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This book has 8 recommendations

Vladimir Oane (Founder/UberVU)

It condenses most of her philosophy in a shorter book, without the intellectual whirlpools Atlas Shrugged is known for. The hero, Howard Roark, is an individualistic young architect who refuses to compromise his artistic and personal vision for success. He chooses to battle the establishment and stand by his values against all odds. The story is simplistic but it serves as a vessel for communicating liberal values like individualism, private property, innovation or capitalism. All of which are foundational traits for any creator (entrepreneur or not).

Bryan Callen (Co-Host/The Fighter and the Kid)

I remember reading Atlas Shrugged and The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand. That's good fodder for a young man. It sets these bold, stark characters - you could even call them Christ figures - and you think to yourself, 'I want to be that'.

Noah Kagan (Founder/Sumo)

A few months ago, I was drinking a Noah’s Mill whiskey (cute) with my good buddy Brian Balfour and talking about life... During the conversation, we got on the topic of books that changed our lives. I want to share them with you. I judge a book's success if a year later I'm still using at least 1 thing from the book.

Ashley Hathaway (Enterprise Product Manager)

Sometimes I want to nerd out and pick a heavy non-fiction book. I was reading The Fountainhead earlier this year which was pretty beefy. Got that checked off the list.

Kevin Lamping (Founder/WebdriverIO)

Any book authored by Ayn Rand is sure to draw up controversy, and *The Fountainhead* is no different. The main character is an unapologetic spirit who shows no interest in compromising his work for the sake of humoring others. That uncompromising attitude, even when it gets him kicked out of school and jobs, is an inspiration when facing the tough career decisions. Do you take the cushy job that will slowly suck the soul out of you, or do you shoot for the moon? Do you make endless small compromises that ultimately degrade the value of the work you do? Or do you stand up for your ideals, even when it draws negative attention? *The Fountainhead* gives a definitive answer to this and a wonderful illustration of the struggles (and rewards) of such a lifestyle.

Cory Zue (Software Developer & Entrepreneur)

Likewise on the non-business side, I feel that what books will resonate with you is so dependent on where you are in life that it’s impossible to declare a favorite. In high school my favorite book was probably Ender’s Game or Catcher in the Rye, in college I went through an Ayn Rand phase and might have said The Fountainhead.

Liquan Liew (Founder/Ripple Root)

Question: What five books would you recommend to young people interested in your career path & why?

Answer:

  • The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand
  • Drawing is Thinking by Milton Glazer
  • How to See by David Salle

Garrett Moon (CEO & Co-Founder/CoSchedule)

As an artist, creator, and someone who frequently finds himself “thinking differently” I love The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand.

Amazon description

This modern classic is the story of intransigent young architect Howard Roark, whose integrity was as unyielding as granite...of Dominique Francon, the exquisitely beautiful woman who loved Roark passionately, but married his worst enemy...and of the fanatic denunciation unleashed by an enraged society against a great creator. As fresh today as it was then, Rand’s provocative novel presents one of the most challenging ideas in all of fiction—that man’s ego is the fountainhead of human progress...

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See more books recommended by

Vladimir Oane, Bryan Callen, Noah Kagan, Ashley Hathaway, Kevin Lamping, Cory Zue, Liquan Liew, Garrett Moon

See more books written by

Ayn Rand

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