joscelynhe's review against another edition
3.0
I actually really enjoyed it. I've read half of The Fountainhead, also by Ayn Rand, and was expecting something similar but instead discovered a story not unlike the style of The Giver by Lois Lowry. It was confusing for a little while in the beginning - due to the wording and lack of singular pronouns. I read this book for my grade 11 English class and I can't wait to discuss themes and aspects of the story that I haven't thoroughly analyzed yet. Would recommend. Enjoy!
mattbeatty's review against another edition
4.0
I enjoyed this. I thought it was a good, captivating read that falls right in line with other dystopic works such as 1984, Brave New World, and even future efforts like The Giver. The story is sparse on detail but expands upon the City enough to be fully believable. It seems more a cautionary tale or a parable than anything, but it ends with hope, and its message it strictly regarding the individual power of man. Perhaps the message is too weightedly anti-collective, but it has its purposes in that it was written 70 years ago.
thomasgoddard's review against another edition
4.0
"I owe nothing to my brothers, nor do I gather debts from them. I ask none to live for me, nor do I live for any others."
If you ever want a good popcorn moment, go read the comment section of an Ayn Rand novel. It's the eye of the storm. Left wing fanatics and right wing zealots duke it out in the most tiresome and dull-witted of confrontations.
The above line is a perfect test of political leaning. If you're left wing you'll read "Selfish" And if you're right wing you'll read "Self-reliant".
I'm no Objectivist and I'm no Socialist. I read it and just think, fair enough. If you're going to live for your own happiness, it is definitely better to do it this way, demanding nothing from anyone else. I guess if you want to be more independent, so long as you're not insisting that others help you or that you get something for nothing, go for it. It's not a great way to live, I'd sooner be a little more plugged into society. But, to each his own.
I don't get what the fuss is about. It's just a writer using an outlandish plot to drive home her opinion that collectivist values can come at a cost of individual freedom. The book is a folk tale in style and substance. The hyperbolic plot isn't proof of her madness. It's a story that aims at extending a political position until it appears as hideous to the reader as she already believed it was.
I actually think that if you take any political position and stretch it out, you'll find it unsettling; or at the very least get a dystopian setting out of it.
This is not a bad novella. I feel, if she'd taken her foot off the pedal, she'd have been a lot better understood and a lot less polarising. Overwrought, that's the word for it. But I liked it enough to overlook its faults.
After finishing it, one thing was absolutely certain... love her or hate her, if you're reacting to her then her ideas aren't going away any time soon.
If you ever want a good popcorn moment, go read the comment section of an Ayn Rand novel. It's the eye of the storm. Left wing fanatics and right wing zealots duke it out in the most tiresome and dull-witted of confrontations.
The above line is a perfect test of political leaning. If you're left wing you'll read "Selfish" And if you're right wing you'll read "Self-reliant".
I'm no Objectivist and I'm no Socialist. I read it and just think, fair enough. If you're going to live for your own happiness, it is definitely better to do it this way, demanding nothing from anyone else. I guess if you want to be more independent, so long as you're not insisting that others help you or that you get something for nothing, go for it. It's not a great way to live, I'd sooner be a little more plugged into society. But, to each his own.
I don't get what the fuss is about. It's just a writer using an outlandish plot to drive home her opinion that collectivist values can come at a cost of individual freedom. The book is a folk tale in style and substance. The hyperbolic plot isn't proof of her madness. It's a story that aims at extending a political position until it appears as hideous to the reader as she already believed it was.
I actually think that if you take any political position and stretch it out, you'll find it unsettling; or at the very least get a dystopian setting out of it.
This is not a bad novella. I feel, if she'd taken her foot off the pedal, she'd have been a lot better understood and a lot less polarising. Overwrought, that's the word for it. But I liked it enough to overlook its faults.
After finishing it, one thing was absolutely certain... love her or hate her, if you're reacting to her then her ideas aren't going away any time soon.
melissabeth's review against another edition
4.0
Initially I was not enjoying this book but once I figured out what it wS about it was very good.
chloesheasby's review against another edition
challenging
dark
reflective
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
cassanreads's review against another edition
dark
reflective
fast-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
3.75
misspalah's review against another edition
4.0
I am the meaning. I wished to find a warrant for being. I need no warrant for being, and no word of sanction upon my being. I am the warrant and the sanction.
.
.
This is my first time reading a book written by Ayn Rand. I can feel that this will not be my last one also. It may not be your usual go to "philosophical fiction" but i would suggest people to try to read and understand where she's coming from. The reviews of this book is so divided that you need to read it to understand which side will you be on. Anthem started with the character called "Equality - 72521". He resides in the world where "we" is the correct pronouns of oneself. He don't know his family as love should be equal among his brothers, The duty to serve is assigned accordingly and he should do it what has been told and he was not special more than his brother, everyone is equal as it is. However, "Equality - 72521" never felt he belonged and always tried to find more, know more and earn more than what he was given. He then discovered "electricity" and decided to face the council known "the world council of scholars" and comes clean about it. Instead of celebrating Equality - 72521's finding, he was shunned and being aware of that he was indeed overstepped boundary that was being outlined accordingly.
.
.
The theme for this book relies heavily on "Collectivism vs Individualism". Collectivism may get things done but sometimes, collectivism caused suppression on the certain individuals that refused to conform to the collective action or purpose. This is what Ayn Rand tried to convey in this book. I may not agree with all the points made by her but i can understand where she's coming from.
.
.
Collectivism does not necessarily means all of it will bring positive outcomes. For example, groupthink. Collectivism can cause groupthink. Groupthink is a psychological phenomenon that occurs within a group of people in which the desire for harmony or conformity in the group results in an irrational or dysfunctional decision-making outcome. At the end of day, excessive of collectivism without any limits or boundaries is the message that Ayn Rand tried to bring in via this book.
.
.
This is my first time reading a book written by Ayn Rand. I can feel that this will not be my last one also. It may not be your usual go to "philosophical fiction" but i would suggest people to try to read and understand where she's coming from. The reviews of this book is so divided that you need to read it to understand which side will you be on. Anthem started with the character called "Equality - 72521". He resides in the world where "we" is the correct pronouns of oneself. He don't know his family as love should be equal among his brothers, The duty to serve is assigned accordingly and he should do it what has been told and he was not special more than his brother, everyone is equal as it is. However, "Equality - 72521" never felt he belonged and always tried to find more, know more and earn more than what he was given. He then discovered "electricity" and decided to face the council known "the world council of scholars" and comes clean about it. Instead of celebrating Equality - 72521's finding, he was shunned and being aware of that he was indeed overstepped boundary that was being outlined accordingly.
.
.
The theme for this book relies heavily on "Collectivism vs Individualism". Collectivism may get things done but sometimes, collectivism caused suppression on the certain individuals that refused to conform to the collective action or purpose. This is what Ayn Rand tried to convey in this book. I may not agree with all the points made by her but i can understand where she's coming from.
.
.
Collectivism does not necessarily means all of it will bring positive outcomes. For example, groupthink. Collectivism can cause groupthink. Groupthink is a psychological phenomenon that occurs within a group of people in which the desire for harmony or conformity in the group results in an irrational or dysfunctional decision-making outcome. At the end of day, excessive of collectivism without any limits or boundaries is the message that Ayn Rand tried to bring in via this book.
savv_thomp's review against another edition
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
dstrong's review against another edition
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
aidan_walker's review against another edition
1.0
First read this book when I was in middle school and thought it was very deep and thought provoking. Read it again a decade later and realized it was a shallow and pathetic critic of socialism. The worst thing the Soviets did was give Ayn Rand an education. What a disgrace this novella and author are.