Everand Logo

Welcome to Everand!

  • Discover millions of ebooks, audiobooks, and so much more with a free trial

    Only $11.99/month after trial. Cancel anytime.

    The Fountainhead
    The Fountainhead
    The Fountainhead
    Audiobook (abridged)8 hours

    The Fountainhead

    Written by Ayn Rand

    Narrated by Edward Herrmann

    4.5/5

    ()

    About this audiobook

    The Fountainhead studies the conflict between artistic genius and social convention, a theme Ayn Rand later developed into the idealistic philosophy knows as Objectivism. Rand's hero is Howard Roark, a brilliant young architect who won't compromise his integrity, especially in the unconventional buildings he designs. Roark is engaged in ideological warfare with a society that despises him, an architectural community that doesn't understand him, and a woman who loves him but wants to destroy him. His struggle raises questions about society's attitude toward revolutionaries. Since this book's publication in 1943, Rand's controversial ideas have made her one of the best-selling authors of all time.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherHighbridge Company
    Release dateMar 1, 2003
    ISBN9781598872187
    The Fountainhead
    Author

    Ayn Rand

    Ayn Rand (1905–1982) wrote the bestselling novels The Fountainhead (1943) and Atlas Shrugged (1957) and founded the philosophy known as objectivism. Born in St. Petersburg, Russia, Rand taught herself to read at the age of six and soon resolved to become a professional writer. In 1926, she left Communist Russia to pursue a screenwriting career in Hollywood, and she published her first novel ten years later. With her next book, the dystopian novella Anthem (1938), she introduced the theme that she would devote the rest of her life to pursuing: the inevitable triumph of the individual over the collective. 

    More audiobooks from Ayn Rand

    Related to The Fountainhead

    Related audiobooks

    Classics For You

    View More
    View More

    Related podcast episodes

    Related articles

    • Article

      Holden Caulfield And The Culture Of Sexual Assault

      Feb 12, 2018

      Since it came out in 1951, The Catcher in the Rye has meant different things to different readers. For some, Holden Caulfield was the rebellious voice of a generation; for many today, he’s a whiny rich kid; for a pair of recent biographers, he’s the

      5 min read

    • Article

      Murcutt’s Mpavilion

      Nov 11, 2019

      Murcutt’s Mpavilion
      4 min read

    • Article

      MPavilion Glenn Murcutt

      Mar 9, 2020

      MPavilion Glenn Murcutt
      7 min read

    • Article

      Five Poems

      Dec 1, 2022

      You have to first Sit in the temple gloom In the mahogany chair & despair. The only glimmer In the temple (being the inlaid bits of The Mother-Of-Pearl shells On the tall, more than humanly tall Chair back, for these These too Are the reputed “Tears

      3 min read

    • Article

      Off The Scale

      Apr 29, 2022

      Off The Scale
      7 min read

    • Article

      Catherine O’donnell

      Aug 24, 2016

      Catherine O’donnell
      6 min read

    • Article

      Surreal Visions With Joel Rea

      Dec 14, 2020

      Surreal Visions With Joel Rea
      5 min read

    • Article

      Anonymous

      Apr 16, 2021

      Not everything grows bitter in time. The raw materials needed to make a simple, hand-painted picture are still available. The more we work the more there is to do, and that realisation has given the purpose to my life. But with each year my disappoin

      3 min read

    • Article

      On Your Bike

      Jan 13, 2022

      On Your Bike
      5 min read

    • Article

      Layering Textures

      Nov 28, 2022

      Layering Textures
      4 min read

    • Article

      David Strickland

      Aug 25, 2020

      David Strickland
      11 min read

    • Article

      Not A Dress Rehearsal

      Mar 16, 2022

      Not A Dress Rehearsal
      10 min read

    • Article

      Painting Buildings In Sepia

      Oct 20, 2023

      Painting Buildings In Sepia
      5 min read

    • Article

      Tom Croft

      Aug 5, 2022

      PORTRAITS FOR NHS HEROES was undeniably one of the defining artistic movements of the pandemic. It was an idea initiated by portrait artist Tom Croft in the first lockdown of 2020, and quickly snowballed into a global movement, reminding us of the po

