The Fountainhead

By: Ayn Rand

Narrated by: Christopher Hurt

Length: 32 hrs and 5 mins

Publisher's summary

One of the 20th century's most challenging novels of ideas, The Fountainhead champions the cause of individualism through the story of a gifted young architect who defies the tyranny of conventional public opinion. The struggle for personal integrity in a world that values conformity above creativity is powerfully illustrated through three characters: Howard Roarke, the genius who is resented because he creates purely for the delight of his own work and on no other terms; Gail Wynand, the newspaper mogul and self-made millionaire whose power was bought by sacrificing his ideals to the lowest common denominator of public taste; and Dominique Francon, the devastating beauty whose desperate search for meaning has been twisted, through despair, into a quest to destroy the single object of her desire: Howard Roarke. Dramatic, poetic, and demanding, The Fountainhead remains one of the towering books on the contemporary intellectual scene.

©1943 The Bobbs-Merrill Company; 1968 Ayn Rand; 1993 Leonard Peikoff (P)1994 Blackstone Audio Inc.

Critic reviews

"Ayn Rand is a writer of great power. She has a subtle and ingenious mind and the capacity of writing brilliantly, beautifully, bitterly." ( New York Times Book Review)

Story might be old, but still applies today 100%

By the end of this book, you'll wish that you had more in common with Howard Roark, and less in common with Peter Keating. However, if you're like me, you'll realize you're in fact way more Peter than you wish to admit to yourself.

This book deals heavily with sacrifice. What it means to sacrifice. What it means to give your all to something and dedicate 100% of your being to it. It sounds boring, but I found it to be quite insightful into the cognitive dissonance of society. What is "good" what is "selflessness", what are the responsibilities of every man?

Amazing

Timely and as applicable in the 21st century as when it was written. This work should be read before Atlas Shrugged to fully appreciate the author’s message and to appreciate her follow on work. Very well done in audio form.

ESSENTIAL book for all, amazing Narrator

Absolutely loved this book! The narrator was perfect and the philosophical message in Ayn's writing brought me an inner peace such that I haven't experienced. This book is an essential listen for all men (and women) who struggle with self confidence or knowing their path in life. I am going to recommend this to all of my friends!

Narrator

The story is amazing. Though the narrator of this version is overly monotone. Lacking the ability to bring each character to life. In this version all characters sound the same. Making it hard to distinguish them apart.

Has changed my life several times.

Between The fountainhead and Atlas shrugged, I have made a complete transformation in my life and I would recommend to anyone who wants an example of what life could and should be to read this book.

Great Read

Loved it, Ayn Rand is a great read and ahead of her time. Recommended to everyone.

Philosophical Tome set as Fictional Novel

Where does The Fountainhead rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

The audio production is fairly decent. The reader is good, and provides the perfect intonation for these emotionless characters. Most important gripe about it is the breaks of Chapters. While the author technically does announce "Chapter 8," it's done almost like Mr. Subliminal, you're on to the change of topic without realizing it happened.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Howard Roark, by process of elimination. Wouldn't want any of the characters as acquaintances.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Heck no!

Any additional comments?

This was my first Ayn Rand experience. It was curiously fascinating all the while wondering why I cared to keep going. In the end, it was clear that the whole intent of the book was to espouse her philosophical stance, and disguise that in the form of a novel with cardboard cutouts for characters.

Great Book

Has everything I loved in Atlas Shrugged. A great story with philosophy and romanticism spun in. Definitely worth the credit!

Loved it

It's still applicable for thought provocation in our current global political climate. it also give plenty of insight valuable to those struggling with career and social decisions.

Good read for my favorite book

This is my first time listening to the book but not my first reading it. The performance is great, the book is inspiring and overall it was well worth my audible credit.