Oct 20, 2003 05:35 PM
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(Updated Oct 20, 2003 05:35 PM)
The Fountainhead was my first Ayn Raand book. I chose to read it since it was suggested to me by my brother. From an overall perspective, this book is one that can change our perspective towards life, and the rest of society as such. It is a philosophical book dealing with mind set of man, his attitude, his goals, his values and what not. The writer has used words in a very careful and planned way, and the form in which the entire story unravels is just amazing.
The story is about Howard Roark. A person brought out as being the ideal human being with regard to the philosophy that Ayn Raand subscribes to. The story is about his journey from the so called failed student of Architecture from Stanton University to the stature of an Architect.
The philosophy of this book is that of the eternal fight between the two types of human beings, the Creators and the Second handers. The difference between the two being that the Second Handers are those who seek respect, and recognition from others. They derive their work, happiness from others, and have not realised that it is their own self that is the most important. It is one’s own self that is the hardest to get recognition and respect from. The Creators are those for whom their ego is their master, they work for their own satisfaction and not for that of others, they maintain their integrity within themselves, and won’t give it up under any circumstances.
The life journey of Roark brings him into contact with some of the protagonists and antagonists of this world of Creators and Second handers like Peter Keating, Dominique Francon, Ellsworth M. Toohey, Gail Wynand, Steven Mallory, and Austen Heller.
The author’s character building and the description of the various encounters between the characters is just breath-taking, and nothing short of spell-binding. Once again I stress on the magnificent usage of words to describe conversations.
I would recommend this book to anyone. It is even more relatable to those of you who have read the Bhagavad-Gita at some point, but there is a lot in it for others also. Read it and enjoy it.
