The Book of Ayn

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The Book of Ayn is a satirical novel by Australian writer Lexi Freiman, published in the United States by Catapult in November 2023. It runs 256 pages.

The story follows Anna, a 39-year-old novelist who is canceled after writing a satirical book about the opioid crisis. She becomes drawn to Ayn Rand’s idea of egoism and moves to Los Angeles to write a TV sitcom about an animal named “Ayn Ram.” As she struggles to keep up with the project, she grows dependent on Adderall and eventually abandons Rand’s ideas. Anna then travels to a Greek commune to seek a deep, ego-dissolving experience.

Critical responses highlight the book’s humor and sharp ideas. The New Yorker’s Katy Waldman compares it to Mary Gaitskill’s Two Girls, Fat and Thin, noting that both novels mock their heroines while arguing that egoism can be nourishing and generative. The Washington Post praised Freiman’s skill at writing comedy, and the Los Angeles Times called the book one of the funniest and most unruly novels in years. The Book of Ayn was also reviewed in Kirkus Reviews, The New Republic, The New York Times, and The Wall Street Journal.