The Fountainhead vs The Web and the Rock: Which Should You Read?
Both live on shelves: Philosophical literature, Romance & Relationships, Fiction
The Fountainhead
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The Fountainhead is a 1943 novel by Ayn Rand. It was Rand's first major literary success and brought her fame and financial success. More than 6.5 million copies of the book have been sold worldwide.
The Web and the Rock
“UP TO THE TIME GEORGE WEBBER'S FATHER DIED, THERE WERE SOME UNforgiving souls in the town of Libya Hill who spoke of him as a man who not only had deserted his wife and child, but had consummated his iniquity by going off to live with another woman.”
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George Webber, a man raised and schooled in the south, moves to New York City where he aspires to become a successful writer, but his ambition is sidetracked when he becomes tragically obsessed with the beautiful,…
Side by side
The verdict
- Ratings are close across the board — any is a safe pick by score.
- The Fountainhead has the widest readership — 341295 ratings behind its score.
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Scores by source
| The Fountainhead | The Web and the Rock | |
|---|---|---|
| Goodreads | 3.9 (341295) | 4.0 (687) |
| Hardcover | 3.7 (7) | 4.0 (2) |
| Apple Books | 4.5 (958) | — |
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Reception
| The Fountainhead | The Web and the Rock | |
|---|---|---|
| Ratings | 341295 | 687 |
| Editions | 61 | 39 |
| Film adaptations | 1 | 1 |
| Want to read | 251792 | — |
| Reading it now | 15814 | — |
| Written reviews | 15879 | — |
| Wikipedia attention | 5171 | 500 |
| Pages | 712 | 695 |
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Questions readers ask
Which is rated higher: The Fountainhead or The Web and the Rock?
The Web and the Rock has the higher combined reader rating across sources (The Web and the Rock 4.0/5, The Fountainhead 3.9/5).
Which is shorter to read: The Fountainhead or The Web and the Rock?
The Web and the Rock is the quickest read. Estimated at 225 words per minute: The Web and the Rock (695 pages, ≈ 12 h 52 m); The Fountainhead (712 pages, ≈ 13 h 11 m).
Which is harder to read: The Fountainhead or The Web and the Rock?
Estimated difficulty, based on era, reader shelves and length — The Fountainhead: Demanding; The Web and the Rock: Demanding.