The Fountainhead

Amazon.com

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.

Book Description

Get your "A" in gear!

They're today's most popular study guides-with everything you need to succeed in school. Written by Harvard students for students, since its inception SparkNotes™ has developed a loyal community of dedicated users and become a major education brand. Consumer demand has been so strong that the guides have expanded to over 150 titles. SparkNotes'™ motto is Smarter, Better, Faster because:

· They feature the most current ideas and themes, written by experts.
· They're easier to understand, because the same people who use them have also written them.
· The clear writing style and edited content enables students to read through the material quickly, saving valuable time.

And with everything covered--context; plot overview; character lists; themes, motifs, and symbols; summary and analysis, key facts; study questions and essay topics; and reviews and resources--you don't have to go anywhere else!

Customer Reviews:

Read "The Virtue of Selfishness" Instead.......2007-10-22

Rand has a few great ideas about the course of history being influenced by great men and women. I happen to believe this is correct. 95% of the population add little to the advance of humankind. In the workforce I have seen key people out perform ten coworkers.

What I have not seen is a woman who prefers rape as Dominique does or a capitalist too good to compromise to make a profit (Roark). Rands' hate of the little people, "the second handers", and their miserable little lives and her avoidance of empathy, humor and even children makes her a misanthrope of the first order.

The " Virtue of Selfishnes " by Rand is a much cleaner and shorter approach to understanding her core belief that when we act in our own self interest its better for the individual and society.

Amusingly Ironic. Though thought provoking........2007-10-10

Although Ayn Rand seems to take herself too seriously to ever incorporate irony into her work, I find The Fountainhead to be ironic in that Rand has written an elitist manifesto for the masses. Let's look at writers: In my experience, works of genius are immediately apparent, and few whose opinions are worth considering contend otherwise. On the other hand, I know a great number of mediocre (and I'm being generous in several cases) writers who rail against mediocrity and "the herd" because no one but they have the vision to see how brilliant their work is. These are the people who love Ayn Rand, because her philosophy of objectivism allows them so sit in aloof condescension of others yet places no burden on them to reach any level of achievement or recognition in their given field. After all, only mediocre writers get published, sell books and win awards. True genius gets suppressed by the herd, (or "Mediocre Mafia," as it is commonly referred to in Objectivist circles) lest the masses be shamed by the existence of such magnificence. By Rand's own reasoning, the popularity of The Fountainhead would seem to contradict the ideas it espouses. At most, The Fountainhead is a fun and thought-provoking enough read. At worst, it is meager justification for bad art.

Meh........2007-10-03

I'm entirely too selfish to write a review here. So I won't. Hey, what's in it for me?

Read this in 2 days.......2007-09-20

I was on a 24 hour train through india, and read most of this book during that time. The characters are magnets to your soul.

One of my favorites..........2007-09-11

This is one of my favorite books, right up there with 1984 and Atlas Shrugged.

Average customer rating:

My favorite book
An insight to be experienced
Enthusiastic message of political freedom & free market capitalism
Best book ever!......Really!
Timeless

Atlas Shrugged
Ayn Rand
Manufacturer: Plume
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Classics | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Look Inside Fiction Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 0452011876

Book Description

At last, Ayn Rand's masterpiece is available to her millions of loyal readers in trade paperback.

With this acclaimed work and its immortal query, "Who is John Galt?", Ayn Rand found the perfect artistic form to express her vision of existence. Atlas Shrugged made Rand not only one of the most popular novelists of the century, but one of its most influential thinkers.

Atlas Shrugged is the astounding story of a man who said that he would stop the motor of the world--and did. Tremendous in scope, breathtaking in its suspense, Atlas Shrugged stretches the boundaries further than any book you have ever read. It is a mystery, not about the murder of a man's body, but about the murder--and rebirth--of man's spirit.

* Atlas Shrugged is the "second most influential book for Americans today" after the Bible, according to a joint survey conducted by the Library of Congress and the Book of the Month Club

Download Description

Who is John Galt?

This famous rhetorical question rings through Ayn Rand's best-selling novel as the people's anthem of despair in depressed economic times.

Set in the future, the novel follows capitalist magnates as they battle looters, strikers, and the impending ruin of the United States' economy. The romantic and intellectual relationship between Dagny Taggart, the heroine, and John Galt, whose identity as the leader of the strike is eventually revealed, carries the novel to its climax.

This novel, controversial when it first appeared in 1957, purports Rand's objectivist philosophy that the individual is free to pursue his or her own happiness without bowing to God or society. Objectivism in action upholds full laissez-faire capitalism as the only philosophy that can protect humankind's freedom to think, to be inventive, and to live productively.

Customer Reviews:

My favorite book.......2007-10-21

As many people have written this book changed my life. I recommend it to friends often. I believe this book illustrates what capitalism and a free market society is and what it's not.

An insight to be experienced.......2007-10-19

This is my first Ayn Rand novel - recommended by a colleague. I found myself for the first time in years unable to put the book down, even logging long nights to see what the next pages would bring. I would recommend this book to anyone with a desire to look at the world through different lenses and possibly alter their perception of reality - I cant wait to see what else Rand has to offer.

Enthusiastic message of political freedom & free market capitalism.......2007-10-18

Ayn Rand's seminal work laid the logical and philosopical foundation for the virtues of unfettered free market capitalism. In her book, the Atlas(s) of the world are capitalist who create and produce. A group of such individuals decide that they have had their fill of intrusive government regulation and decide to "go on strike", hence, Atlas Shrugged. (Atlas as you may recall from myth, held the Universe on his shoulders). By doing so, they plan to bring the world economy to a standstill. Her enthusiastic championship of individual liberty and economic freedom and her lampooning of big government and intellectual sophistry gave rise to the Libertarian movement in America. She was shunned by the American conservative movement because of her insistance that all virtue and values must be rational individual choices, rather than dictated by religion or tradition. The irrefutable logic of her argument alarmed conservatives because it marginalized their religious and social conservative constitutents. One of the longest books in the English language and worth it.

Best book ever!......Really!.......2007-10-13

This is one of those books that will change your life. You will from this point forward divide your life into segments of "before" [Atlas Shrugged] and "after".

Timeless.......2007-10-11

I first read this book when I was in college. Now that my son is in college I bought two copies - one for him and one for me to read again. It's a timeless book about the power of individuals and how society can sometimes bring down this strength in the name of common welfare.

