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Title: Common Sense

Author: Thomas Paine

Narrator: Alastair Cameron

Format: Unabridged

Length: 2 hrs and 23 mins

Language: English

Release date: 10-04-16

Publisher: A.R.N. Publications

Ratings: 5 of 5 out of 13 votes

Genres: History, American

Publisher's Summary:

Common Sense is a pamphlet written by Thomas Paine in 1776 advocating for the independence of the American colonies from Britain and is considered very influential in American history. It stresses the logic of America's independence emphasizing the defects of Britain's monarchy and the economic cost of participating in Britain's repeated wars.

His argument begins with general reflections about government and religion and then progresses onto the specifics of the colonial situation. He differentiates government and society and envisions an imaginary scenario in which a group of people has been placed on an island and cut off from the rest of society arguing that with time there will be need for law making and the people will be much happier if they are responsible for the creation of the laws that rule them.

He further delves into the theoretical idea of monarchy and hereditary succession before finally discussing the details of the American situation arguing that the colonies have little to gain from remaining attached to Britain all the while acknowledging that the colonies have flourished under British rule, and goes as far as suggesting what type of government the independent colonies should adopt.

Members Reviews:

Great Read

Wonderful insight into the mindset and thinking of the Founding Fathers. A bit dense, but well worth the effort.

Critical thinking in RIghts of man

Get some insight into the Founders thinking when they were formulating the Constitution of the USA. These philosophical minds purported timeless truths that influenced many who were instrumental in our Foundation documents. Jefferson and Hamilton and others read and studied these, and n the bio you can get a feel for what influenced Paine to write these folk. Anyone interested in Constitutional History and thought should read this.

Everything old is new again

It's suprising how much things have changed and how much remains the same. Although it was written under circumstances quite unlike todays, he makes, for the most part, a good argument for revolution. It was fun to try to get inside the mindset of that time.

OIlder writings are so compelling to me because the majority ...

OIlder writings are so compelling to me because the majority of people today act and speak in a similar manner.

Relevant for today as you can see may parallels

"... let none be heard among us, then those of A GOOD CITIZEN, ANOPEN AND RESOLUTE FRIEND, AND A VIRTUOUS SUPPORTER OF THE RIGHTS OF MANKIND..."

If you don't see the above quote in your copy evidently there are different copies of "Common Sense" with some variances. All have the standard four chapters; additions have other materials... Most of the versions I have come in books marked "Common Sense and other writings by Thomas Payne."

As you read "Common Sense" you'll realize there are several ways you can approach this information. One way is to look at it in the time period that it was written as one of his target readers. Another is to apply it to today's way of life. I actually had chosen as a combination. I also thought that I knew the Bible pretty well but found that I had to look up some quotations that he used.

I'm not going to go into detail as I don't want to spoil the surprise of how well he writes on the subject(s).