Anthem
by Ayn Rand
|
List Price: Our Price: $5.99 You Save: $2.96 (33%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Buy Used: from $3.32 (click here) Category: Book See more book details and other editions |
|---|
Book Reviews of Anthem
Book Review: At least its short.
Summary: 2 Stars
Anthem is Ayn Rand's second-best book; the first is We the Living. Written in the '30's when she was still an artist, Anthem and We the Living share the virtue of actually belonging to the genre to which the author assigned them, meaning that both were novels. After that, with Fountainhead and Atlas shrugged, Ayn Rand produced long-winded, didactic, histrionic polemics on political economy which the author mislabeled as novels.
I read all four when I was in the army during the '60's, and I was initially impressed. (Maybe it was the context.) Even then, however, it was clear that the quality of Rand's work as fiction deteriorated, eventually quite sharply, as the year's went by. I remember reading Atlas Shrugged, including her 80+ page disquisition on money as the one true measure of value and thinking "this is fiction, yes, but in the form of ham-handed pamphleteering, not art."
Ayn Rand's style might best be characterized as manifesting an unwavering commitment to functional redundancy -- the same ideas over and over again, barely clothed in minimally varying fictional dress from one book to another. It's as if she was afraid the reader wouldn't get it the first time, or the second, or maybe not even the third. Perhaps she gave up on fiction in favor of essays because she underestimated her readers' ability to identify themes, understand metaphors, and discern the big picture.
Anyhow, she made tons of money, gained a large and devoted following, and her books are still selling. Go figure.
Book Review: An Introduction to the Philsophy of Ayn Rand
Summary: 4 Stars
Anthem reveals the basic philosophical and political idealogy of Ayn Rand. I wish I had read this book years ago, before I read and loved The Fountainhead and Atlas Shrugged. Instead, I read it recently because my granddaughter had to read it for her sophomore English class, and I enjoy discussing books with her.
In Anthem, Rand clearly explains her premise that capitalism, not socialism, is critical to a financially healthy society. The hero, thinking clearly for himself,has no desire to simply follow orders. He decides to think for himself, even risking an unknown future to follow his dream. The outcome of his decision inspires hope in the reader.
Excerpts from this book would make a strong statement on the editorial page these days, with our economy so bleak and the prospect grim for the near future. In fact, Ms. Rand's Anthem would seem to be the antidote to government "helping" everyone who needs something, instead of the individual helping themselves. Our grandchildren will be burdened with these issues. We should take note of the insight and inspiration found in Anthem, an old book with a pertinent theme for today.
Sherry Dolgoff
Book Review: In anticipation of "The Fountainhead".
Summary: 4 Stars
In the future, some great event will happen and as a result, the world will be plunged into a dark age where the greatest sin is to think for yourself. The individual has no name and no value and is subserviant to the great "we" that rules the land. One man, however, does think and fights to stand out from this mindless herd. This is his story.
Ayn Rand's second novel is, in fact, barely long enough to be considered a novella (this edition is only 66 pages in length), and in many ways, is very different from her later masterpieces, "The Fountainhead" and "Atlas Shrugged". Yet, her ideas regarding the virtues of selfishness and the evils of communism are already evident, albeit less developed. This book suffers from its short length, in that there is just not enough room for much character development. Nevertheless, it is a well written and interesting piece of sci-fi/speculative fiction that holds up reasonably well against other well known pieces of dystopian fiction, such as "1984", and provides a good introduction to Rand's Objectivism, especially for those who find the length of Rand's later novels to be off-putting.
Book Review: Easy read, great for travel or when you've got just a little time.
Summary: 4 Stars
This is a good travel book for anyone looking to get hooked right away. It is a simple read and easy to follow, so it's great for reading through in one sitting or in spurts. The book takes place sometime in the distant future. Somehow, mankind has become completely and utterly socialized. They no longer think or act for themselves. The word "I" has become the unspeakable word, the unpardonable sin. Only "we" exists now, and "we", the society as a whole, is all that matters.
This story is told through the eyes of a man called Equality 7-2521 because people no longer have names. Ayn Rand gives us a glimpse of the dangers and evils of social totalitarianism and loss of self, and also shows the beauty of freedom. It really makes you think...
Book Review: Anthem
Summary: 5 Stars
This is a grest book for all ages and it inspires young and old to do better in life. if you are just looking for a good book to read this is the book for you. THis book is a classic and a must have for any book going readers. The book starts out in a little village with a man writing in in journal but for him to write in a journal is agaisnt the law. Not only that for him to be alone is agaisnt the law. Throughout the whole book he is treated badly just because he is smarter than everyone else. He loves a woman but even that is illgel. What is even worse he has to work with a whole buch of half brain nitwits for aliving. If you read this book i will praise yu what more could you ask for? Not much i thought so. The book has a great ending so read it today.