Ayn Rand

1905–1982

11 standalone books

Alice O'Connor, known by her pen name Ayn Rand, was a Russian-American writer and philosopher. She was born on February 2, 1905, in Russia, and moved to the United States in 1926. Rand is best known for her philosophical system, Objectivism, and her novels, including The Fountainhead (1943) and Atlas Shrugged (1957). She also wrote plays and published non-fiction to promote her ideas. Rand advocated for reason, rational self-interest, and laissez-faire capitalism, while opposing altruism, collectivism, and the initiation of force. She was critical of most philosophical traditions but admired Aristotle, Thomas Aquinas, and classical liberals. Her work influenced political movements, particularly among libertarians and conservatives, though academic philosophers have largely ignored or rejected her philosophy. Rand died on March 6, 1982.

Born

1905