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46 Pages

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"46 Pages" unfortunately refers to the length of the Revolutionary War era pamphlet, "Common Sense," rather than this book about said pamphlet. Unfortunate because Liell could have made his basic point in 46 pages, or even much less.

As it is the book is pretty short, but we get the idea of Liell's thesis quickly - "Common Sense" sparked a change in the way Americans thought about their relationship with England. Before, Americans sought rights within the British system, after they wanted a whole different system. Further, "Common Sense" helped Americans think about a republican form of government rather than an independent government based on the British model. Good point. Now, if you want to read it again stretched over about 150 pages, pick up this book.

Liell runs into trouble in part because he's not sure what he wants to do with his book. There's a little bit of Gary Wills' "Lincoln at Gettysburg," a little bit of Richard Brookhiser's short biographies of the founding fathers, and a little bit of a grade-school text book. The combination does not achieve what any of its component parts succeed at.

Wills' book on Lincoln's speech explores its historic context, analyzes its every phrase, and then describes the effect it had on American thinking during and after the Civil War. A glaring absence of Liell's book is much analysis of the language of "Common Sense." He touches on it, emphasizing that it was written to be understood not just by the framers but also by common farmers, but we don't really come away with much appreciation of the actual language of the pamphlet.

Liell probably would have been better off writing a straight biography of Thomas Paine. Again, Paine's biography is touched on, but his life is glossed over. This may be because Liell is aiming at a very general audience and is afraid of being offensive. For instance, Liell mentions in passing that after the Revolution, Paine wrote against organized religion in Europe, but doesn't really explain Paine's views. Though the brief story goes on to discuss how Paine was imprisoned in France for his views, and was almost a victim of the Reign of Terror, I almost got the sense that Liell was avoiding Paine's more controversial positions out of fear of a modern reign of terror that reacts poorly to evidence of founding fathers' anti-religiosity.

Another glaring absence is "Common Sense" itself. The book's very title tips us off that the pamphlet is a short work; it could easily have been included as an appendix. Instead, the book reviews much of what anyone who knows what "Common Sense" is probably already knows. With our curiosity piqued, the end of the book would have been an opportune time to read the work, probably for the first time.

Devoid of in-depth biographical information, textual analysis and "Common Sense" itself, "46 Pages" is left with the same basic point repeated over and over again. Despite its brevity, the book therefore moves slowly to a scattered conclusion about "other founding fathers" (all of whom had already been discussed), and an epilogue about Paine's later life that hints at, but does not explore, what seems like a truly interesting story.

I think the reviewers who berate this book as being too long have too short an attention span. Neither does the author unduly glorify Thomas Paine. He simply takes a sequence of pivotal events and examines them with a depth that most history books do not provide. Most of us learned in school that Thomas Paine wrote "Common Sense," and that it was an important pamphlet in the revolutionary era, but that's about all we know from most sources. Liell sets about to remedy that deficiency, and does so ably, in my opinion.

"46 Pages" rejects the typical superficial treatment of Paine and his primary work. He spends a suitable amount of ink developing the context of the intellectual foment into which "Common Sense" made its entree. This is a critical point to understand just how momentous this document was during its time. Liell also provides an admirable biographical sketch of Paine and traces his development as a writer, a political activist and ultimately an ardent patriot and pamphleteer. The author further examines how "Common Sense" was received by various elements of early American society, such as common citizens, Virginia aristocrats, Congressmen, and the Continental Army. Liell also examines the efforts of opponents to counter its doctrines.

Only a shallow reading of "46 Pages" could lead one to describe it as redundant or tiresome. I thoroughly enjoyed it, especially reading the text of the fateful pamphlet itself. Very well done.

In the year 1763, at the height of the First British Empire, an American colonist's greatest pride was to be the subject of an English king. For fifteen years thereafter, the ill-conceived policies of imperial ministers strained the bonds linking colonies and parent country to breaking point. Yet, even after the bloodshed at Lexington, Concord and Bunker Hill, those bonds stubbornly refused to break.

By 1775, Americans were prepared to fight for their rights, and did so. But the great majority could not bring themselves to throw off the glittering mantle of the British Empire. King George III embodied the venerable heritage that was part of their identity, and few dared speak against their monarch in public--even the leaders of the Continental Congress. The enemies of America were "ministerial" enemies: a group of corrupt men in Whitehall had misled the king and stifled the complaints of his loyal American subjects. The king himself could not be a party to such injustice; if he could, everything they'd been taught to believe would be wrong. Willing satellites of the British sun for a century and a half, Americans now began to fear they were in captive orbit around a black hole. For most, it was simply too much to accept.

In the early days of 1776, Thomas Paine published "Common Sense," severing the colonists' nostalgic ties to their ancestral nation with sudden finality. That a political pamphlet, in a matter of months, could profoundly change the course of history was stunning to those who witnessed its impact at first hand. It is no less so today. In "46 Pages," Scott Liell explains how and why an Englishman accomplished what no American of the time could. He explores the critical events in Paine's background and the evolution of his radical beliefs. He isolates the compelling lines of thought radiating from the groundbreaking pamphlet, and demonstrates how they utterly effaced colonists' lingering notions of their system of government. Countless Americans picked up "Common Sense" believing themselves the dutiful children of an enlightened and glorious monarch. They put it down again seething with anger and contempt. Paine showed the colonists that what they had taken as day was in fact night; but after reading his words, they did not lament the realization. Their former beliefs exposed as idolatry, they were willing to part with them at last.

