Ayn Rand

Ayn Rand (1905-1982) was a Russian-American writer and philosopher best known for her novels "The Fountainhead" (1943) and "Atlas Shrugged" (1957). She championed Objectivism, a philosophy advocating rational self-interest and individualism. "The Fountainhead," her first major success, tells the story of an individualistic architect, Howard Roark, and explores themes of integrity and creativity. "Atlas Shrugged," her magnum opus, presents a dystopian United States where private businesses suffer under increasingly oppressive laws. The book's success established Rand as a significant figure in 20th-century literature and philosophy. In 1951, she moved to New York City and continued to write essays and books on her philosophical theories, influencing libertarian and conservative movements.