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About the book “The Fountainhead” by Ayn Rand

Alisa Zinovievna Rosenbaum was born in Russia, but in 1925 she left for the USA. In America, she continued her studies and eventually decided to stay there, receiving American citizenship. It is worth noting the fact that the future writer and philosopher left Soviet Russia. She saw first-hand all the delights of “developing socialism.” Probably, it was precisely this period in socialist Russia that influenced her future work.

Alisa Zinovievna probably personally saw how under socialism a person’s personality, his personal “I” are suppressed, how the government tries to turn all its citizens into a “gray, obedient mass.” Having become a US citizen, she gets the opportunity to develop herself as a writer and philosopher. True, in order to make a name for herself, she had to work hard, because recognition did not come to her right away.

The novel "The Fountainhead" was written under the creative name of Ayn Rand in 1943. The work did not immediately receive positive reviews from critics and it seemed to be invisible and irrelevant to readers. As a result, the novel will become a bestseller.

In the novel “The Fountainhead,” Ayn Rand raises issues such as individualism, talent and genius, which fight against “dullness,” careerism and against the desire to “be like everyone else and not be different from the general mass of people,” and for the sake of the desire to be free in all aspects .

The main character of the novel "The Fountainhead" is Howard Roark. He is an architect by profession, but in life he is a very tough person. For him, freedom means just having your own “I”, going your own way, and not following everyone else. The hero wants to create in his own way individual plan, completely disregarding the opinions of others, and he does not consider it necessary to consult with anyone on any issues. He has a great desire to change the world, but he needs to do it in the way that seems right to him, for himself.

The main character, Dominique Francon, also tries not to change her self. The relationship between Howard and Dominique is quite complicated. They have to encounter a lot of troubles and difficulties in their lives before finding true happiness and knowing love.

Ayn Rand also pays a lot of attention to minor characters in her book “The Fountainhead”. Using their example, the author shows that you can live without showing your “I”, without taking initiative and without fighting for your opinion. Such people live to please other people, ruining their destinies, lives and careers.

In The Fountainhead, there are characters who struggle for identity at the beginning of their careers, but eventually things change for them. They fail. And there is only one reason - the loss or abandonment of one’s self and the pressure of influential strata of society.

Ayn Rand very subtly and skillfully raises the topic of human meanness and baseness, as well as the unscrupulous methods of their activities. Main character Due to the activities of anti-heroes, he falls into a trap; they want to destroy and crush him. And all this is done because Howard is simply envied, envied of his amazing talent and uniqueness. He is helped to confront the world by his beloved girl, Dominique, whose support and care works real miracles.

The book "The Fountainhead" is very fascinating and beautiful. Using the example of all the heroes, you can analyze yourself and your environment. You will definitely find among your friends those who are fighting for a place in the sun and those who are trying to prevent this, trying to make everyone a mere “gray mass”.

The main idea of the novel “The Source” by Ayn Rand is the individuality of each person, the ability to defend their “I”, express themselves and resist the pressure of society. Perhaps, without such skills, neither science, nor art, nor anything will develop. Even society itself will begin to fall apart.

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It is curious that Ayn Rand’s books are published by the publishing house of business literature (and not fiction) Alpina Publisher. In my opinion, the work of Ayn Rand could well be of interest to publishing houses fiction. Although, perhaps, the circulation is at the level of 5-10 thousand copies. nevertheless, these works are made, rather, scientific or business.

I liked “The Source” (as well as “Atlant...”). However, the relationship is still not entirely clear. On the one hand, the plot is exciting, and you want to quickly find out how it all ends. On the other hand, Ayn Rand really torments her heroes... I even have a small but revealing story connected with this.

I was reading a book while on holiday with my family. My 17-year-old son and I took a bunch of books with us. My son finished with his long before the end of the vacation and asked if I had anything available for him (mostly I took business publications with me). I recommended The Source to him. As I thought, the book captured him, and he “swallowed” two volumes in 4 days. And somewhere in the middle of reading, he asks me: “Was Hollywood already there when Ayn Rand wrote her book?” Indeed, in Hollywood stories you won’t find the main characters feeling so bad... I constantly had the feeling that this novel would not end with a happy ending.

