Common Sense

I've only read the first three papers (African Slavery in America, Common Sense and The American Crises Papers 1,10 & 13) so far and even 200+ years later it is stirring; one can only imagine how reading (or having it read to you in a public) these inflammatory writings at the time could incite the......more

This collection of Thomas Paine writings is too complete. Some of the included texts, such as Common Sense, are good reads in that they are still relevant to the modern reader. They can tell us where we have been and can make us question our modern view of the proper role of government. If those had......more

Joelle Reads Her Bookcase #12 My favorite selection was Rights of Man Part I.......more

Common Sense is a significant document to understand the common man's thinking around the time of the founding of America. (A bit concerning that the simple appeal of this work would be a bit beyond the common man of today.) It gives some key insights into the debates that were being had as people w......more

The namesake of this collection of Paine's writings is a wonderful piece of persuasive writing that manages to effectively cut through the intimidating and sometimes baffling perceptions of government. In "Common Sense" Paine builds his philosophy from the ground up, explaining the differences betwe......more