The author goes on to trace the powerful effects of "Common Sense" on its diverse audience: the Founding Fathers in Congress, the generals and common soldiers of the Continental Army, the average farmer in his field and tradesman in his shop. With force and clarity, he illustrates its decisive importance in convincing the colonists that their true interest, and best chance of securing their rights, lay in independence from Great Britain. Before "Common Sense," America had been fighting with one hand tied behind her back. From now on, her course would be clear, her energies focused.

Mr. Liell's account is engaging, scholarly and thoroughly illuminating. On the road to a true understanding of the American Revolution, "46 Pages" is an essential part of the journey.

I found Scott Liell's treatment of Thomas Paine's, Common Sense very engaging. Having recently become a citizen of the United States (formerly Canadian) I've turned to reading U.S. history with focus on the founding. This was my first encounter with Paine's work. It thrilled me! His words fired me up and I was astounded to see it's sudden and expansive impact on the thought of the day. Liell's books was very readable and inspired me to read everything I could get my hands on the Paine wrote. Bravo!

I bought "46 PAGES" largely because of the warm endorsements it received from David McCullough and some other historians that I respect. Truth be told when I first opened this book I did not know a whole lot about the importance of Common Sense to the pivotal events of 1776 and I knew hardly anything about the extraordinary man who took the risk of writing such an incendiary work at such a critical time. I am, therefore, immeasurably grateful to both Mr. Liell and "46 PAGES" for filling what was a pretty substantial gap in my understanding of just how this country was changed so quickly from a group of colonies determined to work out their differences with Britain through negotiation and resistance to a new nation hell-bent on revolution and independence. Even George Washington who was then leading the Continental Army fully expected the conflict to end in reconciliation and NEVER TALKED OF INDEPENDENCE UNTIL AFTER HE READ "COMMON SENSE." Kudos to Thomas Paine who aught to have a statue built to him in every major city in the US. And Kudos to Mr. Liell for telling this extraordinary untold story in such elegant and compelling prose.

Like the masterpiece itself, Scott Liell has produced a wonderful, consise and readable tribute to Common Sense and Tom Paine, THE spearhead of the independence movement in America. Paine was a simple workman-like fellow (and an Englishman) who changed the course of the world with a 46-page pamphlet written to the masses of the colonies in order to push the people away from reconciliation and towards independence from Britain. Like Paine, Liell's work is not scholarly, so it is an enjoyable read, and at less than 150 pages, easily digestable.

This piece is an excellent primer to the true beginnings of the independence movement. While history books provide a footnote to Paine at best, Liell gives Paine (and rightfully so) the bulk of the credit for having the guts and ability to produce a work of such heroic proportions that it became the rallying cry of the massess, which ultimiately forced the hand of the Congress and state legislatures to push towards independence.

Don't read this if you are looking for a dissection of Common Sense itself. What Liell provides is a simply history lesson behind its formulation and impact.

Scott Liell has written a wonderful account of the role Thomas Paine and Common Sense played at the birth of this country. By focusing on both the message and the way it was delivered (Paine certainly knew his audience!), Liell has produced a terrific addition to the recently published scholarship on the Revolutionary era (Founding Brothers, John Adams). It is a very enjoyable read.

I had not thought much about Tom Paine since I read Howards Fast's novel about him while I was in college. Someone recommended this book to me and within the first chapter I remembered what I loved about Paine's story then. Liell's book is as well paced and well written as fast's even though it is a non-fiction work. One warning: five minutes after you are done with "46 pages" you will be going to Amazon to plunk down your cash for a volume of Paine's great writing. All in all an inspiring telling of a fascinating tale in American history.

Scott Liell has written a concise and fascinating account of the importance Thomas Paine and Common Sense played in reshaping the attitudes of the colonists from one of fighting for reconciliation with Great Britain to one of fighting for independence. Reading Liell's book made me conclude that Common Sense, along with The Declaration of Independence, The Constitution, and The Emancipation Proclamation, is one of the most important documents in the history of our country. Not only was it important because of its content but also because of its ultimate audience. In the words of Moses Coit Taylor quoted in Liell's book, Common Sense "was precisely fitted to the hour, to the spot, to the passions of men.... It brushes away the tangles and cobwebs of technical debate, and flashes common sense upon the situation. It was meant for plain men, in desperate anger and desperately in earnest."

I'm reading this book called "46 Pages" and it's intended to be a critical look at the essay by Thomas Paine: Common Sense. Common Sense, for all intents and purposes, was a 46-page pamphlet that questioned the legitimacy of a monarchial government, and the right for people to represent themselves. It was historically significant because it was a major impetus in getting the independent movement going. Just 6 months after it's release, the Declaration of Independence was written and signed. I'm enjoying the bits and pieces of history and the fact that this historically crucial bit of writing is being put into context. BUT... the majority of the book is a glorified "I love Thomas Paine" treatise.

No man is so wonderful in and of himself. People are great because they do great things. But this book is presuming that Thomas Paine was essentially a saint because he was one of the first to put in writing this idea of independence. But does that make him a saint? Not when you consider the fact that he took another man's thoughts and theories and with his permission, put it into pamphlet format.

So if I can filter out all the glorification of Thomas Paine, it's a book worth reading. About 46 pages of it, that is.