Required Textbooks

Ayn Rand's "Anthem" is alive with antagonism towards the intrusive nature of government.  The main character, who is given a number for a name by the rulers of the society in which he lives, struggles to reconcile his natural curiosity with his Collective's staunch opposition to progress and anything scientific.  In an effort to wipe out any bit of individualism,
civilization has replaced the word "I" with "We".  Even the act of making love is strictly regulated by unseen yet supreme rulers.  The protagonist, who is forced to sweep streets for a living, meets with true love and finds relics from the past that inspire him to devote himself to science, something strictly forbidden by the society in which he lives.
     One beauty of "Anthem" is its succintness.  The 11th edition is 105 pages long with fewer words per page than most novels.  This makes it an excellent introduction to the author and the genre, also, a great read for college students who may have a hard time finding a short but meaningful piece to read in the midst of their required readings.  Rand is also author of "The Fountainhead".  If you liked this book, try "We", "1984", or "The Giver".