Anthem

By: Ayn Rand

Narrated by: Paul Meier

Length: 2 hrs and 28 mins

Publisher's summary

Ayn Rand's classic best seller, Anthem, is the unforgettable tale of a nightmarish totalitarian future and the ultimate triumph of the individual spirit. First published in 1938, and often compared with Orwell's 1984 and Huxley's Brave New World, this beautifully written story has introduced millions to Rand's provocative worldview.

Rand's Protagonist, Equality 7-2521, describes a surreal world of faceless, nameless drones who "exist through, by and for our brothers who are the State. Amen." Alone, this daring young man defies the will of the ruling councils and discovers the forbidden freedoms that prevailed during the Unmentionable Times. In other words, he finds and celebrates the power of the self. In doing so, he becomes the prototypical Rand hero, a bold risk-taker who shuns conformity and unabashedly embraces egoism.

This exciting dramatization features an electrifying performance by veteran actor and former BBC Drama Repertory Company member Paul Meier. It is certain to be the definitive recording of Anthem and a milestone in audio interpretation of literary classics.

Public Domain (P)2002 HighBridge Company

Impressive work and performance

Ayn Rand’s grasp of the concept of collectivism as an engulfing threat to the heroic spirit of man is beautifully illustrated in this short novel. This will the kind of work that marks someone’s consciousness. The narrator, Paul Meier, was very compelling and bright the work to life. The emotion, enunciation, and tone he brought into this project was perfect. Thank you Atlas Society for this offering. Thank you Audible for allowing me access to this piece here.

The best narration of this title, by far!

If you’re looking for the best audio version of Anthem, this is the one. Paul Meier’s performance is captivating and no other version available does this story justice. An added bonus is that this version is presented by The Atlas Society, which works to share the ideas of Ayn Rand with future generations.

Ayn Rand one of the best

I'm a big Ayn Rand fan. Anthem is one of my favorites. This is not a long story but has so much about our culture written in it. The truly amazing thing is many of the things she writes about did not exist at the time it was written, but many of the technology, governmental, and societal concepts and ideas are true today. Just another one of Ayn Rands "Wake Up Call" books.

Awesome!!

One of the best Novellas I've ever read. Truly inspiring!! The music added so much to the story, I just love it!!

Powerful and important in our time.

I'm not a follower of Ayn Rand's philosophy, however this small and poignant book has remained with me since I first read it 21 years ago as a sophomore in high school. I've read Atlas Shrugged. I've read The Fountainhead. Much of her work seems plodding and bogged down in tome-like parables of miserable people trying to elevate themselves by finding ways to do miserable things to other miserable people. This is not the case in Anthem. In fact I often wish she'd just left her exploration here.

Like many others, I've felt that for much of the past decade, America has lived under a shroud of darkness and ruled by the politics of fear. The dissenting opinion, so vital to our survival as a species has been stamped out by the boot of like minded individuals who seek to serve the lowest common denominator of our thinking society and elevate mediocrity to the norm. In doing so, the creative spirit has been replaced in our schools with the need to pass tests that serve not to expand knowledge, but to ensure that the knowledge of the many is passed on. All avenues for creative exploration are cut first in an attempt to balance budgets. No Arts. No Humanities. No athletic competition. What will allow our children and our future to have pride in individual accomplishment? Human beings need the opportunity to develop self esteem not through the daily ablutions of sycophantic parents, but through individual achievement.

This is intended to be a review, not a rant. This book is as important and powerful today as it ever was, perhaps more important.

The narration is top notch. If the goal of theatrical elocution is to take the words that are written and speak them as the true words of a living breathing person, Paul Meier succeeds with mastery and aplomb. He inhabits the words as they inhabit his soul, making us feel the narrators spirit and transformation throughout his journey. Bravo Mr. Meier. Bravo!

Awesome!!! Must read

This is a great book. This should be mandatory reading for all Americans. The writing is colorful and passionate, the narrator brought this book to life.Chapter 11 was very dramatic and you could feel the characters pain. It was one of the best audio books I have listened to. Highly recommended.

the best production of this available

This is by far the best production of this that you can get. Rand is a genius. If you haven't discovered her, this is a very good starting point. And the narration, music, everything about how this production is put together is simply perfect.

Individual....

Bureaucrat or bungling idiot? "We" or "I"? I was rooting for our hero in his quest for happiness...foiled at many turns. Only an idiot would miss the individualist theme of this book.

Amazing Insight

This book is a depiction of the way people today view society. When a select few choose to turn from the collective, they are outcasts. Oh how true this book is.

A must-listen!

This is one of the very few books I prefer on audio. Some passages literally took my breath away. Fantastic story, perfect narration.