      5 min read

    • Article

      John Monks

      Oct 4, 2019

      John Monks
      3 min read

    • Article

      Rob Pointon

      Nov 26, 2021

      Rob Pointon
      7 min read

    • Article

      John Divola & Mark Ruwedel

      Sep 4, 2018

      John Divola & Mark Ruwedel
      10 min read

    • Article

      The Juggler’s Wife

      Jun 9, 2020

      The situation in itself is not unique. There was a man who hated his job and wanted a new one. There was a man who was sick of his boring job and wanted an exciting job instead. This man was depressed, but he saw a way out. He thought this way out wa

      24 min read

    • Article

      Take two

      Apr 30, 2023

      Take two
      5 min read

    • Article

      Hidden Works

      May 26, 2020

      Hidden Works
      8 min read

    • Article

      The Two Popes

      Dec 1, 2022

      The Two Popes
      9 min read

    • Article

      Christabel Blackburn

      May 13, 2022

      Christabel Blackburn
      5 min read

    • Article

      Get Building

      Nov 2, 2023

      Get Building
      6 min read

    Related categories

    Reviews for The Fountainhead

    4.5/5

    599 ratings125 reviews

    What did you think?

    Tap to rate

    Review must be at least 10 words

    • 5/5
      The Fountainhead is not so much a novel as it is a treatise on the innate power of the undiluted Self; a trial of society that strips the majority bare and finds them wanting; an anthem to the individual, stoic in the preservation and perseverance of their Self. It’s no stretch to see why Ayn Rand and her work have surpassed mere literature to become a movement. Though it might be more accurate, perhaps, to say that Howard Roark is the source (one could even call him… the fountainhead) of the movement, the infallible and unfaltering integrity of his Self being the movement’s inspiration, aspiration, and very core.To say that Howard Roark is an architect is to say that J.K Rowling is a writer or that Mozart was a composer – technically accurate, but they are all so much more than their profession that to identify them by it alone seems a gross understatement. Nonetheless, Howard Roark is an architect. An architect who designs wholly original, somewhat austere and unnerving buildings that refuse to conform to popular style. An architect who would – and does – endure menial labor, scapegoating, unemployment, ostracism, forfeit of love and happiness, and criminal trial rather than commit even the most minor betrayal of his principles. He is uncompromising, indefatigable, and utterly without self-doubt – and for that, society seeks to destroy him. The Fountainhead is, essentially, Howard Roark vs. the World. (Of course, you have to remember that this is a 694 page book we're talking about, so it's possible I might be over-simplifying a bit. But you get the gist.)Roark’s actions, or in some cases, lack of action, in response to this lifelong conflict showcase him to as the embodiment of Rand’s ideal person – wholeheartedly selfish. The word carries strikingly different connotations as used in The Fountainhead than we’re used to, however. Or rather, its definition is the same – self-centered, un-altruistic, close-minded, unsympathetic – but the implications differ. Where by standard usage ‘selfish’ is an insult, denoting a negative or derogatory personality trait, to Ayn Rand it implies full realization and devotion to the Self, a concept integral to the philosophy she was developing whilst writing The Fountainhead and Atlas Shrugged. Selfishness in The Fountainhead is not a vice, but the greatest virtue. It’s putting the undisguised Self forward as one’s character in society, while simultaneously shielding it from any influence of that society. It’s the refusal to lend any components of one’s Self (thoughts, talents, opinions) to others, thereby protecting their integrity from the corruption of collaboration, which compromises each individual’s contribution. It’s the derivation of self-worth, ambition, and satisfaction from the Self, not entrusted to the fickle favor of the outside world – a world which too often converts admiration into condemnation after the passing of some ambiguous, fluctuating expiration date. Above all, it’s the doctrine that an individual is at their best when living in and of and for themselves.Just as The Fountainhead does not settle for being just a novel, its characters do not settle for being just characters. They become archetypes, vessels of ideas larger than any one characterization or plot function. The ideological intercourse that occurs when the characters interact in various permutations weaves the subtle but sturdy fabric of motives, actions, and pretensions that so thoroughly establishes Ayn Rand’s philosophy. The ideologies behind the archetypes are not so clear, however, that is possible to read The Fountainhead passively. Many of the characters’ personal philosophies become muddled or convoluted at some point or another, requiring the reader to be actively engaged in unraveling them as they read, constantly connecting the dots between actions and the motives they manifest – sometimes contradictory, when characters cannot or will not risk the effort of living up to their beliefs or their Self. The only character, in fact, whose actions and motives are never muddled or counteracted, but remain pure and focused, is Howard Roark – apt, as he is the paradigm of Ayn Rand’s idyllic selfish man, intransigent and unambiguous in the upholding of his principles.I have a feeling that this is one of those versatile books that ought to be read at intervals throughout one’s life, because it's a novel of ideas, and we react differently to ideas depending on myriad variables to do with our personalities, knowledge, and experiences. We'll extrapolate different meanings and understandings from the text with each reading based on what we bring to it. As a college student, my reading instructed me to “go confidently in the direction of my dreams and live the life I’ve imagined*,” but I expect that if I were to read the book again in as few as four years from now I may well take something entirely different away from it. *Quote adapted from Henry David Thoreau.