Average customer rating:

A treasure
In True Ayn Rand Fashion
A New Moral Philosophy
A natural code of ethics
Classic Material

The Virtue of Selfishness
Ayn Rand
Manufacturer: Signet
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Epistemology | Philosophy | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

Ethics & Morality | Philosophy | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

General | Philosophy | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

Look Inside Fiction Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books

Look Inside Nonfiction Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books

All 4-for-3 Deals | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 0451163931

Customer Reviews:

A treasure.......2007-09-14

I have an emotional connection to this book, and by consequence to Rand, because it is Rand's work that motivated me into becoming a full-fledged libertarian. Rand, in it, offers a wonderful collection of essays, and in particular a theory of individual rights rooted in Aristotlean ethics. Were more people to read this chef d'oeuvre by Ms Rand, they would rid themselves of any ignorance on what she actually advocated (too many "critics" of Objectivism haven't the faintest idea.) Ms Rand was, in my opinion, too averse to reading and understanding her intellectual opponents and did not succeed in fully developing her system of philosophy, but she nonetheless provided the groundworks for future Objectivists (e.g. David Kelley) to build on. For anyone seriously interested in Ayn Rand and Objectivism, this is where to start.

In True Ayn Rand Fashion.......2007-06-23

As with all her writing, she's very aggressive in trying to get her point across. Though this was a good read, I would not say that it was profound, as some of the other reviewers have so asserted.

It would serve as a good stepping stone into the field of more contemporary ethics, but in order to really assess her claims and axioms, one must be well learned and read in the enormous literature of classical and contemporary ethical theory--something I am not.

I didn't give this a 5 star review because quite frankly I disagreed with her on various points, points where it seems that her reasonings had committed some form of fallacy or other.

A New Moral Philosophy.......2007-03-20

Ayn Rand's " The Virtue of Selfishness" is truly a new moral philosophy. Her essays in this book are profound. In this volume, Rand rejects the idea of self sacrifice and metaphysics and embraces rational self interest. Rational self interest is the philosophy that your life belongs to YOU, it does not belong to anyone else. YOU are responsible for your life, feelings and actions. Rand lays out the argument that self sacrifice, and altruism, have denigrated man's sense of self and caused mankind innumerable centuries of suffering. Man was only liberated by the Western Enlightenment and the use of his reason through science and capitalist economics. Where the Dark Ages end, progress and freedom begin.

Rand is an unabashed fan of America and our Founding Fathers. She is absolutely correct in affirming the fact that they founded the American Republic on the Enlightenment ideas of liberty, freethought,individual rights, amd scientific progress. Rand obliterates the view of the Religious Right that American was founded as a "Christian Nation" and the view of the Left that America was founded as a "conservative" nation. She points out that the Declaration of Independence was a radical document affirming the rights of all men as individuals. As a consequence of the American Revolution, capitalism unleashed nearly a century of classical liberalism, freedom from government, and individualism never before seen in any nation or age. Rand shows that the American Republic was the first nation to ever proclaim man as a rational being with inherent and unalienable rights.

The basic thrust that Rand is attempting to get across to the reader is that altruism and the concept of living for others is not only immoral, but fatal to the maintenance of an enlightened republic. Altruism is the root of all the other "isms" that afflict the world. Communism, Fascism, conservatism, liberalism, socialism, all promote the idea of the tribe where the individual is submerged and drowned out by voices degrading him with notions of original sin, "common good","public welfare", mankind's "depravity", and obligation to others. If you want a philosophy of life, liberty and one to truly pursue your happiness with, Ms. Rand's "Virtue of Selfishness" will help guide the way.

A natural code of ethics.......2007-02-23

THE VIRTUE OF SELFISHNESS is required reading for anyone to intelligently discuss Rand as a thinker. Objectivism, like mathematics, has a well-defined hierarchy and VOS is a precondition for understanding its politics and aesthetics. I think, however, that the reader will also find it has practical value. One of Rand's achievements in this work is the creation of a code of ethics based on reason. She does this by placing ethics in the appropriate context by answering questions like what a code of ethics is and why it's necessary. She identifies cardinal values and virtues and applies her code to analyze a number of important ethical issues (e.g., racism). Rand also devotes much effort to comparing her code with altruism (its antipode) and discusses the harm the latter unleashes. She rejects the choice between being an altruist and a brute as a false dichotomy and introduces the concept of the trader, the individual who interacts with others on a value-for-value basis. Rand lays out a compelling case that morality without religion is both possible and desirable.

Classic Material.......2007-02-01

I will never understand why Ayn Rand has always been snubbed by other philosophers. Most philosophers, if asked, will flat out deny that Rand was even a real philosopher. To me this is absurd. She has been called a hypocrite and even a cult leader, but such base ad hominem attacks of course have no bearing on the veracity of her claims. The Virtue of Selfishness is, in my opinion, the best of her publications. The title essay contains one of the most eye-openning and profound arguments I have ever read, which is this: Many people want to believe in immortality. In fact, most Americans DO believe that they are immortal, that death is really just a metamorphasis, that you carry on in another form, etc. If this were actually true, then morality would be of little importance. If we really did live forever then little to nothing could count for or against us. If nothing could count against us then we would have no values. If we had no values we would have no goals. And if we had no values or goals, morality would be irrelevant. Think about it. It's the very fact that life is FINITE that gives it meaning. This is an important lesson--that the immortality that so many hope and pray for would actually be a curse, just as it is to mythical vampires. Also profound are the discussions on selfishness. Selfishness is not a bad thing. Everyone does everything he or she does for selfish reasons. Even if someone appears to be behaving altruistically it is only because doing so makes him feel good about himself. On a sidenote, Nathaniel Branden also has an excellent essay in which he explains typical "party" behavior. We might look at people who love to party and think "Gee, they are such carefree individuals. They must love life and love having fun." Actually, Branden makes clear, they are miserable. They only act that way because of their emptiness as people. They are trying to distract themselves from their deep unhappiness. They try to drown out their lack of self-contentment with alcohol or other drugs, and with loud music and rooms full of loud obnoxious people. It's all a grand self-medicating distraction from the underlying problems at hand, and afterward, when the party is over and they are left alone with their own thoughts again, they are miserable. All of it, the alcohol, drugs, partying, rooms full of dancing and whatnot, is not the creation of happiness, but is merely the orchestrated cessation of unhappiness.

