I read this decades ago while pregnant and reclusive. This time I ordered it because I couldn't remember what it was about. I probably tossed it in the 70's too —or only finished because I had nothing else and the internet hadn't been invented). It was a tribute to the lowest form of humanity from every aspect. I chucked it as soon as all the characters had been established and found not one was worth my time. People who admire this type of thinking vote for Trump.

One of the ten best books I've ever read, and I have not read much fiction in my life. It is the beginning of the "art of selfishness."

You've heard of Aristotle, Socrates, Plato? MORONS! Ayn Rand is the greatest philosopher ever! This book has changed my life! Before I read it, I was a pitiful, cowardly specimen, barely human. Now I have learned to demand my rights as an Objectivist Übermensch. Not only that, I now in fact look like Gary Cooper, and my girlfriend, who read it as well, looks like Patricia Neal. Also, I have invented a new kind of steam engine which is taking the railroad industry by storm! As soon as my paramilitary guard, the Brown Shorts, is fully organized, I will run for president on the Objectivist ticket, and I owe it all to Ayn Rand!

Note added in press: Another commenter says, "One of the ten best books I've ever read, and I have not read much fiction in my life." Is this what you call damning with faint praise? Has the commenter read as many as ten works of fiction?

I love this book. The first time I read it, I had to read the first few chapters in a bookstore, as my copy was missing those pages. I'm not as much in line with the ideals as I used to be, but I still love the story. It's weird to hate Roark so much, then realize you actually kinda like him in the end. That's probably what I love about it the most. All the characters are kind of terrible, and the protagonist is like the least of all the evils. It's just such a weirdly terrible semi-accurate description of the invisible side of society when everyone is awful. It's wonderful.

I love this book. Rand does a marvelous job of explaining her philosophy in narrative form.

if you have the choice to read the massive ATLAS SHRUGGED ( i mean you have a gun pointed at you), or this, choose this one. Such a choice does not preclude you from reading any of her profound non fiction, mind you./ in the comments below, i noticed several points made, which seem antithetical to themselves: one writer says that the work extols "the cult of selfishness"; another writes that, although he didn't enjoy her work, she writes about the fight against conformity. Does this one mean she doesn't write it, well?

According to author, Ayn Rand (quote) "Selfishness is a virtue."

While reading The Fountainhead - Make it a point of keeping Rand's philosophy about selfishness firmly in mind. It'll certainly help you to understand more clearly WTF? she's ranting and raving about in this preposterous story about an architect's struggle not to conform and cave-in to a mob mentality.

A very interesting read. You can ignore Rand's philosophy and just focus on her amazing insights into society and the individual.

The story is riveting - one man at odds with society and rampant conformism.

My favorite book

For some reason, just reading the foreword reminds me of my own grandmother. Not sure yet if that's a good thing, but it's certain they've both survived a war and a rebellion and are as tough as nails.

Am looking forward to spending a month analyzing this.