      1 person found this helpful

    • 5/5
      I honestly don't know where to begin with this one. I've been putting it off for some time. I would go so far as to say I've been experiencing writer's block, all because I've wanted to write about this book, but felt so not up to doing so. It is simply one of the finest works of literature I have ever read. From the preface of the novel, Rand blasts the current condition of "throw-away" novels, books that are disposable and honestly forgettable. I've read many books such as this, and they are stacked on my bookshelves, as if they were some treasure to which I would gleam some future knowledge. She goes further to say that most books now lack the permanence of the 19th century Romantic novel. And this is exactly what I would compare The Fountainhead with. It brings the images of Frankenstein standing resolutely at the North Pole, or Friedrich's Traveler painting and thrusts them into the 20th century. In an earlier post, I talked about the conversation I had with Dr. Pepetone on whether Romanticism was inherently a Conservative movement or not. Of course, this was the beginnings of the thought processes that would turn Romanticism, with those bold characters that would shun society for individual values, to the Political idea of Libertarianism. And this is what Ayn Rand's books have been known for today, namely, being the cornerstone of Libertarian thought. I have wondered, since reading this amazing book, why it was never included in the courses I took on Romanticism and the Byronic hero, since Rourke is one of the best examples of that model in the 20th century. Further, Rourke brings the ideas of Capitalism and Anti-societal thought (marching to the beat of your own drum) together to show why Social Progressiveness is bringing about the downfall of human drive and magnificence. Only once, in the recent past, has society come together to achieve a goal that would truly be considered magnificent. The Moonshot that happened 40 years ago, landing man on the Moon. But I digress. I want to talk about the book itself, not the philosophies behind it. Roarke, and Francone, and the other Protagonists are as finely constructed as the architecture that Roarke builds. In fact, for the most part, every character is molded and shaped as if by an artist skilled in her work like no other. I've never actually read descriptions of characters, as they are usually done poorly. But Rand paints visages that are unique and instantly form on the mind's eye. The descriptions of the settings are likewise, painted with words as eloquent and austere as a slash of a artist's brush would instantly create a world to explore. Each word is essential, every syllable needed to create the world that Roarke lives in. The buildings and even the natural settings become intricate characters in the story. And the love story....ahhh.... it is the best romance (small r) novel I have read, with strength and passion, deception, banter, everything that a master romance novelist would need, except, in this case, you don't just donate it to Goodwill afterward, you keep it on your shelf and read it over and over. It is Jane Eyre and Wuthering Heights written a century later, with the repressed passions and the flashes of desire and lust springing forth. It is truly a work that exalts the human spirit, and makes Pope's declaration of studying man all the more true, as the potential of what man can do on this Earth should shine as brightly now as ever before, and not sink into the mire of Reality Television and the uncaring world of people I see everyday. It's just not fair. People should be better than that. The Fountainhead is a love story about what it means to be human, to shine in all our glory, to the unlimitless potential that we have going forward. I say this because after reading Rand's book, I saw Star Trek, and read Brian Greene's The Elegant Universe. Both deserve blogs in their own time, but suffice it to say that these examples of the unconquerable human spirit only compounds upon Rand's ideas of the individual soul as something that can do anything, from discovering the secrets of time and space itself, to solving the problems of this world without the help of corrupt politicians and unneeded regulations. The only disappointing thing is that there are too few individuals who truly act on those beliefs, and shine like a diamond in mounds of coal. And those that do are, as Rand has shown, are likely to be squashed by a society that only wants to pull those that achieve down into the mire, through the mechanisms that they have created to do so. It is when Othello's green monster becomes Godzilla, and lets no one escape the wrath of the multitudes. But again, I have gotten off track. Read The Fountainhead for the shear exhilaration of the story line, and cheer on the architect Roarke and stand by him as he stands by his principles. Feel the strength of Roarke's physique, the firmness of Francone's stature, and read in sheer rapture as a wonderful love story is built, like a monument, out of the text. Even better, invest in the Audio Book of the story, as the narrator does a fabulous job in making each character come alive. And in this way, you won't miss a word by skimming, and believe me, you won't want to.

