Common Sense

Written by Thomas Paine

Narrated by Adrian Cronauer

"When my country, into which I had just set foot, was set on fire about my ears, it was time to stir," wrote Paine. This pamphlet, which he had published in 1776, put into print the word every man was thinking but no man dared say: Independence! It captured the imagination of the colonists as no other document had.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Recorded Books, Inc.
• Release date: Dec 16, 1999
• ISBN: 9781440780592

Thomas Paine

Thomas Paine (1737–1809) was a political activist and philosopher best known for his pamphlet Common Sense. The popularity and significance of his writings, including The American Crisis, have led historians to call him the Father of the American Revolution.

Reviews for Common Sense

[Kyle Licht · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

This might be a necessary read. It’s very important in history and brief. It explains how the US should be independent and that Britain and monarchies are tyrannical and nonsensical. After its release, the Declaration of Independence was drafted so this book was integral to the American Revolution.

The only criticism I have is the racial culture at the time. The book is so short and race was completely unnecessary to bring up, but the two instances they are brought up are a bit racist. The first is Paine supposing that the tyranny of the British monarchy is the reason BIPOC are enraged and stirred up. The second is Paine calling all of Africa savages. I get that it was a different time, but it just goes to show that this implicit bias of vilifying and dehumanized BIPOC as angry savages has always been present and it’s part of one of the most influential books in the USA’s political history.

[G A McKee · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

What a magnificent written work that was so influential in the creation of a new republic of America in 1776 or thereabouts. Mr Paine beautifully deconstructs and intellectually dismantles the very idea of a hereditary monarchy. To this day, his arguments ring true. Highly recommended for both historical and political educational purposes. It would be a subversive book taught in schools of countries such as the UK where they still have a nominal monarch - and Australia that has a “Governor General” who is the representative of the Queen of England, with the constitutional power to sack the elected government of the day. This book has made me more aware of the paradox of having hereditary monarchs heading up so called liberal democracies such as Australia where I reside.

[gopfolk · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Thomas Paine did a great job explaining to the common man why it was necessary to break away from Britain. While many of were made to read this when we were young it is always good to go back to these classics and re-read them with a more mature mind set.This weekend we celebrate our 235 year as a free country and these documents are important to read and re-read throughout our lives to ensure that we remember why we are the country we are.Happy Independence Day!

[Alicia Dawn Perrin · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I like it so far. ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ -WilliAM

[Avital Pilpel · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I think it is not well known how much the idea of an electoral college separate from congress or of the declaration of independence explaining why the colonies rebelled are his!

[carlar_82074 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I have read this a few times now. If anyone has any interest at all in American history then this book is a must read.

[Jo Watson · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

As inspiring today as it was in 1776. Very much enjoyed the narrator’s reading of this important text as well.

[hmskip · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This little book is actually chockful of common sense as the title implies. It outlines the source and purpose of legitimate government in the early chapters and proceeds logically to its application to the American situation of that day. Although most of the discussion is specific to the 1775 conditions in America, the general truths, of which there are many examples, are of an almost eternal nature. The book is good to read also because it demonstrates a depth of reasoning that was highly prized in that earlier age, but that is so lacking in the present day. Today, the sound-bite dominates the political and philosophical scene. Paine could not have captured the public imagination as much as he did by means of a series of tweets, but he did so by a carefully thought out system based on logic and reason.

[xenchu · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I don't understand why this book is not required reading in school, indeed why it not a required study. It is one of the basis of the American political structure. What Paine wrote is one of the foundations of Independence.I will not discuss the contents of the book (actually a pamphlet and quite short). I urge everyone to read it for themselves.

[elfortunawe · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Thomas Paine has few rivals in the ability to impress an idea on the mind of a reader. At times Common Sense can seem a bit ambitious in the level of certainty it aspires to, but this is propaganda. What seemed most striking to me was the combination of this propaganda with an impressive intelligence. The Founding Fathers were true statesmen: well-read and capable with both reason and rhetoric (qualities rarely found in public figures these days). Paine states early on that he intends to write in clear and uncluttered prose, but still maintains a strong sense of both urgency and dignity with the spare resources he allows himself. Reading this has whet my appetite for more writing from this period.

[heidip_38 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Common Sense was written to show that the logical course of action during the Revolutionary War was to declare Independence from Great Britain. It is only natural that we should sever our ties from our Parent Country--after all, she is like a mother devouring her children, and really we are descended from all the countries of Europe, not just England. Our parent country was Europe. Now that the Revolutionary War has started we have no other course. From here on out England would not act in the best interest of its colonies--they would only act in their own self-interest. It would not be in England's best interest to have a strong America. We don't need Great Britain to defend our coastlines, anyway--how can they. If we had a threat to our coastline Britain would be 3,000 miles away. Their response would be severely delayed. We don't have a navy, but we could build one. We have all the natural resources here in America--wood, tar, etc. And we have plenty of seafaring men in Boston who are now out of a job because the British have closed Boston Harbor.Thus go his arguments one after another for the logical reasons why we should declare our independence. He encourages the colonists that Americans can write their own constitution and form their own government. The government should be based on law and focus on security and freedom. This is a 5 star book.

[beau0p0laurence · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A classic, and a pivotal work, in U.S. history.

