Ayn Rand (1905–1982) was a Russian-American novelist, philosopher, and playwright, best known for her philosophical system called Objectivism. Born Alisa Zinovyevna Rosenbaum in Saint Petersburg, Russia, she witnessed the Russian Revolution and its aftermath, which deeply influenced her views on politics and individualism. In 1926, she emigrated to the United States, where she pursued a career in writing. Rand gained fame with her novels The Fountainhead (1943) and Atlas Shrugged (1957), both of which advocate for the virtues of rational self-interest, individualism, and laissez-faire capitalism. Her philosophy, Objectivism, emphasizes reason, objective reality, and the moral right of individuals to pursue their own happiness. Though her ideas were often controversial, they attracted a strong following, particularly among libertarians and free-market advocates. Rand's work continues to influence debates on ethics, politics, and economics, and her novels remain popular for their bold celebration of individualism and capitalism.
