The Life of Ayn Rand

October 2007 marked the 50th anniversary of the publication of Ayn Rand’s novel Atlas Shrugged, of which an estimated 6 million copies have been sold. To celebrate the anniversary, the Atlas Society held a conference to discuss Rand’s philosophy and the impact of the book. The panelists talked about Ayn Rand’s life, writing, and impact in academia. They also responded to questions from members of the audience. Nigel Ashford moderated.

Anne Heller is the author of a forthcoming biography Ayn Rand and the World She Made. Mimi Gladstein is the author of Atlas Shrugged: Manifesto of the Mind, published by Gale, The New Ayn Rand Companion, a revised and expanded edition published by Greenwood Press and Feminist Interpretations of Ayn Rand, published by Pennsylvania State University Press. close