Deepen your understanding of Ayn Rand’s life-serving philosophy by studying Dr. Leonard Peikoff’s systematic presentation of the ideas.

Ayn Rand was one of the most influential and, according to polls, inspiring writers of the 20th century. In her bestselling novels The Fountainhead and Atlas Shrugged, she illustrated her philosophy of reason, rational self-interest, and individual rights—a philosophy she later called Objectivism. She spent the final decades of her life applying Objectivism to all manner of cultural and political issues but, despite her stated intention to publish a systematic overview of the entire philosophy, she never did.

That job was left to Rand’s longtime student and friend, philosopher Leonard Peikoff, whose Objectivism: The Philosophy of Ayn Rand (OPAR) provided the first comprehensive explanation of Rand’s Objectivism.

The job of philosophy is to answer life’s broadest questions, such as: Is this a world in which I can succeed? How do I know what I know? What should I do with my life? Rational philosophy thereby provides tremendous leverage for defining and living one’s best life. 

What is Ayn Rand’s philosophy, what are its principles, and how can they help you understand the world and kick your life into high gear? Explore these and related questions in OSI’s OPAR reading group.

Meet Your Instructor

Jon Hersey

Jon Hersey (@revivingreason) is managing editor of The Objective Standard and holds fellowships at Foundation for Economic Education, where he writes in defense of freedom, and at Objective Standard Institute, where he teaches “How to Write Powerfully in Defense of Liberty.” He hosts the podcasts “Philosophy for Flourishing.” He’s on a mission to identify and apply the principles of human flourishing. Get his ebook on writing in defense of liberty here, and join his mailing list at JonHersey.com.