Finished reading 'We the Living' and 'Anthem', bought 'The Fountainhead'
Posted by stadler178 10 years, 5 months ago to Books
'We the Living' was a hard book to read for me, but it felt very real. I really felt like I understood what living in the USSR was like for people after reading it. The ending really pulled the rug out from under me, though. I honestly expected things to happen quite differently. I'm trying to avoid spoiling it for people who haven't read it and don't know the story...which can't be many people in the Gulch, though, right?
I also acquired 'Anthem' at a bargain price and found it to be one of the best short books I've ever read. I think of 'Fahrenheit 451' as another good, short read that was deeply engaging. 'Anthem', though, was a personal story for me, because I felt like I lived it, with my cult experience. I discovered books in much the same way as Prometheus does, and found myself devouring them voraciously in the time since I got out. Still haven't invented a light bulb yet...
The unfortunate thing was that as I was reading 'Anthem' one night over the past weekend, two guys were trying to force their way into my home. They were apparently so drunk they couldn't figure out which building they lived in. Tried explaining it in English and Spanish and they seemed to think it was a joke. (I'm only assuming it wasn't a straight-up break-in attempt because they were using their keys instead of their feet to kick in the door.) It was very upsetting, since I was there with my wife and two small kids. I'm a pretty gentle person and not very big or strong, so I figure maybe if the cops hadn't gotten there sooner, who knows what would've happened? It's the second time this year some drunk person or persons has come up to our door at an obscenely late hour.
It really ruined an otherwise decent day. We were at the thrift store earlier and I was thrilled to see a copy of 'The Fountainhead', which I acquired for 60 cents. I didn't expect any of Rand's books to be there, so it was a welcome surprise.
I started reading it right there in the store. But I've yet to seriously dive into it. I hope it's awesome.
I'm expecting to venture into the Objectivist philosophy a bit more once I'm done, maybe start with 'The Virtue of Selfishness'. I don't know. I've been exploring life and I've found that Objectivism seems significantly aligned with what I want from my own life.
Well...keep on Galtin', people.
I also acquired 'Anthem' at a bargain price and found it to be one of the best short books I've ever read. I think of 'Fahrenheit 451' as another good, short read that was deeply engaging. 'Anthem', though, was a personal story for me, because I felt like I lived it, with my cult experience. I discovered books in much the same way as Prometheus does, and found myself devouring them voraciously in the time since I got out. Still haven't invented a light bulb yet...
The unfortunate thing was that as I was reading 'Anthem' one night over the past weekend, two guys were trying to force their way into my home. They were apparently so drunk they couldn't figure out which building they lived in. Tried explaining it in English and Spanish and they seemed to think it was a joke. (I'm only assuming it wasn't a straight-up break-in attempt because they were using their keys instead of their feet to kick in the door.) It was very upsetting, since I was there with my wife and two small kids. I'm a pretty gentle person and not very big or strong, so I figure maybe if the cops hadn't gotten there sooner, who knows what would've happened? It's the second time this year some drunk person or persons has come up to our door at an obscenely late hour.
It really ruined an otherwise decent day. We were at the thrift store earlier and I was thrilled to see a copy of 'The Fountainhead', which I acquired for 60 cents. I didn't expect any of Rand's books to be there, so it was a welcome surprise.
I started reading it right there in the store. But I've yet to seriously dive into it. I hope it's awesome.
I'm expecting to venture into the Objectivist philosophy a bit more once I'm done, maybe start with 'The Virtue of Selfishness'. I don't know. I've been exploring life and I've found that Objectivism seems significantly aligned with what I want from my own life.
Well...keep on Galtin', people.
First is my belief that life is sacred--not in the religious sense of the word, but...taking a life is a probable result of having to use a firearm. I don't know that I can handle that kind of power or accept the full consequences of it.
Second, I don't really have the resources to get one anyway, and even if I did at some point, I'd still have to get a proper means of securing it so the kids couldn't access it. I'd also have to be sure of what the law is in my area as far as that's concerned. I'll just call a lawyer to ask about that if I start leaning towards buying one.
Thing is, in that situation, those two guys certainly didn't deserve to die because they were at the wrong door. I would never be able to shake the doubts about it if it had come to violence.
I wouldn't rather trade my life for theirs, though. So from that perspective...it's easier to justify to an extent.
I often told myself I didn't want to live in a world where I would have to take a life just to preserve my own. But the hard truth is, I live here as a sort of result of others making that choice for me, putting their lives at risk so I could be free.
...Well, if I were to do that, I'd also have to get considerable training so I could make proper use of a weapon; no point having it otherwise. All of that is expensive, too.
I'll fight for my life, but I have a strong dislike of guns and killing in general. Maybe not every scenario would come to that, of course. I guess it's something I'll have to give serious thought to, whether I decided to acquire a weapon or not. I just want to be sure that I feel right about whatever I do.
Or...spring for a pump shotgun, sans the shells. There is nothing more attention getting, then the sound of racking a 12 gauge.
Even a drunk's self preservation instincts kick in at that sound....
http://www.theboxotruth.com/docs/bot33_3...
I agree with you about getting 'close and personal' trying to use the more common handheld taser. That could backfire real quick!
what cult?
The Fountainhead is wonderful. Dominique sure makes things hard on herself!
I think you will enjoy the Fountainhead very much. "The Virtue of Selfishness', is a fine piece of work and infuriates some because of the title alone! After I read AS and the Fountainhead I read "Philosophy: Who Needs It". That was long ago and since then I have read almost everything credited to Rand. I loved Anthem. It is the book I like to start newbies on. In all of my studies of other philosophers, her work is vastly underrated. I have investigated all of the notables and find great wisdom particularly in the ancient Greeks and the enlightenment period, but Rand pulled the best from them together into a modern perspective.
Sounds like you need to install a trap door on your front porch... Myself... I would stand to the side of the door with a 12 gauge shotgun and announce through the door as much!
Happy reading!
O.A.
I'm about 2/3 through Fountainhead right now. interested to hear what parts strike you and what impressions you get while reading - please share!
Sorry to hear about the drunks.
I'm nearly finished reading (Roark should be on trial any page now) and I think what I love most about the book is that it gives me insight into John Galt. I was never that impressed with Galt- most of his actions and personality are described through others in AS. But Roark is Galt, and now I understand why Dagny chose him :)