kala_ramie's review against another edition
mysterious
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
bertwagner's review against another edition
4.0
Ayn Rand was born in Russia and moved to the United States in 1926 at the age of 21 after the Communists had disrupted her family life. She founded the philosophy of objectivism whose main goal is the pursuit of personal happiness. It rejects altruism and religion in favor of rational thinking.
The book, “Anthem” serves as a simple and brief introduction to this philosophy. It chronicles the journey of Equality 7-2521 from a collectivist communal mindset (the worship of WE) into understanding that he is an individual with individual talents and wishes (the worship of I) who is beholden to none. He impresses a woman, Liberty 5-3000, who follows him. Their name changes to Prometheus and Gaea, respectively, foreshadow their future. The contrast between the Adam and Eve story in Genesis (pleasing God) and the ending of this book (pleasing man) are indicative of Rand’s atheism.
Nevertheless, it serves as a grave warning about an over encompassing government that crushes individuals in favor of the collective.
The book, “Anthem” serves as a simple and brief introduction to this philosophy. It chronicles the journey of Equality 7-2521 from a collectivist communal mindset (the worship of WE) into understanding that he is an individual with individual talents and wishes (the worship of I) who is beholden to none. He impresses a woman, Liberty 5-3000, who follows him. Their name changes to Prometheus and Gaea, respectively, foreshadow their future. The contrast between the Adam and Eve story in Genesis (pleasing God) and the ending of this book (pleasing man) are indicative of Rand’s atheism.
Nevertheless, it serves as a grave warning about an over encompassing government that crushes individuals in favor of the collective.
simon_reads03's review against another edition
5.0
This is up there with one of the best books I’ve ever read. Really, in complete honesty, I can’t explain how much I loved and cherish this. Never in my life have I read a scripture that has spoken to me this much.
Anthem tells the story of Equality 7-2521, a man living in an unspecified future where the world and society has gone back to the dark ages. Everything modern is gone. Candles and workflow, as well as a sense of artificial and enforced unity rules this new world. There is no individualism, no freedom, no “I” or “me”, only “we”. Everyone is assigned a job, and everyone is expected to die by 40. It is the way it is, but Equality 7-2521 has a calling, a passion for knowledge, a thirst for more. He dares to overcome, dares to love, dares to create.
Truly, truly spectacular. I’m taking this book with me everywhere I go. This was sufficient, brilliant, moving, captivating, EXTREMELY thought-provoking, and to be quite honest, a gospel. I am so glad I got my hands on this and will be rereading it frequently. Personally, this was a masterpiece, and I recommend it if you like dystopia, philosophy, and/or have a thirst for knowledge, just like the narrator does. Golden medal, throne-worthy.
Anthem tells the story of Equality 7-2521, a man living in an unspecified future where the world and society has gone back to the dark ages. Everything modern is gone. Candles and workflow, as well as a sense of artificial and enforced unity rules this new world. There is no individualism, no freedom, no “I” or “me”, only “we”. Everyone is assigned a job, and everyone is expected to die by 40. It is the way it is, but Equality 7-2521 has a calling, a passion for knowledge, a thirst for more. He dares to overcome, dares to love, dares to create.
Truly, truly spectacular. I’m taking this book with me everywhere I go. This was sufficient, brilliant, moving, captivating, EXTREMELY thought-provoking, and to be quite honest, a gospel. I am so glad I got my hands on this and will be rereading it frequently. Personally, this was a masterpiece, and I recommend it if you like dystopia, philosophy, and/or have a thirst for knowledge, just like the narrator does. Golden medal, throne-worthy.
jeaninesmith1962's review against another edition
5.0
Reading this in 2023 has led me to many different thoughts and questions. The use of pronouns in the novel compared to the new modern use of pronouns today - are we moving forward or backward? Are we embracing individual identity or losing it? So many thoughts…
mortalthanos's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.0
Awakening of human. Why did a man forget to live for himself. He lives to serve his brothers. A dystopian world where every human is put into a stream based on the will of the elders. They say this is the way for a successful society but the hero defies the laws of the society. He is the change that the world needed. Ayn Rand expresses the joy of the hero when he realizes the pleasure of living for himself. The feeling is something that no men in the dystopian world experienced.
Nevertheless, the character development is not too strong and at time it feels abrupt. For example, how the hero finds the light? Why does the hero doesn’t go back to the society but he wants them to come to join his “paradise”? Why does he say his partner what she should do as this defies the principle of individualism.
It is an mediocre introduction to Ayn Rand which will setup the stage to understand her philosophy nakedly without any fluffs.
Nevertheless, the character development is not too strong and at time it feels abrupt. For example, how the hero finds the light? Why does the hero doesn’t go back to the society but he wants them to come to join his “paradise”? Why does he say his partner what she should do as this defies the principle of individualism.
It is an mediocre introduction to Ayn Rand which will setup the stage to understand her philosophy nakedly without any fluffs.
noi_izora's review against another edition
informative
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Very good story and warning. Very short, I finished it in 2 days. (About 90 pages of story) The author did a great job of giving so much detail in so few pages.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Forced institutionalization
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship
Minor: Pregnancy
nevermore94's review against another edition
3.0
This book is very different and requires a certain type of reader. I dont really agree with Ayn Rand's philosophy but I can appreciate her creativity and ideas. In a world where no one has a name but a number and knowledge is forbidden and yet love finds room to blossom and knowledge is again exposed. This book is a pamphlet of theory of knowledge ideals but still very enjoyable.
noah_durnell's review against another edition
dark
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
cveti's review against another edition
dark
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
aapueoreads's review against another edition
2.0
2.5✨
Man…I read this book in high school and remember really enjoying it! But I just spent this morning listening to it as an audiobook and I really can’t remember why I liked it so much.
I usually really enjoy dystopian novels, but I seriously for the life of me, can’t remember why I liked this so much in high school…
The concept is interesting, but I just couldn’t follow the story very well because it seemed to jump all over the place and I just was uninterested for most of the time…
Man…I read this book in high school and remember really enjoying it! But I just spent this morning listening to it as an audiobook and I really can’t remember why I liked it so much.
I usually really enjoy dystopian novels, but I seriously for the life of me, can’t remember why I liked this so much in high school…
The concept is interesting, but I just couldn’t follow the story very well because it seemed to jump all over the place and I just was uninterested for most of the time…