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Anthem
Anthem
"A dystopian fiction novella by Ayn Rand, first published in 1938. It takes place at some unspecified future date when mankind has entered another dark age as a result of the evils of irrationality and collectivism and the weaknesses of socialistic thinking and economics."--Wikipedia
Book Excerpt
hey reach
their fifteenth year. Then they go to work.
In the Home of the Students we arose when
the big bell rang in the tower and we went
to our beds when it rang again. Before we
removed our garments, we stood in the
great sleeping hall, and we raised our right
arms, and we said all together with the
three Teachers at the head:
"We are nothing. Mankind is all. By the grace of our brothers are we allowed our lives. We exist through, by and for our brothers who are the State. Amen."
Then we slept. The sleeping halls were white and clean and bare of all things save one hundred beds.
We, Equality 7-2521, were not happy in those years in the Home of the Students. It was not that the learning was too hard for us. It was that the learning was too easy. This is a great sin, to be born with a head which is too quick. It is not good to be different from our brothers, but it is evil to be superior to them. The Teachers told us so, and they frowned when they looked upon us.
So we fought against thi
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In Anthem, Ayn presents us with a "futuristic" fable that fails to deliver anything except her objectification of humans. Supposedly, altruism, caring and sharing and the other best human traits have destoryed society when "clearly" the rich should simply have been allowed to eat the poor.
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A cross beteeen science ficton and current events.
01/21/2012
Thought provoking and enjoyable read.
10/09/2011
A touching story of self-doubt, mental suffering and self-discovery!
08/26/2011
I wish this could be read by all HS students!
I did not find the resolution predictable, it could have gone any number of ways, and I hung on for the ride all the way. The character speaking as he did in his 'society' was very moving.
Recommended to any age person!
I did not find the resolution predictable, it could have gone any number of ways, and I hung on for the ride all the way. The character speaking as he did in his 'society' was very moving.
Recommended to any age person!
08/23/2011
Wonderful story, only reason i'm not getting it is because i've read it about six times
04/06/2010
This is an interesting read (I almost wrote screed :-).
Most of the prose is written in first person plural, which makes for lyrical and quaint sentence constructions that sound nearly biblical in their peculiarity. The character(s) are likable and admirable. The plot is mostly pleasant and predictably standard science fiction: misunderstood hero rises above circumstances to find love and truth.
The biggest flaw in the book is the philosophical false dilemma presented in the last two chapters. Rand describes two possible human societies: one based on grey socialistic uniformity and the other of prismatic individuality. The book would have been more interesting if there had been more options that were presented, and in a more nuanced way.
Most of the prose is written in first person plural, which makes for lyrical and quaint sentence constructions that sound nearly biblical in their peculiarity. The character(s) are likable and admirable. The plot is mostly pleasant and predictably standard science fiction: misunderstood hero rises above circumstances to find love and truth.
The biggest flaw in the book is the philosophical false dilemma presented in the last two chapters. Rand describes two possible human societies: one based on grey socialistic uniformity and the other of prismatic individuality. The book would have been more interesting if there had been more options that were presented, and in a more nuanced way.
03/02/2009
"...I have lived in the City of the damned, and I know what horror men permitted to be brought upon them."
A wonderful tale of the triumph of the human spirit.
A wonderful tale of the triumph of the human spirit.
09/02/2008
Ayn rand at her best!!
one cant stop thinking once he/she reads the book
one cant stop thinking once he/she reads the book
02/22/2008
The monologue at the end was incredible. This book made me think.
02/03/2008