Book Review - Fountainhead Part I

Fountainhead is probably the most amazingly life and perception changing book there is, at least amongst the ones I have chanced to come across/read. There is so much of exquisite work that my review just never could do justice to it but perhaps I should try. Fountainhead seeks to (with clear success) shatter an inherent thinking that we all have - that no sacrifice is too high for the greater good of mankind. It is very hard to explain but when you read it you realize that perhaps what we had taken for granted for as true isn't quite so right. It shows how every man is selfish and rightfully so. There is no shame in bring selfish - infact the selfless devotion to ones desire is the most pious deed. The notions that we are taught as we grow in this society are not the final word - every man has the right to pursue his happiness and that for Roark in Fountainhead was his work. The desire - be whatever it might be - the ultimate crux of the matter is that there is no principle which is greater than the pursuit of your desire. You are in no way indebted to the society and sacrificing yourself to pay it is hence senseless. The biggest debt you owe is to yourself and to pursue your desire is the only way to repay it. Howard Roark was a talent par exemplar and it is rare to find such people and they when allowed a free hand can unknowingly give to the society that they never took anything from. The fact that these very folks are often sidelined and not even given the recognition that the most undeserving amongst us recieves is sad. There are numerous true stories of geniuses rebuked by the society - well the rebuke is not cared about mostly. But even worse is that it impedes their selfless efforts which will never take anything but give to others.

..to be continued