Average customer rating:

Still a wonderful read 50 years later
A modern Classic on Individualism
A must for all who believe in freedom and liberty
Those who preach selflessness do it for selfish reasons
An Inspiring Classic

Atlas Shrugged (Centennial Ed. HC)
Ayn Rand
Manufacturer: Dutton Adult
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Classics | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Literary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

ASIN: 0525948929

Book Description

The year 2005 marks Ayn Rand's Centennial Year.

The astounding story of a man that said that he would stop the motor of the world—and did. Tremendous in scope, breathtaking in its suspense, Atlas Shrugged is unlike any other book you have ever read.

“A writer of great power. She has a subtle and ingenious mind and the capacity of writing brilliantly, beautifully, bitterly.”
—The New York Times

Customer Reviews:

Still a wonderful read 50 years later.......2007-10-14

Atlas Shrugged

I read Atlas Shrugged 50 years ago, when I was 21 and just forming my political philosophy. Now I see it all coming to pass. The only disagreement I have with Ayn Rand is that she was an admitted atheist, and I am a follower of Jesus Christ. I believe in individual rights, liberty and the ability to enjoy the fruits of one's labor without government intervention. With the socialists now in control of our country (both political parties), all the hideous bureaucracy that she portrayed so well in the book has arrived -- and more. May God have mercy upon the United States of America, what is left of her. I heard Ms. Rand speak in Portland, Oregon, in the 1960s, and she was a fascinating person.

SW

A modern Classic on Individualism.......2007-10-07

I read this book in 1985, and found that it had an enormous influence on my thinking for a long time. As a result, I snapped up all her works that came to the Indian book shops. Ms. Ayn Rand was a staunch believer in individual freedom, and an enlightened capitalism. She opposed, in principle, that one man be expected to serve another, either through private charity or through enforced socialism. However, as I grew up, I found that this philosophy had a limited relevance to one's life.

The novel, nevertheless, is extremely well-written and has a very unique plot. It traces the lives of individual entrepreneurs in the land of freedom, who are being held back by laws and people who want them to serve others instead. Ayn Rand uses the characters to make long, powerful, speeches about her philosophy. She also weaves this in very deftly with the lives of the heroes, and shows what can happen when we put creative, dynamic people in bondage. There is a pleasant, surprising ending, which affects you like a fresh dawn

As fiction, the book suffers from these long speeches. As a book on Ayn Rand's philosophy, the story helps us understand her philosophy better. Her skill is such that each is meaningless without the other. Therefore, if you just read the story, skipping the speeches, you will miss most of the flavour. And if you read some of her other works, without having read this novel, you will find it very difficult to visualise the implications of her complex arguments.

While I am sort of glad today that I found a more, multi-faceted, multi-hued approach to life (than what Ms. Rand offered), I do envy you, if you haven't read this book so far. If you buy this book, you are sure to be in for a treat.

And later, even if you move on, some of her philosophy will perhaps always remain with you. And you will find yourself to be richer for it.

You may also find some of her other works interesting. I particularly recommend (The Fountainhead, Anthem, and The Virtue of Selfishness.

A must for all who believe in freedom and liberty.......2007-10-01

I first read this in 1957 and find it compelling after 50 years.

It is even more pertinent a message from my present perspective in view of the past 50 years and the evolving cultural changes in our nation.

Those who preach selflessness do it for selfish reasons.......2007-08-11

In today's political clime Rand's writing is must reading. We are currently experiencing a resurgence in the war on the individual, with Hillary Clinton dropping quotes right and left that sound remarkably similar to statements made by Stalin and Lenin. Enough is a enough. Those who preach collectivism are trying to subjugate you. Those who preach altruism typically have their hand in someone else's pocket. As Rand says in Atlas Shrugged, "public welfare" is the banner that looters hide behind. Here Rand argues that capitalism is the ONLY just political system. The problem with many conservatives, as Rand saw them, is that though they defend capitalism they usually ground their defense in some vague notion of "God-given rights." Since religious beliefs are not rationally defensible this move greatly risks placing reason on the side of the anti-capitalists. No, Rand said, we must do what's right because it's right and not because we are told to or want to get into heaven. We must defend capitalism not because of some bizarre notion of being mandated by a supreme being but rather because it is the only political system that allows man to rise to his potential, to choose for himself, to bargain with others freely and to exercise his volition. Liberals who defend "minorities" (all the while ignoring that in one out of three of the most populated counties in America today whites are actually the minority) while engaging in collectivist attacks on "the cult of the individual" and "egoism" must contend with Rand's statement that one cannot claim to defend minorities while attacking individualism, for the smallest minority is ALWAYS the individual. People always act with selfish reasons. In order for charity to even be of any help the recipient must selfishly accept the charity. Bad competition, which levels the playing field by inhibiting the performance of rivals, drags achievers down to the mean. All the good such achievers can do for society as a whole is then eliminated, as in the "Anti-dog-eat-dog" agreement in this book. Good competition, in which people compete by perfecting their own skill and knowledge, improves everyone. Even if you are beat by someone else you are left more knowledgeable and able. I only have one question: Where is Galt's Gulch? I would like to move. This novel, originally entitled The Strike, is brilliant. The Fountainhead was about the individual vs. the collective, and this is about the producers vs. the parasites. What if the reviled "rich," those who produce the amenities others take for granted or expect the "government" to pay for, all went on strike? What then? By the way, if you like this book you will probably also like a book called Camp of the Saints. Check it out.

I love the party scene in this book. Rand perfectly points out the ultimate irony of parties: A party is supposed to be a celebration, but those who have done things worthy of celebration typically are not the kind of people who find any enjoyment in parties, whereas those who love partying are not the kind of people there is anything worth celebrating about!

The point of this book was ably made by Jon Hanson, author of a nifty little book called Good Debt, Bad Debt. The point is this: NEVER in history has there been a society that was socialist BEFORE it went capitalist. This has never happened because it would be impossible. It can only be the other way around. FIRST capitalists must BUILD and MAINTAIN a society BEFORE socialists can come and leech off of it parasitically. Socialists don't build or produce anything. They only appropriate. This is why socialism can only follow capitalism. Further, if the last remnant of the capitalist elements of society completely disintegrate, the entire structure collapses. It's not the socialists that keep things going, they just feed off of open sores.

An Inspiring Classic.......2007-08-10

Bottom Line: This is a L O N G, but interesting book. Read it to understand the conservative sensibility.

What You Will Learn: Capitalists and money makers, although celebrated in our country, are often ridiculed as well. Atlas Shruggled really is a reminder that our society does very much benefit from having huge numbers of smart, aggressive, confident, and wealth-seeking individuals to build things that people want to buy. I hope they make the movie starring Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt so this fascinating book reaches a larger audience.

