The Fountainhead

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Ayn Rand

Plume, 1994; originally published 1943, English

Fiction

ISBN: 9780452273337

The struggles of brilliant young architect Howard Roark locked in a conflict between creative genius and social convention, a theme that author Ayn Rand would later develop into an idealistic philosophy known as Objectivism.

On 5 book lists

Michael Bierut

On Michael Bierut’s Book List

The designer as hero. (See also Learning from Las Vegas.)

Chip Kidd

On Chip Kidd’s Book List

A bit obvious, and more than a little embarrassing, this book nonetheless truly made me reevaluate what it means to be a designer, at a crucial time in my life (late college). It is NOT to be taken as gospel, but more as a cautionary tale of megalomania. Plus, as a soap opera it’s pretty hard to beat.

Deborah Sussman

On Deborah Sussman’s Book List

My husband, Paul Prejza, said, “Are you really sure that you want to recommend this book?” Judge for yourself.

Stanley Tigerman

On Stanley Tigerman’s Book List

I read The Fountainhead when I was 13 years old in 1943, put it down and decided to become an architect. One may question Rand’s politics, even the ideology of the self, but her gripping tale of an architect unapologetically motivated my prepubescent psyche.

Adam Tihany

On Adam Tihany’s Book List

Driven, brilliant, stubborn, and self-destructive—who could ask for more?

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