Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #694876 in Books
• Published on: 2008-07-30
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 62 pages

Synopsis
Anthem is Ayn Rand's classic tale of a dark future age of the great "We"-a world that deprives individuals of name, independence, and values. Written a full decade before George Orwell's "1984," this dystopian novel depicts a man who seeks escape from a society in which individuality has been utterly destroyed. Rand expertly shows how collectivism (including social programs in the United States) destroys freedom and individuality. Her philosophy is simple: "planning" is a synonym for "collectivism," and "collectivism" is a metaphor for communism and tyranny. This important book should be read by all who are concerned about the role of government in modern life. Newly designed and typeset in a modern 6-by-9-inch format by Waking Lion Press.

Customer Reviews

Better than Orwell, to be sure.
_Anthem_ was the first Rand book I ever read, and introduced me to the author who was to become my favorite. I had already read _1984_ and _Brave New World_ by that time, and I'd say that _Anthem's_ depiction of the triumph of the individual is much more inspiring and intriguing than the above works, and it comes via a very un-Rand-like economy of words. This was, to me, a quite different presentation of her philosophy than her other fiction works.

I was prompted to write this review after reading someone else's review, where _Anthem_ was deemed unoriginal in comparison to Orwell's _1984_. Please note that 1984 was written in 1948, whereas Anthem was written in 1937. Personally, I think they are both good books (but I'd rank Orwell's _Animal Farm_ over _1984,_ and both below _Anthem_).

"I" Loved this book!
The story is right out of George Orwell's 1984, but from a literary standpoint, I was impressed by Ayn Rand's wonderful use of personal pronouns to tell the story. Never seen this anywhere else. The personal pronoun, "I", was not used until the main character "found" himself free of the burdens of the collective society. Imagine writing a book in the first person perspective and not use the word "I"!

This book is easy reading and generates an appreciation of personal freedom and what it is to earn that feeling of freedom. I definitely recommend this book--doesn't take long to read and you may find yourself reading it several times, enjoying it more each time. Enjoy!

Short, but worth it
This is my first Ayn Rand book. Before I read one of the 'big' novels (The Fountainhead, Atlas Shrugged), I might as well get an intro into her philosophy, I thought. To say the least, I got what I wanted. Anthem is an amazing book. Although to say that I agree with her philosophy wouldn't be totally truthful, she gets her point around beautifully. It is an amazingly powerful story with a civilization whose technology is par with the Dark Ages, and all emotion other than happiness is outlawed. My only gripe is the almost pathetic love story, but it's to be expected, since it hasn't been felt that way in hundreds of years. Well worth the 2 days or less it takes to read.