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Ayn Rand (Set Of 2 Books) is a set of two titles, namely Atlas Shrugged and The Fountainhead, by Ayn Rand. Summary Of The Books Ayn Rand (Set Of 2 Books) contains two of Ayn Rand’s fictional works titled Atlas Shrugged and The Fountainhead. Atlas Shrugged, considered to be Rand’s magnum opus, is an extensive work that furthers her philosophy of Objectivism. Set in the United States, it presents a dystopian future where society’s brightest and most productive minds keep disappearing mysteriously, leaving the economy weak and vulnerable. The protagonist, Dagny Taggart, who runs a railroad company is intrigued and alarmed by these inexplicable occurrences. As it turns out, the disappearing citizens are being led on a strike by a man named John Galt to protest against the dominance of the government and its denial of the rights of the individual. They wish to demonstrate that if individuals are enslaved by society and deprived of their rights to create, then civilization is certainly doomed. The book was published in 1957 in the United States. It received both praise and criticism. Its popularity and sales increased consistently over the decades after its release. The book has been adapted for film and television. The Fountainhead presents a dystopian future where the essence of the individual has been stamped out to make room for the establishment of the collective. The protagonist is Howard Roark, a young architect who refuses to compromise his individuality by succumbing to convention. Even in the face of certain obscurity and unswerving opposition, he chooses to practice a form of architecture that goes against every established tradition. His choice of individuality over convention hurts him at every turn, even putting him on trial for supposed incompetence and fraud. But, his brand of independence and integrity, and a strong refusal to embrace the mediocre see him display the true spirit and supremacy of man. Apart from Roark’s struggle against convention, his romance with Dominique Francon is also central to the plot. His complex relationships with the various characters in the book explore the author’s philosophy of Objectivism. The book was first published in May 1943. It received mixed reviews upon its release. It went on to bring Rand much commercial success and fame. The book has sold more than 6.5 million copies globally. A film based on the novel was released in 1949. Ayn Rand (Set Of 2 Books) was released in 2011 by Penguin Books India. About Ayn Rand Ayn Rand was a Russian–American novelist, screenwriter, playwright, and philosopher. She was also the the founder and developer of a complete philosophical system called Objectivism. She wrote several pieces of fiction as well as non-fiction. Her literary works include Anthem, The Virtue Of Selfishness, The Fountainhead, We The Living, Philosophy: Who Needs It, and Atlas Shrugged. Her writing furthered her philosophy of Objectivism. It garnered extremes of praise and criticism. Human achievement, reason, and egoism were the common themes in her writing. Rand was born on February 2, 1905, in Saint Petersburg, Russia. She graduated as a History major from Petrograd State University. A trip to America to visit her relatives left her highly impressed and desirous of staying there permanently. She supported herself by taking up various jobs. She married actor Frank O’Connor in 1929. Rand passed away on March 6, 1982.