Parting Shot: If you read this you will rightly feel like you have accomplished something important.

Average customer rating:

great!
If I had my way EVERY high school student would read it
A great message... with a meandering story
Government
Not much to this one...

Anthem
Ayn Rand , and Leonard Peikoff
Manufacturer: Plume
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Classics | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Psychological & Suspense | Thrillers | Mystery & Thrillers | Subjects | Books

General | Science Fiction | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books

Look Inside Fiction Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books

Look Inside Mystery & Thriller Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books

Look Inside Science Fiction & Fantasy Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 0452281253

Book Description

Available for the first time in trade paperback--this provocative book is "an anthem sung in praise of man's ego"--from the legendary author Ayn Rand

Anthem has long been hailed as one of Ayn Rand's classic novels, and a clear predecessor to her later masterpieces, The Fountainhead and Atlas Shrugged. In Anthem, Rand examines a frightening future in which individuals have no name, no independence, and no values. Equality 7-2521 lives in the dark ages of the future where all decisions are made by committee, all people live in collectives, and all traces of individualism have been wiped out. Despite such a restrictive environment, the spark of individual thought and freedom still burns in him--a passion which he has been taught to call sinful. In a purely egalitarian world, Equality 7-2521 dares to stand apart from the herd--to think and choose for himself, to discover electricity, and to love the woman of his choice. Now he has been marked for death for committing the ultimate sin. In a world where the great "we" reign supreme, he has rediscovered the lost and holy word--"I."

Download Description

A stunning and brilliantly realized future world in which individuality has been crushed is the theme of Ayn Rand's bestselling masterpiece, "Anthem". Rand presents her tale of a man who dares to make individual choices, to seek knowledge in a dark age, to love the woman of his choice. In a society in which people have no name, no independence, and no values, he is hunted for the unpardonable crime: having the courage to stand above the crowd. Introduction by Leonard Peikoff.

Customer Reviews:

great!.......2007-08-23

Of course the book is a little overdone. But I found it refreshing to read this that book celebrates individualism in a world that sometimes celebrates collectivism.

If I had my way EVERY high school student would read it.......2007-08-22

No other work I've ever come across can convey the importance of individuality and the threat it suffers from collectivism, or at least not in such a small format. This book had a profound effect on me when I first read it and it made me want to learn more.

A great message... with a meandering story.......2007-07-31

This is the first Ayn Rand book I've read, even though I was familiar with her philosophy of objectivism. The book itself is set in an alternate world, most likely during the 21st century. It is a backwards world completely controlled by the great "we" in which councils decide everything, and only the will of your "brothers" matters. It is an interesting, if at times confusing, world that she creates; but unfortunately she doesn't describe it enough to offer a firm foundation (however yes I know, it's just a novella). The main character shows great development which can be traced throughout the novel - a vivid, distinct transformation, which is wonderfully illustrated both mentally and physically by Rand.

The story, in the first three-quarters of the book, is particularly interesting, but unfortunately she wanders off-course, by forsaking the plot for the philosophical message she wishes to get across. While the philosophical message is important, as it is the basis of the book, I would've appreciated a more complete ending.

On the whole, Anthem seems to be a great introduction to Rand's philosophy and writing, but as a fictitious story it tends to fall off course. It's a short book though, so I would highly recommend it, as it offers interesting philosophical insight into the nature of individualism and collectivism.

Government.......2007-07-16

Being the normal high school slacker that I am, I chose to read this book and write a response to it, rather than read a book close to 400 pages long and give an oral response to it. And I will say at first I didn't understand anything that was going on. The writing is simple to almost the point that you see no point in reading it. The simplistic writing doesn't seem to shape up to anything. But by the time I got to the last page I couldn't believe what I had just read. It was incredible. I could have written endless pages for the school assignment. It leaves the audience with so many possiblities in the meaning of the book and it leaves you thinking. I'm off soon to purchase this book, every time I see it on the shelves at the book store I tell everyone how much I loved it, definately a reccommended read.

Not much to this one..........2007-07-13

I haven't read any of Ayn Rand's other books but this one was extremely dissapointing. The theme was very simple, and delivered so that the most simple minded would have difficulty not understanding it.

I just didn't feel like this was particularly creative, the worst part being that it is simply a poor piece of literature.

I hate to give one star but the story was seemed trite and simplistic and the writing was poor so I'm not sure if it had any redeeming factors that I could perceive.

Average customer rating:

The moral case for the free market
AMAZON! PLEASE READ THIS
Very well written book about capitalism and democracy
Propaganda?
greenspan

Capitalism: The Unknown Ideal
Ayn Rand , Nathaniel Branden , Alan Greenspan , and Robert Hessen
Manufacturer: Signet
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Popular Economics | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

Theory | Economics | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

General | Philosophy | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

General | Politics | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

History & Theory | Politics | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

Reference | Politics | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

Look Inside Fiction Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books

Look Inside Nonfiction Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books

All 4-for-3 Deals | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 0451147952

Customer Reviews:

The moral case for the free market.......2007-09-14

For anyone interested in an economic case for capitalism, this is not the right book - Rand was a philosopher, not an economist (in spite of her sound understanding of economic theorems.) However, for anyone interested in a moral defence of the system and an understanding of its intellectual history and opponents, this is a vital piece of work. Rand includes essays on voluminous topics, such as the gold standard, distortions of what actually happened during the Industrial Revolution, the proper role of government (I disagree with her on this), and so on. It is essential to understand that Rand was not a corporate shill, nor did she approve of the status quo - to the contrary, she strongly opposed the notion of corporate welfare and the like, and believed in a free market economy. Unfortunately, her adulation of big business gave ample ammunition to her critics. She replicates her essay on the rights of individuals toward the end of the book, which is in itself an excellent read. Taken in conjunction with The Virtue of Selfishness, this work will spur the youthful mind into further inquiry on the philosophical origins and defences of laissez-faire.

AMAZON! PLEASE READ THIS.......2007-07-17

Can you please take down that disgraceful "editorial review" you've allowed to creep its slimy way onto this site (and somehow barnes and nobles as well? who is pushing this stuff?). It is a smear on this book's page, and frankly it makes your site look tawdry and muckraking.

Unless of course, you posted that review to get all of these wonderful reviews defending the author of this book from attack by its own salesman.

Take that review down and replace it with something neutral at the very least.

Really, its almost criminal.

