The Fountainhead (Cliffs Notes) [Paperback]

Andrew Bernstein (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0764585584 | ISBN-13: 978-0764585586 | Publication Date: June 20, 2000 | Edition: 1

The original CliffsNotes study guides offer a look into key elements and ideas within classic works of literature. The latest generation of titles in this series also features glossaries and visual elements that complement the familiar format.

CliffsNotes on The Fountainhead explores the modern classic that made Ayn Rand famous. The book carried forth the author’s anti-communist ideals and conviction that individuals should not allow their lives to be dominated in any way by the beliefs of others.

Following the story of architect Howard Roark as he attempts to achieve success on his own terms, this study guide provides summaries and critical commentaries for each part within the novel.  Other features that help you figure out this important work include

• Personal background on the author, including a look at the philosophy she termed “Objectivism”
• Introduction to and synopsis of the book
• In-depth analyses of a broad cast of characters
• Critical essays on the author’s writing style and more
• Review section that features interactive questions and suggested essay topics and practice projects
• Resource Center with books, film and audio recordings, and Web sites that can help round out your knowledge

Classic literature or modern-day treasure — you'll understand it all with expert information and insight from CliffsNotes study guides.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

39 New and Revised Titles. The Best Just Got Better! Plus Glossary from Webster's new world^™ Dictionary Anthem Atlas Shrugged Beowulf Brave New World The Canterbury Tales The Catcher in the Rye The Contender The Crucible The Fountainhead Frankenstein The Grapes of Wrath Great Expectations The Great Gatsby Hamlet Heart of Darkness and The Secret Sharer Huckleberry Finn The Iliad Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl Inherit the Wind Jane Eyre Julius Caesar The Killer Angels King Lear The Lord of the Flies Macbeth 1984 The Odyssey The Oedipus Trilogy The Once and Future King Othello The Outsiders Pride and Prejudice The Red Badge of Courage Romeo and Juliet The Scarlet Letter A Separate Peace A Tale of Two Cities To Kill a Mockingbird Wuthering Heights See inside for the complete line-up of available CliffsNotes! Check Out the All-New CliffsNotes Guides To AOL^®, iMacs^™, eBay^®, Windows^® 98, Investing, Creating Web Pages, and more! More Than Notes! CliffsComplete^™ CliffsTestPrep^™ CliffsQuickReview^™ CliffsAP^™ Over 300 CliffsNotes Available @ cliffsnotes.com Downloadable 24 hours a day Free daily e-mail newsletters Free tips, tricks, and trivia Free online CliffsNotes catalog Free self-assessment tools Freeware and shareware downloads

About the Author

Andrew Bernstein holds a Ph.D. in Philosophy from the Graduate School of the City University of New York. He teaches Philosophy at Pace University in Pleasantville, New York, and at the State University of New York at Purchase. Dr. Bernstein is a speaker for the Ayn Rand Institute and lectures on Ayn Rand's novels through-out the United states.

Product Details

• Paperback: 144 pages
• Publisher: Cliffs Notes; 1 edition (June 20, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0764585584
• ISBN-13: 978-0764585586
• Product Dimensions: 5.3 x 0.4 x 8.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #176,657 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #54 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Literature & Fiction > World Literature > United States > History & Criticism
  • #82 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Reference > Education > Book Notes

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

28 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A huge surprise, July 18, 2000

By 

Michael Raveling (St. Paul, MN USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Fountainhead (Cliffs Notes) (Paperback)

I have read the Fountainhead many times and I was pleasantly surprised by this cliffs notes summary and analysis of the book. It includes a short biography of Ayn Rand but the bulk of the book is spent on detailed going over of Ayn Rand's plot, theme, and characters. It is fascinating to read an intelligent analysis of the characters I love. The gems of the book are the two critical essays; The Literary Integration of the Fountainhead and Ayn Rands Writing Style. This book is written by an Objectivist author and is definately worth buying.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Very Helpful, December 27, 2002

By 

Rick Zuma - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Fountainhead (Cliffs Notes) (Paperback)

Bernstein clears up many misunderstandings or deliberate distortions by unsympathetic critics. Rand's style of writing may be jarring to those who prefer Naturalism. It is worth reading or re-reading Rand with a guide and/or commentary. However, don't deprive yourself of the experience of entering and immersing yourself in Rand's world, which requires reading the novel. Use the guide sparingly as clarification is needed. Unfortunately, Bernstein sometimes refers to future events in chapters not yet read - be forewarned.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Penetrating Insight, November 19, 2007

By 

Ronald W. Satz (Trevose, PA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Fountainhead (Cliffs Notes) (Paperback)

Bernstein provides a penetrating insight to this brilliant novel of ideas. Included are: a brief synopsis, a list of characters, a character map, critical commentaries on each of the four parts (with glossaries of important terms), detailed analyses of the major and minor characters, and an essay on Ayn Rand's writing style. There are even review questions, essay questions, and practice projects. The only complaint I have is that Bernstein doesn't describe the differences between the novel and the movie script--and there are differences. In some respects, Objectivist philosophy is an outgrowth of (and considerable improvement over) Nietzsche's philosophy. Bernstein points out on p. 59 that Rand kept a quote from Nietzsch at the head of her manuscript which says that there is "some fundamental certainty that a noble soul has about itself, something which is not to be sought, is not to be found, and perhaps also, is not to be lost."