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Several quotes from the book and the translator's preface.

If all philosophers were required to present their ideas in the form of novels and dramatize the precise, clear meaning and consequences of their philosophy in human life, there would be a lot fewer philosophers, but they would be much better.

Ayn Rand was interested in philosophical ideas only in the sense in which they affect the real existence of a person. As a philosopher, A. Rand introduced a new moral theory; as a novelist, she skillfully wove it into a fascinating piece of art.

The Russian person was taught from childhood (both under the Bolsheviks and long before their revolution) that the well-being of the community, fatherland, state, people and something else like that is immeasurably more important than his personal well-being, that to achieve personal happiness, regardless of the interests of a certain collective, means to be selfish. And this, of course, is immoral, that is, very, very bad.

Ayn Rand categorically and without any reservations reject the priority of anyone’s interests over the interests of the individual. “I swear on my life and the love of this life,” she wrote, “that I will never live in the name of another person and will not force another person to live in my name.”

Apparently, it is no coincidence that the leaders of totalitarian neo-fascist regimes are popular. And the point is not at all in them as leaders, but in the millions who are lazy in mind and thirsty for the strongest possible power over themselves, since only this strong power, is able to solve all their personal problems without delay and provide the opportunity to satisfy all their baser instincts.

Why is the simple fact of imitation sanctified? Why is anyone right, but not yourself? Why is truth replaced by the opinion of the majority?

He will not allow anyone to achieve what he himself cannot achieve...

– How is it that you can always make a decision yourself?

– How is it that you let others decide for you?

“But you see, I’m not sure, Howard, I’m never sure of myself...”

Why did you decide to become an architect?
- Because I love this land. And I don’t love anything more. I don't like the shape of objects on this earth. I want to change this form.

Keating didn't care about anything as long as he impressed his clients; clients didn't care about anything as long as they impressed their guests; and the guests simply didn’t care about anything.

Keating was right—right in proportion to the number of people who believed he was right.

- Mr. Roarke, I agree with you. There can be no objection to what you say. But, unfortunately, in real life, it is not always possible to be so perfectly consistent. There is always an incalculable emotional, human factor. And we cannot fight it with cold logic.

If something can be achieved, then it is not high; if something can be reasoned about, it is not great; if you can see the whole thing, it's not deep

The mind is nothing but a dangerous evidence of weakness. They say that men begin to develop their intelligence when they fail at everything else. ...

...there was a time when everyone believed that the earth was flat. It would be very funny to speculate about the nature and causes of human errors. Someday I will write a book about this. She won't be popular. It will have a chapter on boards and councils. The fact is that they do not exist in nature.

The one who is most busy with the business, who really works and promotes the business like no one else, has nothing to say to society. They will not listen to him anyway, taking it for granted that he has no right to vote, and his arguments should be automatically rejected, since he is an interested person. And it doesn’t matter what they say, it matters who speaks. It is much easier to judge a person than an idea... The shortest distance between two points is not a straight line, but an intermediary. And the more intermediaries, the shorter the path. This is the psychology of cotton souls... Decency means the ability to stand up for an idea. And this presupposes the ability to think.

It is nonsense that works. You can try to refute reasonable arguments, but how to refute absurdity? You, my dear, like many, underestimate nonsense.

...can there be any sense at all in a person sincerely, with all his heart, striving to do good - despite the fact that good is not given to him? It cannot be that I am a completely worthless person. After all, I rejected everything, left nothing for myself, I have nothing - and yet, I am unhappy. And other women next to me are unhappy. And I don’t know a single unselfish person in the world who would be happy... except you, uncle.

