Governments are growing and getting involved in more aspects of our lives.

Socialism has become “cool” again and some young people believe society owes them a living.

They think if they make poor decisions — racking up six-figure student debt for a degree in eco-feminist philosophy or quitting their summer job to protest the latest mythical social injustice — that the government will take care of them and provide them with all the comforts of life.

It is in times like this we should remember: “Who is John Galt?”

That was the question frequently asked by characters in Atlas Shrugged, a heroic novel by Ayn Rand.

It’s also a phrase used to promote an ongoing intrigue in Rand’s novels and her philosophy.

Rand was a defender of the virtue of markets and individual rights, at a time when there were very few champions of freedom around the world.

She was born 111 years ago this week, in St. Petersburg, Russia.

Rand was exceptionally well-educated, but as a Jew, faced persecution during the Russian revolution.

She was prohibited from attending school at times and her family faced starvation at the hands of the Bolsheviks.

At age 20, she fled communism, moved to New York City and began writing novels.

Her stories depicted the struggles of headstrong individuals fighting against powerful and collectivist governments.

In an era when people believed entrepreneurs were immoral, and top tax rates were 84% in Canada and 90% in the U.S., Rand wrote about the virtue of economic freedom.

Having lived under the heavy hand of socialism, Rand takes her readers into a world were the government controls everything and everyone.

Rather than writing dry philosophy books or essays, Rand wrote accessible and easy-to-read novels.

When I was a university student studying political science and being bombarded with socialism and collectivism from my peers and professors, my older sister gave me a copy of The Fountainhead.

I was hooked, and soon started passing copies around to my friends and classmates.

Rand was a courageous voice and an unabashed advocate, not just for liberty and capitalism, but also for science, reason, achievement, creativity, entrepreneurship, happiness and self-ownership.

After reading Atlas Shrugged, I didn’t simply have a better understanding of markets, I was an enthusiastic defender of freedom and personal responsibility.

I am not alone. Rand’s books have sold over 30 million copies.

According to the Library of Congress Atlas Shrugged is the second most influential book in America, following only the Bible.

After the 2008 financial crisis and resulting government intervention into the private economy, Atlas Shrugged sold more copies than ever before.

The story of a group of business leaders who fought back against a society that punished and restricted them resonated.

Ayn Rand died in 1982, but her legacy lives on.

She is one of the most influential writers of all time, and one of the key defenders of capitalism — a system that has brought more people out of poverty than any other form of government in human history.

People from all walks of life, all over the world, have been influenced by Rand’s writings.

From high school students to CEOs, from political activists to young entrepreneurs, her books remain popular and controversial.

If you know a young person interested in politics and justice, give him or her a copy of The Fountainhead or Atlas Shrugged. It may change their life.