Thomas Paine: Common Sense and Other Writings

By Thomas Paine

Book Overview

Seemingly as important today in the time of Donald Trump and fakes news as it ever has been, here is Thomas Paine's timeless writing on liberty and living a democratic life. With an introduction of Harvard scholar and celebrated lawyer Alan Dershowitz.

Thomas Paine is most famous for writing Common Sense, a pamphlet distributed during the American Revolution advocating for colonial America's independence from Great Britain. Now, collected here in a beautiful gift book volume, are excerpts from this important historical American document, as well as several of his other writings. This volume is introduced by Alan Dershowitz, Professor of Law, Emeritus at Harvard Law School and a noted civil liberties advocate.

Paine believed in more than just freedom in the form of revolution and overthrowing governments. He also believed in freedom from oppressive and organized religions and monopolies.

Included in this edition are passages taken from The Age of Reason and The Rights of Man, as well as letters to George Washington, Benjamin Rush, and Samuel Adams, and pamphlets such as "The American Crisis" and "Agrarian Justice"

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1510733094
• ISBN13: 9781510733091
• Release Date: March 2019
• Publisher: Skyhorse Publishing
• Length: 144 Pages
• Weight: 0.45 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 4.5" x 7.1"

Customer Reviews

Relevant for today, as you can see, many parallels.

“… let none be heard among us, then those of A GOOD CITIZEN, AN OPEN AND RESOLUTE FRIEND, AND A VIRTUOUS SUPPORTER OF THE RIGHTS OF MANKIND…” If you don't see the above quote in your copy, there are different copies of "Common Sense" with some variances. All have the standard four chapters; additions contain other materials... many other titles are "Common Sense and Other Writings by Thomas Paine." This is a review of “Common Sense.” As you read “Common Sense," you'll realize there are several ways to approach this information. One way is to consider it in the context of the period it was written in, one of its target readers might be. Another is to see how it applies to today's life. I chose a combination of both approaches. I also thought I knew the Bible well, but found that I had to look up some quotations he used. Well, I won't go into detail because I don't want to spoil the surprise of how well he writes on the subject(s). I will say this is one of those books you want to read before you die, but I prefer to read it early, so I can live by what I have read. Also, I was surprised, as with most people who quote things like the Constitution or the Bill of Rights and so forth, they always quote the large esoteric statements or concepts and forget to tell you that it can get bogged down with tedium. This is not the case with “Common Sense,” as almost every one of his sentences is a standalone, timeless thought. Now, watch “Liberty! The American Revolution” TV mini-series. (1997) 6 hours Jane Adams (Actor), Peter Donaldson (Actor), Ellen Hovde (Director), Muffie Meyer (Director)