Very well written book about capitalism and democracy.......2007-04-06

Although this book was written many years ago, it rings true for today's issues. The book is made up of multiple (25 or so) mini essays, each about 5-10 pages long.

The book has a clear and logical philosophy that is consistent. Its' basic premise is that pure capitalism is the first and only moral system for man. This is because capitalism equals freedom which frees a man from coercive oppression, and that man can only create wealth and new ideas when free to use his mind. The book states that the US briefly came close to pure capitalism in the 1700 and 1800s, but is now heading to fascism, as the state leaves property in private ownership, but the state controls output and use of the private property.

This book is the best I've read in several years, because it helped me unify my outlook on several fronts (political, economic, legal, social, etc) into one grand, consistent theory. I think this book will appeal to liberals and conservatives alike. Both are damned in this book by Rand, but I think the left, right, and center will recognize parts of Rand's philosophy that are dear to them too.

Read it for yourself to see, the book is cheap.

Propaganda?.......2007-04-06

The only "outlandish piece of propaganda" about this book is the Library Journal's unabashed hit-piece pseudo-review of it on this website. The essence of capitalism is a political-economic system based on individual rights where all property is owned privately. If you wish to engage in thought about the authentic meaning of capitalism, read Ayn Rand's articles in this book, then if you decide to reject capitalism for statism, do so with the full knowledge of what capitalism is and be prepared to take the consequences for selling your soul.

greenspan.......2007-04-05

this book with its essays by greenspan show a good example of a guy who used to fight against courruption & the federal reserve and then sold out to those who battled against.

Our money was taken from us in the middle of the night by corrupt bankers. The federal Reserve is bogus.

Average customer rating:

It's a Living
Awesome. A great book
Beautiful, Magnificent, and Often Overlooked
Great early Ayn novel. A frank look at a change to Socialism.
good story; too much philosophizing

We the Living
Ayn Rand
Manufacturer: Signet
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Classics | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Look Inside Fiction Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books

All 4-for-3 Deals | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 0451187849

Customer Reviews:

It's a Living.......2007-10-07

First things first. Totalitarian governments are very bad. Soviet Russia was among the worst. Anyone with any doubt of this proposition should take the time to peruse Harvest of Sorrow by Robert Conquest.

That said, this book, while adding something to our understanding of the evils experienced by those suffering under Soviet Russia's domination, is quite bad and, in my opinion, not worth the time and excruciating effort to read.

Kira Argounova and her family return to St. Petersburg following the Soviet Revolution. Conditions are, as one might expect, quite poor. Kira finds here ambitions checked. There is a symbolic love triangle. Simply stated, this book is a historical romance with pretensions to literary fiction. The underlying message of the story, however, is no deeper or more convincing than one would expect from a Nicholas Sparks novel.

Laying aside, though, the merits of the "We the Living" philosophy, my biggest problem with this book is the, quite frankly, poor writing. My four most serious complaints follow.

1. This book is overflowing with pointless verbosity - descriptions that, while wordy, convey no meaning. For example: "The girl looked straight at him, softly, defiantly. He answered with a glance that was an invitation, and a mocking insult, and almost a promise. Then he turned and walked to the counter, as she went out slowly." The tone of the book is undermined by this absurd wordplay. I found myself, on many occasions, chuckling at Ms. Rand's pretentious languange. The subject matter of the novel is not given much to chuckling.

2. Many words and phrases are repeated so often as to make this book seem like a parody. Are there really so many mocking, insolent, arrogant and defiant smiles in Soviet Russia.

3. There are a number of scenes in the book that seem absurdly unrealistic. Most striking is the scene in which Kira and Leo meet. Not only do they fall in love seemingly instantaneously in a rather unusual circumstance, but they also engage in dialogue artificial enough to make Mickey Spillane blush.

4. Finally, the coup de grace for me was chapter X of part 2, the preposterous meeting between Morozov and Timoshenko. The scene appears to have been lifted nearly intact from a below average episode of Threes Company. Indeed, Ms. Rand's contribution appears to be merely the lengthening of the scene from merely uncomfortably overlong to absolutely intolerable.

On the positive side, the book I read featured a cool illustration by artist Nick Gaetano.

Awesome. A great book.......2007-09-20

First, a disclaimer: I am not a member of the cult of Ayn Rand. This is the first book I've read by her. I did not read it because I believe in Objectivism already, or am attracted to its tenets, with which I am completely unfamiliar. All I know of her, and that knowledge is dubious, is that she is the darling of many (what I would call) fundamentalist capitalists. I was looking for a good novel, knew that she was both reviled and adored, and figured it would be interesting reading, at least. For the record, most would call me a liberal.

I was blown away. I'm still not looking to join the cult, mind you, but I will read other books by her because this one showed evidence of a warm heart, an uncompromising intellect, and a fever for living well. Ideology was not permitted to run roughshod over plot or character. It's an astonishingly accomplished first novel, and ought to be a candidate for every serious book club and every list of great books.

Rand draws her characters clearly and with complexity. While she is a bit romantic, even her simpler characters, such as the lickspittle, Victor, are developed in such a way that the reader must ask difficult questions about who he is, why he is that way, and would we be different under the same constraints. Kira, the central figure, is sympathetic, tragic, heroic, and admirable - but also a conundrum. Given who she is, why does she do the things she does? Why the compromises? Are they compromises? What of the archetypal Party man, Andrei? Is he a tragic or romantic hero? Is he a naive tool? Is he redeemed, or is his naivete merely exposed? Rand crafts a story that raises questions that have no easy, vapid answers but that demand discussion.

For those who think of Rand as the patron saint of Gordon Gecko, of greed and looking out for number one - which is the vague impression I've had of her - the characters who are most narcissistic, most self-aggrandizing, are also the most contemptible. And the hero lives a life of selfless love, with disciplined passion and a dreams deferred. This is not a book to avoid because of preconceived notions about Rand and her ideology.

The book raises many ethical and political issues, but I didn't leave with the sense that the conclusions were foregone. She talks about the corruption of a well-intended revolution, and while it applies particularly to Soviet Communism in these pages, I take it that it could as easily apply to any ideology - political, economic, religious, whatever - that fails to serve the people it promises to serve. There is clearly a passion in favor of letting the gifted be gifted, but there are nasty aristocrats and noble peasants, both, here. There's no aristocrats good, peasants bad theme operating here. I see respect for the good, whether they be rich or poor, and derision for those without dreams or nobility. As a bumper sticker says, those who have smothered their own dreams will smother yours. It becomes their job.