Here is precisely the line that those who receive life second-hand never cross. They don't care about facts, ideas, work. They only care about people. They don't ask: is this true? They ask: Is this what others believe to be true? Not for judgment, but for repetition. Not to do - to create the impression that something is being done. Don't create - show. Not abilities - connections. Not merit - services. What will happen to the world without those who do: think, work, produce? They are all selfish. They don’t think with someone else’s head and don’t work with someone else’s hands. When people don't use their ability to reason independently, they don't use their minds. To stop using reason means to stop life. Those who receive life second-hand have no sense of reality. Their reality is not in them, but somewhere in the space that separates human bodies. They exist not as a real something, but as a relationship between nothing and nothing. I just can’t understand this emptiness in people. This always stops me when I get on a committee. People without their own self. Opinions without any comprehension. Movement without brakes or engine. Power without responsibility. The recipient of life second-hand functions, but the source of his actions is in other individuals. You can't discuss anything with him. It is closed for exchange of opinions. You can't talk to him - he doesn't hear. It's like trying to talk to a chair. A blind, frenzied mass rushes forward, crushing everything without any feeling or purpose. Steve Mallory couldn't identify this monster, but he knew it, and he was afraid of this drooling monster, a man who got his life second-hand.

Source

PREFACE

So, dear reader, in your hands is the second volume of the collected works of Ayn Rand.

The first novel - “We are the Living” - tells about the Bolshevisation of Russia in the 20s. It is attractive to us, Russian readers, primarily because of its objective description of events known to us from numerous other sources. With this novel, Rand fulfilled her duty to the people who remained in Russia and told the world about the “big cemetery” into which her homeland had turned.

The novel “The Source” (in 2 books) is a work of a different order. It more clearly defines the author’s life position and shows the foundations of her philosophy.

However, a lover of exciting reading need not be afraid - there are no boring philosophical discussions in the novel. Despite the impressive volume, the plot is captivating from the first pages and it is very difficult to stop reading without knowing how this or that twist will end. And yet, The Fountainhead is largely a philosophical novel.

Rand said, “If all philosophers were required to present their ideas in the form of novels and to dramatize the precise, clear meaning and consequences of their philosophy in human life, there would be many fewer philosophers, but many better philosophers.” It is not surprising, therefore, that philosophical ideas interested her only in the sense in which they influence the real existence of man. By the way, Rand added to this that people themselves interest her only in the sense in which they refract philosophical ideas in themselves.

As a philosopher, A. Rand introduced a new moral theory, and as a novelist, she skillfully wove it into a fascinating work of fiction. What is the essence of this new morality?

Russian people were taught from childhood (both under the Bolsheviks and long before their revolution) that the well-being of the community, fatherland, state, people and something else like that is immeasurably more important<то личного благополучия, что добиваться личного счастья, не считаясь с интересами некоего коллектива, значит быть эгоистом. А это, конечно же, аморально, то есть очень-очень плохо.

Ayn Rand categorically and without any reservations rejects the priority of anyone's interests over the interests of the individual. “I swear on my life and the love of this life,” she wrote, “that I will never live in the name of another person and will not force another person to live in my name.”

It would seem that everything is simple: live for your own pleasure, achieve well-being for yourself. But what is it, this well-being? Eat deliciously and sleep sweetly? But the fact of the matter is that freedom is not at all necessary for such well-being. Moreover, it prevents you from receiving primitive pleasures from life, forcing you to think, make decisions, take risks and be responsible for your actions, at least to yourself. Apparently, it is no coincidence that the leaders of totalitarian neo-fascist regimes are popular. And the point is not at all in them as leaders, but in millions of people who are lazy in mind and thirst for the strongest possible power over themselves, since only it, strong power, can solve all their personal problems without delay and provide the opportunity to satisfy all their base instincts.

Howard Roark, the main character of the novel, sees his personal well-being in his favorite work and in doing it as he sees fit. He's an architect. He proposes house designs, but society does not accept them. Society demands traditional solutions. However, Roark does not give in to the general trend and, complicating his personal life, fights for his right to creativity. So, maybe he cares about the people who will live in his houses, and for their sake he suffers and suffers?

