"My happiness is not the means to any end. It is the end. It is its own goal. It is its own purpose." ― Ayn Rand, Anthem Anthem has long been hailed as one of Ayn Rand's classic novels, and a clear predecessor to her later masterpieces, The Fountainhead and Atlas Shrugged. In Anthem, Rand examines a frightening future in which individuals have no name, no independence, and no values. Equality 7-2521 lives in the dark ages of the future where all decisions are made by committee, all people live in collectives, and all traces of individualism have been wiped out. Despite such a restrictive environment, the spark of individual thought and freedom still burns in him--a passion which he has been taught to call sinful. In a purely egalitarian world, Equality 7-2521 dares to stand apart from the herd--to think and choose for himself, to discover electricity, and to love the woman of his choice. Now he has been marked for death for committing the ultimate sin. In a world where the great "we" reign supreme, he has rediscovered the lost and holy word--"I." A True Classic that Belongs on Every Bookshelf!

In her dystopian novella *Anthem*, Ayn Rand presents a haunting vision of a future devoid of individuality and personal freedom, set in a collectivist society where the word "I" has been obliterated from existence. The narrative follows the journey of Equality 7-2521, a rebellious individual who discovers the power of self and the concept of personal identity. Rand's lyrical prose and philosophical undertones make for an engaging exploration of objectivism, positing the inherent value of the individual against the backdrop of a conformist society, ultimately advocating for the pursuit of one's own happiness and purpose. Ayn Rand, a Russian-American writer and philosopher, crafted *Anthem* during a time of great political upheaval in the early 20th century, influenced by her own experiences of totalitarianism in Soviet Russia. Her commitment to individualism and capitalism is evidenced throughout this novella, reflecting her belief that society should foster rather than suppress personal achievement and ambition. Rand's philosophical insights resonate deeply, revealing the tenets of her objectivist philosophy through her protagonist's journey of self-discovery. *Anthem* is highly recommended for readers interested in political philosophy, individualism, and the critique of collectivism. Its succinct narrative and profound themes make it an essential read for anyone seeking to understand the complexities of personal freedom and the importance of the self in a world often bent on conformity.

Ayn Rand discusses the lies of social progressivism and how seemingly virtuous ideals like altruism degrade society into a morass of self-imposed slavery. Rand also explains why capitalism is so important, and how America has largely given up on core principles like freedom and individual liberty to appease the communistic tendencies of intellectuals and politicians. According to Rand, the strong supporting the weak doesn't benefit the weak, but impedes everyone and leads only to a failed society.Excerpts:"Capitalism does not tell men to serve and sacrifice but to produce and profit. Capitalism does not preach passivity, humility, and resignation, but independence, self-confidence, and self-reliance. Above all, capitalism does not permit anyone to expect or demand, to give or to take that which is unearned. [...] Most people still lack the courage to realize that capitalism, real, free, uncontrolled, unregulated, laissez-faire capitalism, not the mongrel mixed economy we have today, was the ideal social system, which mankind had almost achieved, then lost.""Businessmen are a cheerful, benevolent, optimistic, predominantly American phenomenon. The essence of their job is the constant struggle to improve human life, to satisfy human needs and desires -- not to practice resignation, surrender, and worship of suffering. Here is the profound gulf between businessmen and altruism: businessmen do not sacrifice themselves to others. If they did, they would be out of business in a few months or days. They profit. They grow rich. They are rewarded as they should be. This is what the altruist, the collectivist, and other sundry humanitarians hate the businessmen for, that they pursue a personal goal and succeed at it."

AYN RAND BOOK

In 1962 Ayn Rand accepted an invitation to write a weekly column for the Los Angeles Times. The column became enormously popular, covering a wide variety of topics: from the welfare state to freedom of speech to foreign policy to the death of Marilyn Monroe. Unlike so much “journalistic commentary — which is stale and irrelevant just days, or hours after it is written — virtually nothing of hers becomes outdated,” explains editor Peter Schwartz in his introduction. “Her perspective is that of a grand historian whose time frame is the centuries and whose function is to explain the world by reference to universal truths.” Every book by Ayn Rand published in her lifetime, including Atlas Shrugged, The Fountainhead, and The Virtue of Selfishness is still in print, and hundreds of thousands of copies are sold each year—so far more than thirty million. Several new volumes have been published posthumously. Her vision of man and her philosophy for living on earth have changed the lives of thousands of readers and launched a philosophic movement with a growing impact on American culture.

The Objectivist Newsletter is a 224-page volume that contains penetrating, philosophical dissection of events and ideas dominating our culture. Among its contents: an elucidation of the two political issues with which the practical fight for freedom should begin; a moving tribute to Marilyn Monroe; illuminating reviews of books by authors as diverse as Victor Hugo and Mickey Spillane; and replies to questions about Objectivism in the "Intellectual Ammunition Department."