In 21st century America, where ideologies are ossified, partisans are blindly simplistic, and we have few, if any, bridge-builders, We the Living is a compelling call to remember that our dreams have a claim on us that we dismiss at the cost of lives worth living. What are our dreams, and what comforts or phantasms have we traded them for? I don't think Rand wants us to sleep easily after asking these questions.

Beautiful, Magnificent, and Often Overlooked.......2007-08-24

I am a huge fan of Ayn Rand and while many of her readers think The Fountainhead, and especially Atlas Shrugged to be her best novels. I think We The Living is right along up there. This is a good deal smaller than Atlas Shrugged, but it still has a lot of power in it.

This book is a tragedy. So do not read it if you want a happily ever after. While the story is filled with misery, you are still filled with a profound longing for a better world. That quality is something Rand puts in all her works.

This book is not just about the evils of communism, it encompasses the entire spectrum of the 'individual vs. the state'. She shows what the state can do to a person, the state can grind a man down to nothing, it can leave an empty shell. And Rand shows what the state can't do to some people, the state can restrict a person, they can impose laws, they can cause tremendous suffering, but the state cannot always take away hope and desire even in the last few breathes one might take before they die.

Great early Ayn novel. A frank look at a change to Socialism........2007-06-18

This book was unlike her later books. It's more of a look at actual history and the effects of an actual change in government. There were many here in the US who have wanted to duplicate Russia and change our government to Marxism. They came here soon after the fall of Russia, in the very early 1900s. They called themselves "Marxists" which didn't go over well. They then stole the term "Progressives" from the conservatives and are once again using that term. Today, they have finally come into power in our current congress (Pelosi) and the puppet masters pulling their strings such as George Soros & International Answer.

Another book that most haven't read is her first book. It rates a VERY high recommendation and is again much unlike her other books. "Anthem". I believe this was Ayn's 2nd book and the only one of this type she wrote.
I couldn't help but think that it inspired "1984" and "Planet of the Apes". It was a short, quick read that was entertaining and thought provoking. Like all her books, it doesn't compare two shades of gray, but black & white. I've long used this technique in analyzing questions relating to physics, geometry, math & life.

good story; too much philosophizing.......2007-06-12

This is my first Ayn Rand book; I can tell from the other reviews that I may like the others better. The edition I read provided some good notes on Ms. Rand, which helped me understand the book. I am glad that I read this book first, since it is apparently fairly autobiographical, and since it was her first book. I found the story interesting and assume that the portrayal of Russia at that period to be accurate. The only complaint I have is that I think that the story is interrupted too often with Ms. Rand's philosophizing.

Average customer rating:

The Best Business Book Ever Written
Those who preach selflessness do it for selfish reasons
ATLAS SHRUGGED
The Best Book I Have Ever Read (and better each time)
This book made an impact on me!

Atlas Shrugged
Ayn Rand
Manufacturer: Random House
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Classics | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

ASIN: 0394415760
Release Date: 1957-10-12

Customer Reviews:

The Best Business Book Ever Written.......2007-09-15

That's right. It is the best business book ever written. Rand believed in the value of the individual. She believed that the state, the government, should have no control over a person's work and his or her achievement. She believed that no group should try to control the individual and that no person should compromise in an attempt to blend in.

This is Ayn Rand's masterpiece. It expresses her complete philosophy in a riveting plot that takes place in the U.S. in the future. The economy is collapsing because of the strange disappearance of leading producers and industrialists. The theme is the role of the mind in man's existence. It demonstrates a new moral philosophy based on rational self-interest.

In this wonderful work, Rand shows what the world would be like if the real producers, the productive individuals, would stop their work and their production. It is stunning and awesome.

While the dialog is stilted and uncommon to the culture, it was Rand's unique way of crafting her fiction. Her characters lacked depth and emotion, similar to those of F. Scott Fitzgerald.

While this may take away from the storytelling, it is actually merely the format for her presentation of her Objectivist philosophy. And, it is that philosophy that is the critical part of all of her work, including her fiction.

According to Wikipedia, "Objectivism holds that there is a mind-independent reality; that individual persons are in contact with this reality through sensory perception; that human beings gain objective knowledge from perception by measurement and form valid concepts by measurement omission; that the proper moral purpose of one's life is the pursuit of one's own happiness or "rational self-interest"; that the only social system consistent with this morality is full respect for individual human rights, embodied in pure, consensual laissez-faire capitalism; and that the role of art in human life is to transform abstract knowledge, by selective reproduction of reality, into a physical form--a work of art--that one can comprehend and respond to with the whole of one's consciousness."

But it can better be summed up, I think, by saying that it is the belief that a person owns his own mind and the production of his mind, i.e. his work. Furthermore, it holds that the individual has a right not to conform to the whims or desires of the collective, that he doesn't have an obligation to do his work as others wish him to and that he has a right to earn money for his work and not give any part of himself away for the benefit of others.

The dramatic story in Atlas Shrugged brings this philosophy to life.

An altruist would not enjoy this book. But if you read it with an open mind, you will appreciate the philosophy behind the words. You may or may not agree with the philosophy and you may not enjoy the book. But if you're in business, you should read the book. A business person who is not basically an Objectivist, is not a good business person but a slave.

By the way, Alan Greenspan, famous former fed chairman, was part of Ayn Rand's inner circle when he was very young. He still considers himself a libertarian Republican. Rand's philosophy is an important one and should be read and studied by all who care about human production and human value.

Those who preach selflessness do it for selfish reasons.......2007-08-11

ATLAS SHRUGGED.......2007-04-06

Do yourself and your future a great service... take your next ten free hours and read this book. If you don't like it, you will still find value, this book is a masterpiece.

The Best Book I Have Ever Read (and better each time).......2005-07-01

Atlas Shrugged was given to me as a high school graduation present from a teacher with whom I frequently argued about philosophical issues such as charity and other topics which my Christian upbringing focus on. She never demeaned my arguments but provided reasoned, interesting rebuttals. When I graduated she gave me the book and said that she thought I was "ready" for it. I was a bit insulted as this sounded patronizing. I thank her often for such a wonderful gift. I have worn out my paperback copy and will buy a hardcover copy for future reads.

The first time through the book can be a roller coaster ride. You will undoubtedly like parts and hate parts. Ayn Rand is quite verbose, particularly in some of the speeches or monologues of the book. It is tempting to skim over those parts but there are gems within the paragraphs. For example, there is a 75 page monologue from Francisco, one of the main characters. It is full of positive messages, such as the concept of "making money". I have gone back and read this section of the book several times.

