Writer Rand' Writer Rand is an American author and journalist who has written extensively on a variety of topics, including politics, economics, and culture. His most famous works include the novels We the Living and Anthem, as well as the non-fiction book Capitalism: The Unknown Ideal. He is also known for his advocacy of individual rights and free-market economics. The acronym AYN stands for 'AYN Rand, ' the pen name of the writer.