mitch5000's review against another edition
5.0
Greatly exceeded my expectations. Amazing book.
“There is nothing to take a man’s freedom away from him, save other men”
“There is nothing to take a man’s freedom away from him, save other men”
will_cherico's review against another edition
adventurous
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
1.5
The novella that laid the groundwork for Ayn Rand’s Objectivism is one that can only be described as “Orwell for stupid people.” She’s a competent writer and understands pacing well, but the meat of the story is so dumb. Rand seems to believe that the worst thing that can happen to people is losing their individuality, and while I agree that’s a serious danger of authoritarian rule, the premise Rand puts forth is such a laughable one that it’s hard to see the book as something other than a satire of the very libertarian ideals it’s trying to promote. The man character openly expresses disgust for blue collar workers, relief on the realization his romantic partner is 17, and fails to realize that his plan for putting the I back into society at the end of the book involves rewarding his friends despite their lack of contribution to his new society, something he rails against the dictatorship for doing. Rand’s own personal biases shine in at certain moments that come off as funnier than anything. On the same page that the narrator declares that “we should choose new names” to his lover, he immediately tells her what hers will be. It seems that in our hero’s new utopia, women will still be considered less than equal to men. That’s not even beginning to mention how thirsty the protagonist is for himself, constantly reiterating how hot he is every time he catches a glimpse of himself in the mirror or reflection of a lake as a very subtle way of Rand proposing that libertarians are hot and cool and smart while socialists are stupid and ugly.
Just listen to 2112 by Rush.
Just listen to 2112 by Rush.
lackaaadaisical's review against another edition
challenging
dark
hopeful
informative
inspiring
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
giu28's review against another edition
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
schenkelberg's review against another edition
2.0
Its weird, I remember really liking this book in high school - but now, as I'm preparing to teach it in a high school classroom, I'm finding myself really not enjoying this book at all.
It has interesting ideas, and there's a lot I can do with this material, but I'll probably be teaching it in a way that encourages students to challenge the views and principles expressed. lol
It has interesting ideas, and there's a lot I can do with this material, but I'll probably be teaching it in a way that encourages students to challenge the views and principles expressed. lol
readhikerepeat's review against another edition
4.0
From The Book Wheel:
Oh, Ayn Rand – you get me every time. Here’s the thing – I like her books. I don’t necessarily agree with her politics and I certainly don’t agree with some of her extreme views, but I do like her stories. Like them or not, they are thought-provoking and entertaining. If you extract Paul Ryan from the equation, her books are actually informative and (gasp!) not going to harm you if you read them. They are, ultimately, just stories. And, Anthem was no exception.
At its core, this book pits collectivism against individualism. Set far in the future, Anthem takes place in a post-individualistic age where everyone works for the greater good of everyone else. There is no individual achievement and there is certainly no higher learning for just a few people. The basic gist of the book is that one person (Equality 7-2521) decides to break the mold and seek knowledge on his own. Chastised by his “friends” (everyone is equally friendly), Equality 7-2521 defies the laws and begins to learn.
In classic Rand style, Equality 7-2521 faces a few common dilemmas that tend to show up in all of her novels. He meets a woman that makes him question everything about himself, is chastised for his individual knowledge, and is forcibly exiled by society for failing to follow the collectivist traditions (this is a time when the word “I” is punishable by death). And, of course, the reader is left asking themselves whether working for the common good is noble or stifling.
For the full review, click here.
Oh, Ayn Rand – you get me every time. Here’s the thing – I like her books. I don’t necessarily agree with her politics and I certainly don’t agree with some of her extreme views, but I do like her stories. Like them or not, they are thought-provoking and entertaining. If you extract Paul Ryan from the equation, her books are actually informative and (gasp!) not going to harm you if you read them. They are, ultimately, just stories. And, Anthem was no exception.
At its core, this book pits collectivism against individualism. Set far in the future, Anthem takes place in a post-individualistic age where everyone works for the greater good of everyone else. There is no individual achievement and there is certainly no higher learning for just a few people. The basic gist of the book is that one person (Equality 7-2521) decides to break the mold and seek knowledge on his own. Chastised by his “friends” (everyone is equally friendly), Equality 7-2521 defies the laws and begins to learn.
In classic Rand style, Equality 7-2521 faces a few common dilemmas that tend to show up in all of her novels. He meets a woman that makes him question everything about himself, is chastised for his individual knowledge, and is forcibly exiled by society for failing to follow the collectivist traditions (this is a time when the word “I” is punishable by death). And, of course, the reader is left asking themselves whether working for the common good is noble or stifling.
For the full review, click here.
kaleidoscopekai's review against another edition
2.0
i’m going to write what is probably a controversial take. I liked this book. ish.
I didn’t know who Ayn Rand was before i picked this up and frankly i wish i didn’t. i hate pretty much everything she stands for, and when it comes down to the philosophy behind this book i wholeheartedly disagree. I don’t think the answer to freedom is total death of a community. I also don’t think that socialism equates to totalitarianism, as she seems to be linking the two.
based on the writing alone i would give it four stars. however, i don’t like the ableism or the sexism, or the general messages/themes of the book.
i’m going to give it two stars because while i like the writing style and the general plot of the book (especially the exploration of personal pronouns), i not only disagree with the morals of the story but i don’t even think she did it well. Everything the main character learns by himself was gained from a previous collective. And if the collective is so bad and evil, why aren’t the books and the tools his predecessors used condemned as well. He didn’t invent electricity, he rediscovered it. There’s a difference.
I didn’t know who Ayn Rand was before i picked this up and frankly i wish i didn’t. i hate pretty much everything she stands for, and when it comes down to the philosophy behind this book i wholeheartedly disagree. I don’t think the answer to freedom is total death of a community. I also don’t think that socialism equates to totalitarianism, as she seems to be linking the two.
based on the writing alone i would give it four stars. however, i don’t like the ableism or the sexism, or the general messages/themes of the book.
i’m going to give it two stars because while i like the writing style and the general plot of the book (especially the exploration of personal pronouns), i not only disagree with the morals of the story but i don’t even think she did it well. Everything the main character learns by himself was gained from a previous collective. And if the collective is so bad and evil, why aren’t the books and the tools his predecessors used condemned as well. He didn’t invent electricity, he rediscovered it. There’s a difference.
sfernma'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.