A review by misspalah
Anthem by Ayn Rand
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.
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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.
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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.
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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.