I love dystopian books. There’s something about them that never fail to pique my interest. Whether it be the cruel antagonists projecting their control over the world or brave protagonists fighting to change the status quo, I’m always interested in a good dystopian story. And yet, I was still skeptical going into Anthem. Maybe it was because of the length of the book (52 pages), or maybe it was because of how old the book was (published in 1938). However, I would like to apologize to the legendary author of this novella, Ayn Rand, because this might be one of my favorite science fiction books ever. In a world where individuality is lost and all men think of themselves as one, a man tries to break the shackles holding him once he discovers the truth about his society and the secrets hidden from him. The mini novella explores themes of curiosity, love, pain, happiness, friendship and is a case study about what makes a human unique. The protagonist in this novella, Equality 7-2521, is a smart man and the readers find out early in the book that the society is intentionally suppressing his talents. As the novella goes on, the reader starts to forge a bond with the Equality 7-2521 and Rand’s amazing writing creates a suspense while also injecting some dramatic irony into some parts of the story. Though most people know Rand for The Fountainhead and Atlas Shrugged, this book shouldn’t go unnoticed as one of her greatest works. If you want a smart novella that will alter your perspective of the world, then this work of art is the one.