      1 person found this helpful

    • 5/5
      Had I read any review of that book before, I would not have picked it up. A book description starting with objectivism, idealism , philosophy and so on in the very first phrase is an obvious killer. I didn't know what to expect and I was hooked in a snap. Love, love, love the book, the complex characters, Ayn R's ability to break down her characters ideals and views into a language that guides the reader into philosophical thinking and doesn't drown him/her in it. It's complex, and yes there are chapters that take some backbone to read through them, but it's worth it and gives the reader that very rare end feeling of having accomplished something and having been illuminated just a little bit by a great MIND.

      1 person found this helpful

    • 3/5
      I'm an admirer of Rand's ideas and writing and I've rated her other novels five stars. Although I certainly find this one worth reading--I like Rand's style and think her ideas are worth considering--I have too many problems with the protagonist of this novel, Howard Roark, to rank this novel highly.First, the reasons I do think this novel worth a read. Rand's ideas are still provocative nearly 60 years after its publication. I can certainly understand how her paean to individualism could appeal, particularly to those trying to set a course in their lives. I actually like Rand's style--lyrical at times, compellingly readable and quotable. Two quotes in particular stand out in my mind. One is the best put down I ever read in fiction. Roark's adversary in the book is Ellsworth Toohey, who has done everything to destroy Roark. After Toohey's done his worst, he asks, "Why don't you tell me what you think of me, Mr. Roark?" Roark answers, "But I don't think of you." Perfect. And not just as a "line" but thematically as well, given the novel is about how a people are the well-spring of their own success and failure and those who try to bring them down ultimately irrelevant. The other quote that springs to mind is telling especially given those who accuse Rand of being Nietzschean. "A leash is only a rope with a noose on both ends." It's a thought of Gail Wynand, one of Rand's most poignant characters in the mold of a Pulitzer or Hearst--a newspaper publisher who sought power and influence by pandering to the public only to find who really has the power when it matters. So yes, parts of the book do speak to me, but then there's the problem with Roark. Two in particular, and here below be spoilers, so be warned.**SPOILERS** The first problem is the infamous rape of Dominique by Roark. Rand said of the scene that if it is rape, it's "by engraved invitation" and a Rand devotee I brought this up to pointed out Dominique never says no. Nevertheless she does struggle, physically resist. If a word is not said, is it because a victim might feel she won't be heard? Dominique herself calls it rape. On the other hand the depiction of the act itself implies a consent in her reactions--so maybe what we have here is just "rough sex." Although I still might find this whole encounter between Roark and Dominque disturbing, I might in those terms give Rand the benefit of the doubt. Although even if I do, Dominque is for me the most problematical and inexplicable of Rand's characters.But then there's Roark's central act in the book--his blowing up of the public housing project. He defends himself in his trial and is said to choose jurors who'd be the kind who are unforgiving, and they acquit him. Problem is I can't acquit Roark, and can't believe the jury, particularly this jury, could have or should have. The deal he made with Keating was unenforceable and Roark knew that when he undertook to design the building. Those who built it certainly never knew the side deal Keating made. And for all that the book depicts Roark as taking care there would be no casualties--well blowing up a building because it didn't hew to his designs? I know Rand is of a romantic rather than naturalistic school but it is still the act of a terrorist, and the acquittal for me strains credibility even in a pre-9/11 world. Indeed, I'd argue the act violates several principles Rand espouses in her books--such as persuasion, rule of law and contract over force. This character and central act is the cornerstone of the novel itself--and it's not one I find sound. So yes, three stars to indicate the novel is worth reading, but in my estimation still deeply flawed.

