This collection of essays was Ayn Rand’s last work; she was working on it until her death in 1982. In it, she summarizes and defends her philosophical views, which became the foundation of her bestsellers “Atlas Shrugged” and “The Fountainhead.” According to her ideas, reason is not just a defining feature but a fundamental trait of the human being, by which a person survives. For Ayn Rand, philosophy is a force that shapes the consciousness and character of individuals and nations; a person’s choice is not whether to adhere to one philosophical concept or another, but which one to adopt for themselves. In other essays, Ayn Rand criticizes Kant’s ethical views, writes about the importance of language, and explains what is necessary to form a rational and conscious philosophy.