About this title: A novel about a man who lives in the dark ages of the future, in a loveless world where it takes courage to love the woman of his choice and pursue knowledge. Writing in opposition to the collectivist sentiments of modern times, Rand sought to illustrate the threats to human liberty inherent in social notions of altruism and charity, and in ANTHEM she creates a picture of an entire world sunk into barbarism through a misplaced sense of social obligation.
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Description: Signet D1985 1961 1st printing paperback CONDITION: VERY GOOD, interior a little toned & spine somewhat slanted or rolled o/w a nice copy of an older paperback. read more
Binding: Mass-market paperback
Publisher: New American Library (A Signet Book), New York
Date Published: 1961
Description: Very good. No dust jacket as issued. 15th printing. Very minor edgewear. P.O. 's name written at top of flyleaf. edges beginning to tan due to age. One vertical crease on front cover(along corner of spine). Binding is tight. 123 p. 18 cm. A Signet book; D1985.. Copyright, 1946; first printing, September, 1961. read more
Description: Very Good. 0451191137 Mass Market Paperback, Condition: Very Good; this book is in very good condition with light curve to the spine / light reading creases to the covers. read more
""Anthem" is a story about the Dark Ages of the future. It is a terrifying tale of what may become of man kind and, in turn, its consequences. Ayn Rand paints a beautifully haunting world, rarely using any descriptive notes. The book is in the form of a diary of a man. A man who says "we" rather than "I" and "they" in place of "him." A man named Equality 7-2521, for those are the types of names given to people in this future. Like everything else in this world, names like these are given so no one feels superior to anyone else. The future is about unity; how everyone is taught to be exactly the same as everyone else. This is the lesson that Equality 7-2521 must learn as he grows up in this disturbing way of life. The story begins with Equality 7-2521 writing in his diary, talking about the sins he has committed. The sins of writing words that are against the law to write, stealing away to have a few moments to oneself, thinking different thoughts than the rest of his "brothers." This is where Rand sets the tone of the book, sending chills up my spine at the mere thought of not being able to be, in the slightest way, different. Equality 7-2521 talks about his life: about how he always had questions to ask, but the teachers didn't answer them because you weren't suppose to ask questions; how he always learned much faster than other students, but no matter how hard he tried to beat it, he could never forget the knowledge; and how his he shared a bedroom with many men, and nothing decorated the walls save for white paint. Equality 7-2521 graduates from his class, dreaming of nothing but becoming a scholar so he could continue to learn, but when he meets with the Council he is assigned to be a Street Sweeper. And so Equality 7-2521 takes the job. Soon after he comes across a forgotten grate in the street and goes down it. Many problem arise from this hide-away, but the worst of all, in this world, was that Equality 7-2521 started to learn things he was not meant to. He discovers something that our world now uses commonly, but in the future is lost, only to be found again by Equality 7-2521. Ayn Rand's description of this object is perfect. She describes it in a way so that I understand what it is, but in the manner of a man that's never seen anything like it. (No, I'm not going to tell you what it is.) This item, despite all its majesty, gets Equality 7-2521 in the most trouble yet, and not only does he flee the world he's grown up in, but he is forced to leave behind the Golden One, the woman he loves. He gave her this name, though it is against the law to give anyone a name superior to others, because she is special to him. She is different than everyone else. While Equality 7-2521 walks through the forest, putting his past behind him, he finds his own future. Of course I'm not gonna tell you what happens in the forest! You've gotta read it for yourself, which you really should. I enjoyed this book so much because it made me think. I loooooove deep books! It really made me think about everything man has done and how without people that you can't stand, those people who think they're smarter than you, or better than you, we wouldn't have this world; our world. The only flaw in this book, if you could even call it a flaw, is when you first begin to read it. Equality 7-2521 says everything in "we" form, leading you to believe there's more than one of him. I was confused, majorly. But I don't really believe this is a flaw because I think without this "we" confusion, I wouldn't have focused as much on the book. That the fact she even used "we" is perfect because it shows you how odd that world is. This book=perfection. And that's pretty much it."
"Quick read with a lasting impression. Released over a decade before George Orwell's '1984', this is Rand's objection to the idea of Socialist unity and embraces the idea of the human ego and individualism.
Rand herself described this story as a poem, and is able to enforce her philosophy of 'objectivism' without the long winded novel (Atlas Shrugged, anyone?)
Although her writing in 'Anthem' is more transparent then her norm, the book still captivates and makes it's point."
"I didn't know what to expect of Ayn Rand. When I was young, her books were considered rather risque. Today I see them mentioned in libertarian blogs. I decided to see what they were all about, and ordered every title I could find. Anthem is a short work of speculative fiction set in a post-Apocalyptic world. Rand, who left the Soviet Union as a young woman, had experienced the sacrifice of the individual to the collective will at first hand. An easy read reminiscent of the Star Trek episode about Landru and of Soylent Green -- or perhaps I should say that they are reminiscent of Anthem, since Anthem was published in 1938."
"Futuristic society that doesn't recognize individuals -- everyone's name is "Equality" followed by a number. Cute, huh? One day, Equality-some-number-or-another stumbles across a cave with books in it and discovers the word "I" and immediately realizes what it means even though his cultural and linguistic backgrounds have in no way equipped him to understand but whatever, it's a novella and Rand doesn't have time. Anyway, now Equality-### has an "I" and so he lives in the cave forever and is free. The end.
This book is really, really stupid. Everything subtle and interesting about Rand's ideas is stripped away to get at the crux, which is a really boring crux. Soviet Communism sucked, in extremely general ways! Individuals! Are awesome! Rah!"
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