      1 person found this helpful

    • 2/5
      I'm a fairly sensiible reader, and appreciate allegory and even a little didacticism in fiction. But this novel bored me senseless. Rourk and Keating do not appeal to reader pathos--one character is ideal to the point of elitism and the other so generically corporate that the juxtaposition between the two is predictable and uninspiring--its hard to engage in a character conflict that does not spur imagination. At first, the novel appeared to be about an all-boys club and I was relieved when Dominique arrived, but alas even with the advent of this sulky proto-feminist 'independent' daughter of the big-wig corporate owner, the novel moved painfully slow. The characters' dialog is stilted, and while the omniscient narration is credible, it lacks the sophistication expected in critically exalted work. There is an irritating overuse of "and" throughout.

      1 person found this helpful

    • 5/5
      Among the best books ever written.

      1 person found this helpful

    • 5/5
      When I was in college, I discovered Ayn Rand. I read and enjoyed all the books of hers I could find. This was no exception.

      1 person found this helpful

    • 5/5
      probably the best book i've ever read

      1 person found this helpful

    • 5/5
      One of the most influential books I will ever read. Highly recommended to everyone. It has profoundly influenced how I think about the motivations for my actions. Do I do things because of the happiness or usefulness that they bring to myself, or because of the reactions of others? Rand's definition of selfishness, and her praise of it, struck me like a ton of bricks. A selfish person, Rand says, is a self-sufficient ego. The opposite is a "second hander."

      1 person found this helpful

    • 5/5
      this is one of the first serious novels i ever read. i felt like i had fallen in love. i wanted to crawl into the book & wrap its word around me. it is gorgeous.

      1 person found this helpful

    • 4/5
      Excellent book portraying Ayn Rand's ideas on individualism versus collectivism. Other reviewers have characterized her character dialogue as "leading the reader by the hand", but as a philosophical book, I found it quite helpful. Howard Roark, as the ideal man, still has emotional issues I have disagreement with, but overall the concept of individual effort trumping collective compromise is one worthy of exploration.

      1 person found this helpful

    • 5/5
      One of my favorite books of all time. The Fountainhead's revealation of the motivations of people is unmatched in literature. I also love architecture, so Rand's use of that profession made the book doubly interesting to me. Loved the passion between Dominique and Howard. The only downside is that the book is probably not appropriate for people under 25. It could shape the thinking of anyone who hasn't yet developed strong convictions.

      1 person found this helpful

    • 5/5
      Rated: A-"Just one figure. It will stand here." He pointed to a sketch. "The place is built around it. The statue of a naked woman. If you understand the building, you understand what the figure must be. The human spirit. The heroic in man. The aspirations and the fulfillment, both. Uplifted in its quest -- and uplifting by its own essence. Seeking God -- and finding itself. Showing that there is no higher reach beyond its own form...." (Part Two; Chapter 11)"I was thinking of people who say that happiness is impossible on earth. Look how hard they all try to find some joy in life. Look how they struggle for it. Why should any living creature exist in pain? By what conceivable right can anyone demand that a human being exist for anything but his own joy? Every one of them wants it. Every part of him wants it. But they never find it. I wonder why. They whine and say they don't understand the meaning of life. There's a particular kind of people that I despise. Those who seek some sort of a higher purpose or 'universal goal,' who don't know what to live for, who moan that they must 'find themselves.' You hear it all around us. That seems to be the official bromide of our century. Every book you open. Every drooling self-confession. It seems to be the noble thing to confess. I'd think it would be the most shameful one.""Look, Gail." Roark got up, reached out, tore a thick branch off a tree, held it in both hands, one fist closed at each end; the, his wrists and knuckles tensed against the resistance, he bent the branch slowly into an arc. "Now I can make what I want of it: a bow, a spear, a cane, a railing. That's the meaning of life.""Your strength?""Your work." He tossed the branch aside. "The material the earth offers you and what you make of it...." (Part Four; Chapter 5)

      1 person found this helpful

    • 4/5
      A novel as epic as the architecture it describes! Rand spares the reader no detail as to the life and times of her characters. Drawn into a world of movement and manipulation, the reader discovers the motivations, aspirations and weaknesses of the various characters, each representing Rand's philosophical perceptions of world: the followers and power mongers will fail while the earnest and strong will win. This now defunct view still stands in its historical context and provides an interesting backdrop on thinking's evolution. Rand's symbols are obvious, but solid and consistent. Her rants and preachy dissertations at the end, however, do make the novel unnecessarily long - if the reader hasn't understood her meaning by then, there is no hope! Dominique and Roark's relationship also bothered me: I'm not sure how dominance and power play reinforce Rand's message; surely as soul-mates, these violent games were a bit far-fetched.Overall a compelling political novel which will stay with me for a long time.