[unionhawk_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Nice short read. Interesting to see what someone like Thomas Paine was actually thinking at the time of the American Revolution. I would recommend reading it, even though I did not exactly love reading it. It was good, but not awesome.

[ajbraithwaite_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

An interesting glimpse of this fascinating period - the birth of a nation. I've not read much about the American Revolution, but what soon becomes clear from this text is that it really was a war of words. Paine takes care to discredit other publications on the topic of the revolt - particularly the 'mere four pages' published by an unnamed Quaker.Hindsight makes it all the more interesting - the idea that not having a monarch would make it much less likely that a civil war would happen in America. Hm...

[hermit_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Published in 1776, Common Sense challenged the authority of the British government and the royal monarchy. The plain language that Paine used spoke to the common people of America and was the first work to openly ask for independence from Great Britain.

[mrgreg_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

These essays could be written yesterday. They are so timely, even today.

[coffee5is5yum · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Well, this was written in 1776 and during a time completely different than our modern era. A review from my perspective wouldn't really be fair...but here it goes.I found the beginning more interesting than the end. The idea of hereditary succession was interesting. I enjoyed reading Paine thrashing the British monarchy, that took a lot of courage to not sugar coat. He did a great job, though I do think it might could have been a little shorter. Some of the ideas I thought were a bit long-winded.I think a fascinating thing is while reading and thinking the ideas are brilliant...you then begin realizing everything Paine is pointing to is just "common sense." I guess readers just needed it pulled from their thoughts and placed in a more rational line of thinking.Great man. Sad life.

[Gabriel Comely · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Very good book, highly recommended. Its for those who want to learn more

[Rohit Nallapeta · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

A historically important and also relevant to this day. It’s aptly named common sense and should be a must read for every American today. It’s a reminder to never take liberty, independence and democracy for granted!

[ashryan_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

"Men read by way of revenge."A forerunner of both the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution, Common Sense should properly be regarded (at least in a historical, though not a legal, sense) as one of the founding documents of this nation.Paine makes the case for independence in strong moral terms, clearly based on the Enlightenment political theories of John Locke. The list he gives of the Crown's abuses should already be familiar to the reader from the Declaration (Jefferson did not give sufficient credit to Paine for his obvious influence on that document), though Paine's recounting is somewhat more detailed, as he could treat the topic at greater length in his pamphlet.Paine also offers suggestions in some detail about a Constitutional Congress and the drafting of such a document, and based on the course of subsequent events it seems that the other Founders took Paine's suggestions to heart.And of course, few other books in history (and particularly non-fiction works, since art can have a power that plain argument does not) have so effectively rallied public opinion.Read this book. You will be surprised, even if your expectations were already high, and you will certainly be inspired.

[histreader · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A must read "pamphlet" of the day, which, is uncommonly apropos to today! In Common Sense, Mr. Paine deconstructs the monarchy of Great Britain and its destroys its concept of empire; where by, he cries for the independence of a continent from a tiny island crown.In his essay, he lays out a framework which fairly closely resembles today's republican government of America. I found some of his most famous and repeated line, yet found myself underlining much more.

[orfishome · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Viewed through Colonial eyes, it would have indeed been revolutionary. I enjoyed the Bibilical history parallels.

[sgerbic · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Reviewed Sept. 2006 A nice common sense argument against British rule over America. Published at just the right time - King George III’s speech was released at the same time. Paine mentions this in his appendix but I wish the King’s speech was included in this volume. Paine also includes an essay to Quakers apparently some Quakers had published a testimony supporting (?) the King. Paine tells them that as Quakers they should not involve themselves “ye ought not to be meddlers on the other, but to wait the issue in silence.” (p.57) He also tells them, “mingling religion with politics may be disavowed...by every inhabitant of American.” What a hyprocrit Payne is because throughout his main essay he appeals to religion for reasons to overthrow the King. Payne makes excellent points against hereditary passing the throne, “in the next succession...rogue or a fool.” (p. 13) If all men are born equal, how can someone’s children rule forever? The first King probably was a bully or tyrant what gives him superiority? Payne feels that an island 3000 mies away should not govern a large continent. Also it takes 3-4 months to get direction from the Mother country. England has enemies, America has none, why should we not be able to side with whom we want, or stay our of events and wars not of our choosing? 23-2006

[diwanna_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

As powerful today as it was 240 years ago. So short, should be required reading for all Americans. Society promotes our happiness by uniting our affections, government negatively by restraining our vices.

[nittnut · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Required reading - well worth the time - and quite entertaining.Favorite quote:"One of the strongest natural proofs of the folly of hereditary right in kings, is, that nature disapproves it, otherwise she would not so frequently turn it into ridicule by giving mankind an ass for a lion."Another quote, which I find very applicable to current politics:"Immediate necessity makes many things convenient, which if continued would grow into oppressions. Expedience and right are different things."It's short, entertaining and very, very good. Read it. Borrow my copy.

[carlinemaserati · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

It seems wrong to rate a masterpiece that changed the course of American History. It's like rating the Constitution or the works of Plato. I give it five stars because it is READABLE. The words are still easy to understand and moving. The first paragraph of this historic pamphlet is guaranteed to make your blood hot.