collectivism might as well pack their sh** and move to Russia now. The piano metaphor noted above was not an example of collectivism. Moving a piano up a flight of stairs is an example of cooperation not collectivism. Collectivism would be that the all the people who moved the piano own the piano, not one person.

Now that I'm off the soapbox, in answer to the OP's question, yes I have read The Fountainhead (obviously) as well as Atlas Shrugged. I read it after reading Atlas Shrugged so I knew what I was in for as far as writing style. I absolutely loved the book. I thought Howard Roark was an amazing character who didn't just play by a different set of rules, he created the rules! He railed against the establishment, and made the world a better place for it.

A lot of people who have spouted off about Ayn Rand on this thread have totally missed the point of her writing. It's not about being in it only for yourself and yourself alone. The point of her writing was that we are all uplifted and the world is made better by the UNBRIDLED creative mind of man!
 
#26
Terrible human being, hypocrite, and an absolutely miserable writer. She was also an amphetamine addict for 30 years, which may go some way to explaining both her verbosity, and her cranky paranoia.
 
#27
Marial said:
I tried to read both, couldn't finish them. I found both her writing style and 'philosophy' abhorrent. The poison fruit of her poison thought is in abundant evidence today.

I did laugh, however, to find out that she did take advantage of Medicare. I won't fault her for taking her social security payments, since she would have paid into the system for those.

Regardless, her 'philosophy' is part of what is tearing this country apart, in my opinion, and the idea that her heroes are creators, not takers, is 180 degrees out.
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One philosophy doesn't tear anything apart unless a group with an opposing philosophy is just as adamant that theirs is the best way. The problem I have with what's going on now is that the extremists on both sides are the ones who are in charge and are trying to squash anyone who doesn't see it their way. They think 300+ Million people can stop on a dime and change directions, changing things on a massive level. The thing they have in their favor is the lack of knowledge by the general public (by their design through a pathetic attempt at education, IMO), a lap dog media and back room lobbying/negotiations with people who should be avoided.

I like the idea of people being more self-sufficient and see those who WON'T do things for themselves as generally useless. Those who genuinely can't do for themselves should be helped. I don't like people being made into 'stars' just because they can sing, dance, play an instrument or some sport really well and then flaunt their wealth in a public manner. At some point, the rest need to realize that this isn't attainable by most others, yet look at what we have- people glued to Dancing With The Stars, etc, thinking that it's real life.

Ever discuss what's happening in the US with someone from a formerly Communist country, like Ukraine?
 
#28
Marial said:
I tried to read both, couldn't finish them. I found both her writing style and 'philosophy' abhorrent. The poison fruit of her poison thought is in abundant evidence today.

I did laugh, however, to find out that she did take advantage of Medicare. I won't fault her for taking her social security payments, since she would have paid into the system for those.

Regardless, her 'philosophy' is part of what is tearing this country apart, in my opinion, and the idea that her heroes are creators, not takers, is 180 degrees out.
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Here's another example of totally missing the point.
 
#30
My parents worship Rand and even named me after a character in one of her books. I've read all of her novels and recently reread The Fountainhead for the third time. Her philosophy aside, I think the book could have been made into a good story if she had tightened it up and reduced the long-winded rants. I found We The Living to be the best in terms of plot and readability.
 
#32
I read it. It's a great book with a great protagonist. Howard Roarke. All the Ayn Rand politicized crap is totally superfluous to the story itself. It's a great piece of writing with a really interesting look at architecture and the industry of building buildings as a whole through the arc of the protagonist who rises from the quarry to become prominent architect. There's a great quote in there about architects packaging and selling space and nothingness. I think she also accurately portrays the politics of an industry and corporate offices and all the character types that have roles in this setting. I often find myself thinking about that book, especially when I'm in a big city like New York. Sometimes I try to find the buildings that would meet Howard Roarke's strict standards.
 
#33
One of my favorite quotes:

"There are two novels that can change a bookish fourteen-year old's life: The Lord of the Rings and Atlas Shrugged. One is a childish fantasy that often engenders a lifelong obsession with its unbelievable heroes, leading to an emotionally stunted, socially crippled adulthood, unable to deal with the real world. The other, of course, involves orcs."

--John Rogers, on the blog Kung Fu Monkey
 
#34
Ironbar said:
... Those who haven't read Ayn Rand have no place criticizing her work. Period. ...
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Absolutely. Quoted for emphasis.

I have read almost all of her works. I started with The Fountainhead before moving on to Atlas Shrugged and the others. The book inspired me to enroll in the local university to begin pursuing my MS in Chemical Engineering. I had had no thoughts of grad school, but directly as a result of reading this book, I began to believe in my abilities to perform at the graduate level. Atlas Shrugged is my favorite book, and is probably the most influential in my life. (and yes, I'll admit - I usually skip through most of Galt's speech whenever I reread it).

Everyone likes to bemoan Rand's views as a bad thing, but I disagree. While they can be interpreted by some (often those who have never read her works) as keeping others "down", they can at the same time be viewed as inspirational celebrations of the human mind and its abilities.

I view as not being against the people receiving handouts, but the mindset that the handouts create. There are MANY MANY people who receive government subsidies of various kinds (unemployment, retirement, medicare, disability, etc.) who do not want it to end. We know the individual who collects "disability" yet spends the day on the internet - seems like those same physical actions could be spent doing a job!). We know the person on unemployment who doesn't ACTIVELY search for a job, because they are receiving money regardless. We certainly know the politicians who give out handouts to their cronies (bank bailout, anyone?), artificially prop up failing companies (that would otherwise fail on their own), create uneven tax laws, etc. These are also what she writes about.

Whether she is hypocritical or not is silly. I read her books for what they are - the content on the page. Lots of authors have faults, and it can color their work, but it doesn't have to.
 
#37
gttim said:
One of my favorite quotes:

"There are two novels that can change a bookish fourteen-year old's life: The Lord of the Rings and Atlas Shrugged. One is a childish fantasy that often engenders a lifelong obsession with its unbelievable heroes, leading to an emotionally stunted, socially crippled adulthood, unable to deal with the real world. The other, of course, involves orcs."

--John Rogers, on the blog Kung Fu Monkey
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I didn't read LOTR when i was 14, that happened later. I read the Silmarillion at 14 though............. that probably explains a lot about me and my problems.

this "leading to an emotionally stunted, socially crippled adulthood, unable to deal with the real world." applies to me though and i've never read Ayn Rand.
 
#38
gttim said:
One of my favorite quotes:

"There are two novels that can change a bookish fourteen-year old's life: The Lord of the Rings and Atlas Shrugged. One is a childish fantasy that often engenders a lifelong obsession with its unbelievable heroes, leading to an emotionally stunted, socially crippled adulthood, unable to deal with the real world. The other, of course, involves orcs."

--John Rogers, on the blog Kung Fu Monkey
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:D
 
#40
jmlee said:
Anybody else think bass players are a strange and wonderful community?
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I played World of Warcraft for a few years. In that game, you could be a variety of different "classes" (warrior, shaman, druid, etc). I noticed that certain personalities often gravitated to certain roles: sociopathic 14 year olds would play Rogues that snuck up on weaker players and murdered them, and some mature people played Priests who primarily helped other people on their teams. Rogue message boards were full of "Die, noob, u suk" and Priest message boards consisted mainly of constructive discussion... VERY MUCH LIKE TALKBASS, IMO.
 
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