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Definition: Ayn Rand from Dictionary of Pseudonyms: 13,000 Assumed Names and Their Origins

Alisa Zinovyevna Rosenbaum (1905-1982), Russ.-born U.S. novelist, screenwriter. In 1926 Rosenbaum left the Soviet Union for America, renaming herself “Ayn” (rhyming with “nine”) from the Finnish writer Eino Leino (whom she had never read), and “Rand” from the Remington-Rand typewriter that she brought with her.

Rand, Ayn

From Encyclopedia of Modern Political Thought
Ayn Rand's (1905–82) philosophy of rational selfishness, limited government, individualism, and moral capitalism, expressed in her bestselling novels The Fountainhead (1943) and Atlas Shrugged (1957), has been deeply influential on libertarian and conservative thought. Rand's atheism made her a controversial figure among religious conservatives, but many shared her free market views and came to accept her argument that capitalism was a moral system. Although she denounced libertarians for their lack of principles, Rand was a primary inspiration for the 1970s libertarian movement. Her longevity as a popular political philosopher has been remarkable. In 2009, nearly 30 years after her death, Atlas Shrugged sold a record-breaking 500,000 copies and she was embraced by the right-leaning Tea Party movement. Ayn Rand was born in 1905 as Alissa Rosenbaum, the eldest daughter of a prosperous Jewish family in St. Petersburg, Russia. She developed a lifelong hatred of communism when her father's…
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Full text Article Rand, Ayn

From Continuum Encyclopedia of American Literature
Born in Russia, R.'s extreme antisocialist views defined her status as a writer of both fiction and philosophical essays. In her fiction, she elevated the creative, rational egoist to almost godlike stature, notably in her most famous title Atlas Shrugged ( 1957 ). Her rejection of not only…
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Full text Article Rand, Ayn (1905–1982)

From Culture Wars in America: An Encyclopedia of Issues, Viewpoints, and Voices
A novelist-philosopher, Ayn Rand developed a brand of atheistic libertarianism known as Objectivism, emphasizing objective reality, rationalism, heroic individualism, self-interest, and laissez-faire capitalism, boldly declaring selfishness moral. Although Rand's writings have influenced millions, …
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Full text Article Rand, Ayn (1905-1982)

From Encyclopedia of Ethics
The American novelist and philosopher Ayn Rand was born Alissa Zinovievna Rosenbaum in St. Petersburg, Russia. The precocious eldest daughter of secular-minded middle-class Jewish parents, she received a formal gymnasium and college education. Growing to maturity during Russia's Silver Age, the…
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Full text Article AYN RAND 1905–1982

From Big Ideas Simply Explained: The Philosophy Book
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Full text Article Rand, Ayn

From Gale Biographies: Popular People
Ayn Rand (1905-1982) began to form her philosophy of rational self interest, which she called “objectivism,” at an early age. This view became the basis for her immensely popular writings, which included The Fountainhead and Atlas Shrugged . Ayn Rand was born Alice Rosenbaum in St. Petersburg, …
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Full text Article DIRECTORY

From Big Ideas Simply Explained: The Philosophy Book
DIRECTORY
Though the ideas already presented in this book show the broad range of philosophical thought expressed by some of history's best minds, there are many more people who have helped to shape the story of philosophy. Some of these thinkers—such as Empedocles, Plotinus, or William of Ockham—have had…
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Full text Article Rand, Ayn

From A to Z of Women: American Women Writers
Also known as: Alice Rosenbaum; Alisa Rosenbaum (b. 1905–d. 1982) writer, founder of objectivism Ayn Rand's two blockbuster novels, The Fountainhead and Atlas Shrugged , won her millions of fans and made her one of the 20th century's best-selling American authors. At the same time, to a small…
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Full text Article Rand, Ayn

From Encyclopedia of American Literature Full text Article Volume 3
Also known as: Alyssa Rosenbaum (b. 1905–d. 1982) Russian-born American novelist, philosopher Born Alysia Rosenbaum in St. Petersburg, Russia, Rand grew up and was educated in her native country, graduating with honors in history from the University of Petrograd in 1924. When she immigrated to the…
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Full text Article Rand, Ayn

From Britannica Concise Encyclopedia
(born Feb. 2, 1905, St. Petersburg, Russia—died March 6, 1982, New York, N.Y., U.S.) Russian-born U.S. writer. She immigrated to the U.S. in 1926 after graduating from the University of Petrograd and worked as a screenwriter in Hollywood. She won a cult following with two best-selling novels…
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Full text Article Neoliberalism

From Culture Wars in America: An Encyclopedia of Issues, Viewpoints, and Voices
Neoliberalism is, despite its name, a conservative ideology that emerged in the mid-twentieth century for the purpose of applying classical liberalism to modern society. This brand of conservatism is associated with libertarianism and the Austrian school of economics. Classical liberalism, as…
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