Anthem
Books | Fiction / Classics
3.4
(1.6K)
Ayn Rand
Anthem is Ayn Rand’s classic tale of a dystopian future of the great “We”—a world that deprives individuals of a name or independence—that anticipates her later masterpieces, The Fountainhead and Atlas Shrugged.They existed only to serve the state. They were conceived in controlled Palaces of Mating. They died in the Home of the Useless. From cradle to grave, the crowd was one—the great WE.In all that was left of humanity there was only one man who dared to think, seek, and love. He lived in the dark ages of the future. In a loveless world, he dared to love the woman of his choice. In an age that had lost all trace of science and civilization, he had the courage to seek and find knowledge. But these were not the crimes for which he would be hunted. He was marked for death because he had committed the unpardonable sin: He had stood forth from the mindless human herd. He was a man alone. He had rediscovered the lost and holy word—I.“I worship individuals for their highest possibilities as individuals, and I loathe humanity, for its failure to live up to these possibilities.”—Ayn Rand
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More Details:
Author
Ayn Rand
Pages
272
Publisher
Penguin Publishing Group
Published Date
1995
ISBN
0451191137 9780451191137
Ratings
Google: 4
Community ReviewsSee all
"Read this for school, and I was pretty impressed. Takes a bit to get used to the lack of the word “I” for almost the entire book. But the writing is still pretty good for comprehension. You also know that EVERYTHING Rand is writing is for a purpose. A English’s teachers dream. The world is interesting. The political criticism and rhetoric at the end of the book is fascinating. I also liked reading a dystopian book that didn’t make me feel depressed the entire time. All in a all a good read with a really nice ending. 4/5 stars. "
"I think I read this all in one sitting. It’s a super quick read, more of a short story really, but a very efficient and evocative bit of dystopian fiction. Its main theme is the concept of collectivism versus individuality, and how sacrificing one for the other can have such grave repercussions. What do we live for? What does equality really mean, and how can we strive for it in a way that truly does justice to humanity? How can people be capable of putting certain mechanisms in place in the name of fairness and compassion, but actually be committing the greatest evil against the soul of the individual? I think this book is written beautifully and brings up so many ideas worth pondering. Sobering read. Ignorance is not bliss. "
B B
Beatriz Blair
"I love this book! Super quick and the overarching concept (which I can’t explain without ruining the book) is a cool one. "
K C
Katherine A Cisewski
"This is the least appealing book I've ever read. It's structured terribly,the characters a flat and lacking in any personality. The romantic interest in the book feels off and like she was written by a 1950s man despite being written by a woman. It's clear Rand,as usual was more interested in writing a political manifesto than a real story. "
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