I have read negative reviews of Atlas Shrugged and I can see why some people do not like the book. It does not follow any specific political party line, but anyone with a liberal leaning (by today's definition of liberal) would hate this book. However it disagrees with a lot of the mainline "conservative" dogmas as well. I like to think of it more as a philosophy of life. My political beliefs follow from that philosophy.

Give Atlas Shrugged a try. If you are honest with yourself you may very well like it, whether you agree with all of the concepts or not. It is a story and it is a textbook. It is a very enjoyable read and if you are not accustomed to such lengthy books, you will probably feel a sense of accomplishment from finishing a 1000+ page book.

This book made an impact on me!.......2005-02-08

In case this is your first encounter with this book, It is a fresh story but a continuation to Ayn Rand's philosophy that started out with books like "We the living" where she new something was wrong but could not put her finger on it. She progressed to books as "The Fountainhead" where she could describe the problem quite well. Now in "Atlas Shrugged she has come up with a plausible answer to the problem. In essence your head can work without your hands yet your hands can not work without your head.
The story is not unique but it still holds you attention. The world is becoming more socialized and it is harder for individuals to make an impact without having a multitude of parasites on their back. Some chose to fight, others chose to ignore, some do not have a clue as to what is happening. The world seems to be gearing down is just coincidence or is there some one taking a hand in it. "Who is John Galt?"
I can tell you of my experience with the book. I must have been a late bloomer or just unlucky, because I did not come across "Atlas shrugged" until I was 20 years old. I was in the military and needed some reading material. My younger sister sent me the book. It looks just a little thick to me but I started reading, and reading and reading. I do not know if it was the story or the clarity of thought. Now I saw everything in a new or different light. It felt weird to see the newspapers and politics paralleling the book.
I was in New York (West Point) at the time and three things stood out to this day. The was a public service announcement on the TV "The law says that an apartment owner can not charge more than 30% of what you make" and at the same time the apartment buildings were closing down. The postal carriers went on strike and the military had to deliver the mail. That winter the snowplow drivers went on strike. When the strike was over the snowplows were missing. They found them the next summer in an empty lot.
There is nothing quite as convincing as watching the world and book parallel. I have mellowed out some sense then. However, I really think that this book should be read by high school where it would have maximum impact of one's train of thought.

Atlas Shrugged: 35th Anniversary Edition

Average customer rating:

A Fabulous Book on Individualism
Those who preach selflessness do it for selfish reasons
A review for young people in their late teens
Who is John Galt?
Brilliant

Atlas Shrugged: 35th Anniversary Edition
Ayn Rand
Manufacturer: Signet
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

General | Science Fiction | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books

Look Inside Fiction Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books

Look Inside Science Fiction & Fantasy Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 0451171926

Book Description

Published in 1957, Atlas Shrugged was Ayn Rand's greatest achievement and last work of fiction. In this novel she dramatizes her unique philosophy through an intellectual mystery story that integrates ethics, metaphysics, epistemology, politics, economics, and sex.

Set in a near-future U.S.A. whose economy is collapsing as a result of the mysterious disappearance of leading innovators and industrialists, this novel presents an astounding panorama of human life-from the productive genius who becomes a worthless playboy...to the great steel industrialist who does not know that he is working for his own destruction...to the philosopher who becomes a pirate...to the woman who runs a transcontinental railroad...to the lowest track worker in her train tunnels.

Peopled by larger-than-life heroes and villains, charged with towering questions of good and evil, Atlas Shrugged is a philosophical revolution told in the form of an action thriller.

Customer Reviews:

A Fabulous Book on Individualism.......2007-10-07

Those who preach selflessness do it for selfish reasons.......2007-08-11

A review for young people in their late teens.......2007-08-09

Atlas Shrugged is a captivating novel. The greatest "shortcoming" is that the book is over 50 years old. The heroine is the vice-president of a major railroad company, and most of the plot revolves around her desperate efforts to keep the railroad going. In the 21st century, when the age of railroads is long past, this is certainly dated. Indeed, Atlas Shrugged, although contemporary when written, takes on the feel of a grand masterful allegory perhaps like Dante, Chaucer, or Swift. It is just as much "fun" as Alice in Wonderland or Gulliver's Travels--and just as serious as the Divine Comedy. Yet, if you listen to a hour of local and national news on TV every evening while reading the book--half of the stories will sound as though they were lifted from the book--so timelessness and universal is Rand's story.

This will probably be the most important book (to you) that you read in your lifetime.

What is it about? It is often described as "Capitalism versus Communism", or "altruism vs selfishness"--but both descriptions seriously miss the point. What this book is really about is much more fundamental. It is about the nature of good and evil, and beyond that, the very meaning of life.

"But I'm a good person, so what value is this book to me?"--you may ask. Answer: You have certainly noticed that adult "morality" is full of all kinds of exceptions and contradictions. The truth is, the world of "morality" we adults have constructed is a sham, a fraud. It is no more than "social convention"--which is to say, "what we all more-or-less agree to"--and actually, despite all the "moral" justification, has absolutely nothing to do with morality or right-and-wrong, and often little to do with common sense.

Still, the question remains, "Why isn't simply accepting the current 'social norms' good enough?" "Go along to get along." Answer: To put it bluntly, the greatest evil the world has ever seen has been done by folks "accepting community norms" who thought they were doing good, or at least who could justify their actions as being "socially acceptable".

The truth is, you will be quite surprised when you learn the true nature of evil. Until you have read Atlas Shrugged, evil will remain a hazy mist floating just off your line of vision, which you don't look straight at, because you don't WANT it to exist. After reading Atlas Shrugged, evil snaps into sharp focus--and like a bully confronted--ceases to be a fear, and just becomes something distasteful to avoid.

As Rand richly illustrates: Just as eating too much fat can clog up your arteries, thinking "too much fat" can damage with your mental health. Some mental illness is physiological. But most mental illness is caused by unresolved internal contradictions--caused, for example, by refusing to look at evil because you PREFER to believe that it does not exist. Reality is. You do NOT have the option of living in your own private version of reality. Nevertheless, many, perhaps most, people live lives built on thier own complex lies. That turns smart people crazy, and stupid people mean and crazy.