      1 person found this helpful

    • 5/5
      everything i hoped it would be. Who but Ayn Rand could write a rape scene with no victim?

      1 person found this helpful

    • 5/5
      This is by far one of my favorite reading experiences to date. The material was provoking, evocative, intelligent, and philosophical. Above all else within this novel is packaged a wonderful story with characters, while archetypes, that manage to feel truly tangible. The Fountainhead is the story of a man fighting for what he believes in. But above that, it's the story of every man who has ever gone against the status quo. It's a story not for the revolutionaries, but for that first man who sparked the change, whatever that change may be. It's an utterly fascinating work of literature and something I believe everyone should read at least once.

      1 person found this helpful

    • 2/5
      Not being a fan of Rand's philosophy, the book was dry, difficult to read, and unforgivingly preachy (for lack of a better word). The theory that you're only considered smart if your listener agrees with what you're saying applies here -- I'll bet others appreciate the book much more than myself.

      1 person found this helpful

    • 5/5
      Somehow Rand manages to mix her philosophy (which is ever-present both underlying the story and expressly dictated occasionally by her characters words & actions with one heckuva story that spans a world collapsing and the fight of people of action to maintain the status quo, and eventually their realization they don't have to. To say too much more may give it away, but this is a fascinating character study whether you're talking about Galt, Taggart or any other of the characters here. Even the throwaway sections of the books, presented to paint a more clear picture clearly have a rich, imagined backstory that could spring further to life given time. Fantastic book, philosophy aside. Of course if you severely dislike Rand's theory of the world, it is quite likely you may experience an allergic reaction to this novel as it is quite emphasized...Important note (spoiler but not really): somewhere in the last third of the book there's a ~50 page segment where Ayn Rand pauses the story and more or less summarizes her philosophy for those who weren't paying attention throughout the first 2/3rds of the book. If you're reading for philosophical or educational purposes slog through it. However, I read it once and would recommend skipping it for anyone primarily here for the story.

      1 person found this helpful

    • 2/5
      Sometimes tedious, but mostly absorbing, this is a great book to find your way into the writing of Ayn Rand.
    • 5/5
      Superb book and wonderful narration of this story. Highly recommend.
    • 4/5
      While I think most all of Rand’s views on politics are absurd and lacking in basic human empathy, she is, unfortunately, a good novelist.
    • 1/5
      Armchair Philosophy, no regard understanding the of human condition .
    • 5/5
      It’s just incredible. The choice of characters, the style of writing, and the romance. At the end of the book I felt with ever character.
    • 5/5
      It felt too real ,journey of a creator climbing a steep wall without relying on anyone
    • 5/5
      I could relate with Rand's Howard Roark at almost all levels - professional, spiritual and at my most fundamental make-up as an individual and what I believe in and stand for.

      At the end of it I could gather the most important question I've probably asked myself in a very long time - What represents my existence, and what does my existence mean to that which I do?

      Strongly recommended.
    • 5/5
      A phenomenal testament to the honor of the true individualist.
    • 5/5
      I could never really get myself to reading this book, although I tried to, I couldn’t focus.

      Ever since I played this audiobook two days back I just couldn’t stop. Every time I paused to attend a chore, I would look forward to getting back and listening to it again. I am so glad to have found it! Many many thanks to the Narrator/reader who has made it such a good experience.

      This was my first audiobook, I am sure this is the first of more to come!

      Thank you so much!
    • 5/5
      Beautifully read book! Easy to listen to and very engaging.
    • 3/5
      Ive loved this book since 7th grade and read it several times. This was the first time I listened to it and they cut SO MUCH OUT! Like wow! I'm so upset! still a great listen but man, I didnt know they cut books, I thought it only happened to movies! I'm now wondering if my hard cover copy is a special edition ?.
    • 4/5
      i really liked how the characters were developed and described. I felt like I could see these people reacting and talking. it is a bit of an odd story but well worth the read, especially if you're the type to cheer for an inderdog.