Anthem
#783 of 2,654 all-time
Anthem
Ayn Rand
8 people recommended it in 8 threads, 2008–2024.
What people on Hacker News said
While I think it's a pinch silly oversimplification of things, it makes good arguments against central planning and for individuality and liberty.
It really struck a chord in an impressionable 16 year old.
I loved Anthem in spite of its anti-government bullshit because of my libertarian side but my socialist side overrides all of it and that's where my criticism of her lies.
My first Rand exposure was Anthem, which I thought was interesting if a bit contrived (I read it as the same age as The Giver, felt The Giver was more relatable).
Like Anthem it's Sci-Fi for grade schoolers, worth mentioning because a lot of people were introduced to Sci-Fi with books like this.
Where it comes up
- Ask HN: What's the "best" book you've ever read? 2024 · 1 recommendation
- Ask HN: Books you read in 2022 and recommend for 2023 2022 · 1 recommendation
- Ask HN: What book changed your life? 2022 · 1 recommendation
- Ask HN: Mind bending books to read and never be the same as before? 2020 · 1 recommendation
- Ask HN: What books changed the way you think about almost everything? 2019 · 1 recommendation
- Ask HN: Which book are you reading these days? 2015 · 1 recommendation
- Ask HN: What was the latest book you read? 2009 · 1 recommendation
- 32 Sci-Fi novels that you should add to your reading list 2008 · 1 recommendation