Howard Roark is an egoist of the highest order. People in his life play a secondary role. He finds personal happiness and well-being in the very process of creation. Not in the name of anyone or anything, but only in the name of yourself! He, like any true creator, does not expect praise and recognition from others. He does not work for their sake and not for the sake of their gratitude. He has already received the highest satisfaction from work in the process of work itself and can endlessly enjoy contemplating the creation of his mind.

“The main purpose of this book,” wrote A. Rand, “is the defense of selfishness in its true sense.” But the author not only defends egoism, she argues that the ego of the individual is the source of human progress.

Ayn Rand's ideas will seem new and controversial to many. We are ready to enter into a discussion with anyone interested. By the way, after the first advertising publication in the newspaper “Book Review” (November 1993), the publishing department of the Association of Businessmen of St. Petersburg received many letters from Russian citizens with requests for books by A. Rand. With the help of these books, Russians hope to gain the ability to withstand life's difficulties and the strength of spirit leading to personal happiness and well-being. We are firmly convinced that Ayn Rand's ideas will help everyone who accepts them with their minds.

D. Kostygin

Frank O'Connor

Part one

PETER KEATING

Howard Roark laughed.

He stood naked on the edge of the cliff. At its foot was a lake. A splash of granite shot up into the sky and froze over the serene water. The water seemed motionless, the rock seemed floating. It felt the numbness of the moment when one stream merges with another - the oncoming one - and both freeze for a moment, more dynamic than the movement itself. The surface of the stone sparkled, generously licked by the sun's rays.

The lake seemed like just a thin steel disk, filigree cutting the cliff into two parts. The cliff went into the depths without changing at all. It began and ended in the sky. The whole world seemed to hang in space, like an island swaying in the void, anchored to the feet of a man standing on a rock.

He stood against the sky, straightening his shoulders. The long straight lines of his strong body were connected by the angles of the joints; even the relief curves of the muscles seemed to be broken into tangents. Hands with palms outstretched hung down. He stood, feeling his squeezed shoulder blades, tense neck and the heaviness of blood rushing to his palms. The wind blew from behind - he felt it as a groove on his back - and ruffled his hair, not blond or brown, but exactly the color of a ripe orange peel.

He laughed at what had happened to him that morning and at what was yet to come.

He knew the days ahead would be difficult. There were still unresolved issues; it was necessary to develop an action plan for the near future. He knew that he had to take care of this, but he also knew that now he would not think about anything, because in general everything was already clear to him, the general plan of action had long been determined and, finally, because here he wanted to laugh.

He just tried to think about all these questions, but got distracted by looking at the granite.

He was no longer laughing; his gaze froze, absorbing the surrounding landscape. His face was like a law of nature - unchanging, inexorable, without doubt. The face was distinguished by high cheekbones over thin sunken cheeks, gray eyes, cold and intent, a contemptuous, tightly compressed mouth - the mouth of an executioner or a saint.

He looked at the granite, which, he thought, would be dismembered and turned into walls, at the trees, which would be sawn into rafters. He saw streaks of oxidized rock and thought of iron ore underground, smelted, it would take on new life, rising into the sky in steel structures.

These mountains, he thought, are here for me. They are waiting for a jackhammer, dynamite and my voice, waiting to be crushed, blown up, split and reborn. They long for the shape my hands will give them.

Then he shook his head, remembering again what had happened this morning and how he had a lot to do. He walked to the very edge of the ledge, raised his hands and dived down.

Having crossed the lake, he climbed out onto the rocks on the opposite shore, where he left his clothes. He looked around regretfully. For the three years since he had lived in Stanton, whenever he could find an hour, which was not often, he would come here to relax: to swim, to rest, to think, to be alone, to breathe deeply. Having gained freedom, the first thing he wanted to do was come here again. He knew that he would see these rocks and lake for the last time. This morning he was expelled from Stanton Institute of Technology's school of architecture.

He pulled on old jeans, sandals, and a short-sleeved shirt missing most of its buttons, and walked along the narrow path among the boulders to the path that ran down the green slope to the road below.

