I was curious to know if anyone here has read the works of Ayn Rand, who wrote Anthem and The Fountainhead. I know of Rand mosty through her influence on Rush drummer/lyricist Neil Peart during the 1970's. Neil wrote lyrics inspired by Rand's novels for songs such as "Anthem" in 1975 and "2112" in 1976. I'm curious as to if she is worth reading or not. :)

I had to read Anthem my junior year in high school. I guess I don't remember how much I really liked it because it was just another book I had to read. I guess it wasn't bad...one of those futuristic, the world has become a **** hole type of stories.

I also became familiar with Ayn Rand through the lyrics of Neil Peart. I really liked her literature because it has the message of the individual vs. society.
When she was younger, she and her family had to flee her native Russia when
the Bolshevik Revolution took over, and she became a lifelong opponent of socialism and collectivism, and formed her own philosophy of Objectivism.

'Anthem' was a very interesting book about a figure living in a futuristic society where all individuality was abolished and total conformity of thought was imposed. Everyone had to think like everyone else. He discovers that he loves a woman of his own choice and becomes a traitor to society when he invents electric light, in opposition to the will of the society's elders. The story was written in the late 30's and served as the inspiration behind Rush's
'2112' storyline.

Rand has a very dramatic tone to her stories and are to be admired for her ideas. Some critics have found her to be a little heavy-handed but she definitely has had an impact on many.

YES AYN RAND IS AMAZING.

If you don't read Ayn you're a loser. JUST SAYIN.