Thomas Paine

Common sense

Bouke van der Bijl

Thomas Paine's Common Sense is a argumentation from first principles on why the American colonies should form an independent nation from Britain. He argues why representative government exists in the first place (because societies become too big to involve everyone) and why monarchies are dumb (because all men are created equal). He then lays out a plan for an American government that's not too far from how it currently works, and explains why America should be independent from Britain and why now (where now is 1776) is the time for it to happen.

It's an interesting thing to read because it is a pretty unique perspective at a time when most countries had some sort of monarchical component. It's an all time classic because it has such strong reasoning based on first principles, although some calls to Christian values take away from that. I would argue that the appeal to Christian values was equivalent to what we would call universal human rights these days, as such a thing did not exist back then.

Charlotte Dann

So I guess I have to admit it's okay that the Americans fought for independence. Much more discussion on my video review.

kezzie

Caroline Lewicki

I read Common Sense to fulfill a POPSUGAR Challenge prompt (and also because I was supposed to read it in college and never did, oops) but I was surprised to find it was fairly interesting. When you get past the language used, which can be difficult if you're not familiar with colonial American English, many of the thoughts Paine presented could still be applicable today. I'm glad I finally got around to reading this!

Diana Platgalve

Essential read for understanding American revolution. Paine has clear reasoning on why America and Britain should separate, and the sooner the better. For him it is absurd for an island to govern a continent, and that England is using their American colonies in their own interest for raw materials. His urgency may seem as fanatic nationalism at some points, but if we look at the country today-he was right that the land will prosper by itself.

Addressed to the Inhabitants of America, on the Following Interesting Subjects, viz.: I. Of the Origin and Design of Government in General, with Concise Remarks on the English Constitution. II. Of Monarchy and Hereditary Succession. III. Thoughts on the Present State of American Affairs. IV. Of the Present Ability of America, with some Miscellaneous Reflections

Common Sense

Laura

The reason I read this book? Because Angelica Schuyler in Hamilton the musical sings "I've been reading Common Sense by Thomas Paine". That's it. Just so I can say that too :).

I read the version with both the original English text next to the Dutch translation, and with a foreword by Eduard van de Bilt. I thought this foreword was really interesting, because it gives some extra information on the situation in which this pamphlet was published. 

I am really into American history (because of Hamilton, thank you Lin Manuel Miranda <3), so Common Sense was a must read for me. I enjoyed reading it, because it really gives you an insight in the minds of Americans living in the 18th century, at the start of the Revolution. You can see where Paine uses his "common sense" to justify the rebellion against the British, and how this might have appeared to the American people at that time. 

I thought it was really interesting to read this book, I really enjoyed learning more about the American history.

If you liked this book I recommend: watching Hamilton the musical (it's on Disney+ ;)

Throughout history, some books have changed the world. They have transformed the way we see ourselves—and each other. They have inspired debate, dissent, war and revolution. They have enlightened, outraged, provoked and comforted. They have enriched lives—and destroyed them. Now, Penguin brings you the works of the great thinkers, pioneers, radicals and visionaries whose ideas shook civilization, and helped make us who we are. Penguin's Great Ideas series features twelve groundbreaking works by some of history's most prodigious thinkers, and each volume is beautifully packaged with a unique type-drive design that highlights the bookmaker's art. Offering great literature in great packages at great prices, this series is ideal for those readers who want to explore and savor the Great Ideas that have shaped the world. Published anonymously in 1776, six months before the Declaration of Independence, Thomas Paine's Common Sense was a radical and impassioned call for America to free itself from British rule and set up an independent republican government. Savagely attacking hereditary kingship and aristocratic institutions, Paine urged a new beginning for his adopted country in which personal freedom and social equality would be upheld and economic and cultural progress encouraged. His pamphlet was the first to speak directly to a mass audience—it went through fifty-six editions within a year of publication—and its assertive and often caustic style both embodied the democratic spirit he advocated, and converted thousands of citizens to the cause of American independence.

Hope Brockway

Y'all know why I read this pamphlet. 

It's cause I'm totally obsessed with Hamilton! Awesome! Wow! And, because Angelica Schuyler rapped about this in her introductory song, I decided I needed to read it. Yeah, I know I'm a huge nerd. 

And thus the adventure began. 

I must admit, I only understood about half of this pamphlet and that's probably because I read this really fast and didn't get the chance to dissect it. It had some interesting--let's say radical--ideas. Mr. Paine was totally bashing King George. Like a hardcore roast was going on and I was there for it. It was grand. 

Maybe I will reread this one day, but for now, I'm content saying I read this influential piece of literature.

Kieran Wood

Although it is incredibly short, this "pamphlet" is an interesting read. Paine rips apart many of the existing reasons for why people believed a king should exist at the time, and on the backdrop of early America his writing is very "mask off" anti-monarchy. Even for most early American writers Paine is viscous and witty in his writing. 

If you have any interest in what older political sway-pieces looked like, then be sure to give this a read. It honestly only really takes an hour or less to finish the whole thing.

Lauren

Some important points of relevancy that can apply even today. It's a good read if you're interested in the political/revolutionary air that surrounded America at the time- and arguably other nations that were in a similar state of change. Definitely a good read to discuss with other people, lots of ideologies can be compared.

Also, the input from John Adams in added exerts is an interesting addition.

Darcy Lambert

Jo A

Joe Ross

Mark

Common Sense is the timeless classic that inspired the Thirteen Colonies to fight for and declare their independence from Great Britain in the summer of 1776. Written by famed political theorist Thomas Paine, this pamphlet boldly challenged the authority of the British government and the royal monarchy to rule over the American colonists. By using plain language and a reasoned style, Paine chose to forego the philosophical and Latin references made popular by the Enlightenment era writers. As a result, Paine united average citizens and political leaders behind the central idea of independence and transformed the tenor of the colonists' argument against the British. As the best-selling American title of all time, Common Sense has been eloquently described by historian Gordon S. Wood as "the most incendiary and popular pamphlet of the entire revolutionary era." Thomas Paine (1737-1809) was an English-American political activist, philosopher, and revolutionary. As one of the Founding Fathers of the United States, he authored the most influential pamphlets at the start of the American Revolution and inspired the colonists to declare independence from Great Britain in 1776. His ideas reflected Enlightenment-era rhetoric of transnational human rights and the separation of church and state. He has been called a corset-maker by trade, a journalist by profession, and a propagandist by inclination.

Common sense

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