CliffsNotes on Rand's The Fountainhead (Cliffsnotes Literature Guides) 1st edition by Bernstein, Andrew (2000) Paperback

by Andrew Bernstein

The original CliffsNotes study guides offer a look into key elements and ideas within classic works of literature. The latest generation of titles in this series also features glossaries and visual elements that complement the familiar format."CliffsNotes on The Fountainhead" explores the modern classic that made Ayn Rand famous. The book carried forth the author's anti-communist ideals and conviction that individuals should not allow their lives to be dominated in any way by the beliefs of others.Following the story of architect Howard Roark as he attempts to achieve success on his own terms, this study guide provides summaries and critical commentaries for each part within the novel. Other features that help you figure out this important work includePersonal background on the author, including a look at the philosophy she termed "Objectivism"Introduction to and synopsis of the bookIn-depth analyses of a broad cast of charactersCritical essays on the author's writing style and moreReview section that features interactive questions and suggested essay topics and practice projectsResource Center with books, film and audio recordings, and Web sites that can help round out your knowledgeClassic literature or modern-day treasure -- you'll understand it all with expert information and insight from CliffsNotes study guides.

Genres: Philosophy, Fiction, Reference

Paperback

First published June 6, 2000

About the author

Andrew Bernstein is an American philosopher. He is a proponent of Objectivism, the philosophy of Ayn Rand, and the author of several books, both fiction and non-fiction.

Reviews

[Kelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this because I wanted to better understand an author who is distressingly influential on current U.S. politics... but I didn't want to waste the time or brain cells on the actual book. It took me weeks to read this little book because I'd throw it at the wall every few pages. I hate everything about it. The protagonist is the original Mary Sue special snowflake, and that's supposed to be what we all strive for. Barf.

Giving the Cliffs Notes 3 stars because it seems to be a decent overview of a bad book, though perhaps overly fawning. I would have liked more criticism (in the literary sense) and less repetitive synopsis.

[Fred Kohn · Rating 1 out of 5]

Astonishingly bad. I'm frankly flabbergasted that a reputable organization like CliffNotes would allow this to be published under their name. Bernstein is a philosophy professor. Possibly he knows something about literature. The two pages he spend discussing this book as literature were pretty good, and I wish he had devoted some of the additional 119 to the literary techniques of Ayn Rand instead of talking incessantly and repetitively about how wonderful Ayn Rand's philosophy is. I laughed when I saw Bernstein define collectivism as "the theory claiming that an individual exists solely to serve society, and that he possesses no right to his own life." But things became more serious when Bernstein defines Nietzsche's philosophy as "certain superior men [are] beyond the traditional precepts of good and evil, and [have] the right to seek power over others." It is scary to think that a philosophy professor would mistake Hitler's distortion of Nietzsche's philosophy for what Nietzsche actually said.

[CA Ram Melam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Provided great insights to understand the novel of Ayn Rand, The Fountainhead.

[Sreedevi]

It was good.... philosophical .... people who want to be unique can read this :)