He walked quickly, descending the long, sunlit road with the free and casual grace of an experienced walker. Far ahead lay Stanton, stretched along the coast of Massachusetts Bay. The town looked like the setting for a pearl - a famous institute rising on a hill.

PREFACE

So, dear reader, in your hands is the second volume of the collected works of Ayn Rand.

The first novel, “We are the Living,” tells about the Bolshevization of Russia in the 20s. It is attractive to us, Russian readers, primarily because of its objective description of events known to us from numerous other sources. With this novel, Rand fulfilled her duty to the people who remained in Russia and told the world about the “big cemetery” into which her homeland had turned.

The novel “The Source” (in 2 books) is a work of a different order. It more clearly defines the author’s life position and shows the foundations of her philosophy.

As a philosopher, A. Rand introduced a new moral theory, and as a novelist, she skillfully wove it into a fascinating work of fiction. What is the essence of this new morality?

Editors M. Korneev, S. Limanskaya, E. Pautova

Technical editor N. Lisitsyna

Proofreaders O. Ilyinskaya, E. Chudinova

Computer layout M. Potashkin

All rights reserved. No part of the electronic copy of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any means, including posting on the Internet or corporate networks, for private or public use without the written permission of the copyright owner.

Editor's choice - choice of the editor-in-chief

In my opinion, the best place to start getting acquainted with the work of Ayn Rand is with the novel “The Fountainhead.” Its plot is fascinating and unpredictable, and its philosophical ideas are presented clearly and simply.

Reading “The Source” will help in the future to truly understand the ideas of the novel “Atlas Shrugged,” as well as the philosophical and journalistic books of Ayn Rand.

Alexey Ilyin,

General Director of Alpina Publishers

Frank O'Connor

Preface

Dear reader, in your hands is the first volume of Ayn Rand’s famous work.

The novel “The Source” clearly defines the author’s life position and shows the foundations of her philosophy.

However, a lover of exciting reading need not be afraid - there are no boring philosophical discussions in the novel. Despite the impressive volume, the plot is captivating from the first pages and it is very difficult to stop reading without knowing how one or another of its twists will end. And yet, The Fountainhead is largely a philosophical novel.

As a philosopher, A. Rand introduced a new moral theory, and as a novelist, she skillfully wove it into a fascinating work of fiction. What is the essence of this new morality?

Russian people were taught from childhood (both under the Bolsheviks and long before their revolution) that the well-being of the community, fatherland, state, people and something else like that is immeasurably more important than his personal well-being, that to achieve personal happiness, regardless of the interests of a certain collective, means to be selfish. And this, of course, is immoral, that is, very, very bad.

Apparently, it is no coincidence that the leaders of totalitarian neo-fascist regimes are popular. And the point is not at all in them as leaders, but in millions of people who are lazy in mind and thirst for the strongest possible power over themselves, since only it, strong power, can solve all their personal problems without delay and provide the opportunity to satisfy all their base instincts.

We are firmly convinced that Ayn Rand's ideas will help everyone who accepts them with their minds.

D. Kostygin

Part one

Peter Keating

Howard Roark laughed.

He stood naked on the edge of the cliff. At its foot was a lake. A splash of granite shot up into the sky and froze over the serene water. The water seemed motionless, the rock seemed floating. It felt the numbness of the moment when one flow merges with another - an oncoming one - and both freeze for a moment, more dynamic than the movement itself. The surface of the stone sparkled, generously licked by the sun's rays.

He stood against the sky, straightening his shoulders. The long straight lines of his strong body were connected by the angles of the joints; even the relief curves of the muscles seemed to be broken into tangents. Hands with palms outstretched hung down. He stood, feeling his squeezed shoulder blades, tense neck and the heaviness of blood rushing to his palms. The wind was blowing from behind - he felt it as a groove on his back - and ruffled his hair, not blond or brown, but exactly the color of a ripe orange peel.

He laughed at what had happened to him that morning and at what was yet to come.

He just tried to think about all these questions, but got distracted by looking at the granite.

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