How do you avoid "unresolved internal contradictions"? By knowing the difference between right and wrong, and never, ever, allowing a rotten board to be used in the construction of your mental house. The problem is the old "slippery slope". Lie to yourself just once, no matter how trivial the lie, and the next one will be easier. Before long, you realize that you can justify ANYTHING--and with the blessings of the popular culture. And before you know it, you've lost your soul.

As Rand preaches, the meaning of life is integrity. Living without compromise. To live a life filled with joy and pride in yourself, made possible by being free of mental conflicts. To know, not merely hope, that your mistakes were honest mistakes. To live with the knowledge that you are the best you can be, while striving to be better. To be a joy and comfort to the people you love. To give generously of your time, wealth, and love simply for the joy of doing so. To be a person who has changed the world for the better when you have gone. That's what Atlas Shrugged is really all about. All ofthe other themes, even Communism vs Capitalism are peripheral supporting themes. It is precisely because the fundamental issues are so basic and primary, that the implications are simultaneously universal--applying to all aspects of life.

The greatest real flaw in Atlas Shrugged is that Rand herself does not quite understand how her philosophy applies to inter-personal relationships. All of the heros in the story are flawed characters, because Rand's characters are based on herself, and are flawed because Rand herself was flawed. That is, Rand had such a horrible youth that her ability to love and trust was damaged. In her own flawed vision, she has largely substituted hero worship for love. Rand's heros are real heros to be admired, but not role models to emulate.

You will also find many things with which you will want to disagree, but in your heart, you will know that Rand is right. How you resolve these conflicts will be the most important decision you will make in your entire life. If you choose the truth, simply because it is the truth, then you are on the way to a life of good mental health. If you reject the truth because you PREFER a different vision or interpretation of reality--then you have already begun to lie to yourself, and you will probably have an unhappy life and be a miserable person to live with.

Who is John Galt?.......2005-07-22

This book was truely amazing. I read this book after Rand's other novels, "We The Living" and "Anthem". Atlas Shrugged is a marvelous book and her ideas, thoughts, and philosophy are noticed throughout the book, in the way she writes and through the text.

This book is very influential, at times hard to read, but overall very rewarding. The different characters and the PLOT of the book all assist each other. The plot of the book is ingenious, the story and the conclusion work very well with each other.

This book has been one of the most influential books in my life, and I think on the world. I would highly recommend anybody to read this book, and keep up with it. Keep an open mind.

Brilliant.......2005-02-22

I selected this book off the shelves of Barns and Nobles with no prior knowledge of its contents, nor its reputation for being a "classic". Thus my verdict on this book was not altered by my expectations or by what others have regarded it as. I am not going to write out the plot, because it has been done several times already in previous reviews. I found this book to be brilliant. I was not sure what to make of it after the first, rather slow hundred pages or so. However, after the basic setup of the circumstances articulated in the first section of the book, it began to pick up. The characters are charismatic, and draw you in with their brilliant insight and observations of society, and how it functions. Its philosophies are subversive of nearly all beliefs that are popularily accepted today, yet each argument against the commonly held convictions are backed up with logical arguments. Anyway, I can not do the book enough justice by trying to give a synopsis of why I feel it is great, so I advise everyone to read it and experience it for themselves.

Average customer rating:

Hilarious, Tough and Insightful
An appetizer in every sense of the word.......
I ride with "The Hater"

Objective Hate (The Prequel)
Troi "Star" Torain
Manufacturer: Troi "Star" Torain
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

ASIN: 0978972805

Product Description

Controversial luminary STAR hosted the number-one rated urban morning show in New York Citythe top radio market in Americaand was syndicated nationally. No stranger to media scrutiny, he now delivers the first of a highly anticipated, three-part series about his branded philosophy: Objective Hate. More than an autobiography, Objective Hate is a manifesto, delivering the gritty details of Stars path from suburban troublemaker to urban player, media legend and, ultimately, staunch believer in Objective Hate. Acute observations of relationships between sexes, races, religions and classes are at the fore of Stars much-renowned hate and commentary. His style of no style makes him appear to be just like any manand yet like no other man that you know.

Customer Reviews:

Hilarious, Tough and Insightful.......2007-01-12

Readers of Objective Hate: The Prequel should be warned to hold onto their seats and prepare for the roller-coaster read of a lifetime! The book is a breathtaking chronicle of one man's journey and lessons learned along the way.

My neck is still sore from all the positive nodding in acknowledgement and agreement from most of the points/arguments raised in Star's book. While the philosophical thinking unveiled in the book are challenging (and murky), much of the points of the book will prove insightful and filled with wisdom.

Objective Hate is the work of a expert communicator. A communicator with communicates with biting edge and humor. Prepare, it isn't for the faint of heart.

Stylistic writing and never biting, Star's book is quite a look.

An appetizer in every sense of the word..............2006-12-08

I was anxiously awaiting The Hater's book. In fact, I had pre-ordered "Raise your own F'n Kids", but apparently it never saw the light of day [or was replaced with 'Objective Hate'] after the DJ Envy circus, which, by the way, I thought was a brilliant, gangster, 1st amendment move by Star.

In either case, I was looking forward to learning more about the philosophy that helped open my third eye as I drove to work each morning.
The book is an enjoyable, breezy read that manages to be sharp, intelligent, even gritty at times. He sprinkled in street vernacular, but at some points it was truly unneccessary and can sometimes detract from the brilliance of the writer.

The prequel was autobiographical in nature, yet suprisingly succinct in that regard. He briefly explains the various periods and influentual people in his life and quickly moves on. IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR A HIP HOP TELL ALL THIS IS NOT THE BOOK FOR YOU!!!

The one thing that surprised and impressed me about Star's story are the periods of self reflection. In my journey, I have found myself revisiting and analyzing my past & I always thought I was going backward emotionally. But I realize now that it is an essential part of "knowledge of self".

While I appreciated knowing his backstory, I wanted to learn more about Objective Hate. It was just starting to get good, focusing on the philosophy, and I was on the last page.

And just like an appetizer, it whet my appetite. It filled me up, but not enough to make me push the dinner plate away. It evened opened my palatte to taste new things. Looking forward to learning more about Objective Hate!!

I ride with "The Hater".......2006-11-09

I know this isn't the standard review, but I just had to be the first to comment on the triumphant accomplishments of the one and only "True Hater." I don't need to read this book to know it is a great literary accomplishment, from a man I use to listen to on a daily basis in the morning. The Hater will ride a again!!!

Star is number one, worldwide Star!!!

P.S.
The New Urban war- Minorities vs. Savages

Books:

Books Index

Books Home

Recommended Books