Anthem, by Ayn Rand – read by Chere Theriot
Ayn Rand’s Anthem (first published in 1938) is a dystopian novella that imagines a bleak future where individuality has been erased in favor of absolute collectivism. Set in an unspecified time after humanity has entered a new dark age, the story follows Equality 7-2521, a man who dares to question the rigid conformity of his society. In this world, the word “I” has vanished from language, and all forms of independent thought and technological progress are suppressed.
Through secret experiments and forbidden love, Equality discovers the power of knowledge, creativity, and the human spirit. Rand contrasts the oppressive values of enforced equality with the liberating ideals of achievement and selfhood.
Provocative and visionary, Anthem is both a cautionary tale and a celebration of individuality, laying early groundwork for Rand’s later philosophy of Objectivism.
