Anthem

by Ayn Rand (Alisa Zinovievna Rosenbaum)

English, published in 1938

19,062 words (55 pages)

Categories: Fiction, Post-1930, Audiobook

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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Average Rating:

2009.03.02
Bits

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.

2008.09.02
Shaun

"...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.

2008.02.22
puru

Ayn rand at her best!!

one cant stop thinking once he/she reads the book

2008.02.03
Michael Traynor

The monologue at the end was incredible. This book made me think.

2007.12.01
Janay

Very good book I can not put it down

2007.10.09
eric

A classic. Written by possibly the founder of modern libertarian / pro-capitalist thought.

2007.09.24
robert

misguided work buy a misguided author

2007.09.07
bea bubu

Very interesting. A visionary in did .

2007.03.27
Pak Nagasing

A must read. Powerful and linger on long afterward. Does it remind you of something religion ? read on.

2006.04.15
Matt

We couldn't put it down.