Paine's daring prose paved the way for the Declaration of Independence and the Revolutionary War. This volume also includes "The Crisis," "The Age of Reason," and "Agrarian Justice."
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"Without...Paine, the sword of Washington would have been wielded in vain."
-John Adams
-John Adams
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
127 of 131 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Enlightening, Revolutionary, and Worth a Read,
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This review is from: Common Sense, The Rights of Man and Other Essential Writings of Thomas Paine (Signet Classics) (Mass Market Paperback)
In an unrelenting quest to understanding the history of the United States, one obscure name comes to mind, Thomas Paine. Paine helped establish the meaning of democracy and the "united" in United States. His two monumental works, COMMON SENSE AND RIGHTS OF MAN, provided the philosophical and rhetorical building blocks that the founding fathers, such as Thomas Jefferson and Benjamin Franklin, et al., would emulate with the writing of the Declaration of Independence and the Bill of Rights. Many take for granted the origins of freedom and democracy in the United States, and as with many school history textbooks depict, Paine merely appears in a paragraph or two, and quickly disappears to historical oblivion.
Nevertheless, when one reads COMMON SENSE AND RIGHTS OF MAN: AND OTHER ESSENTIAL WRITINGS OF THOMAS PAINE, there will be no doubt how significant his philosophical and political writings transformed the political structure of the colonies. Although this may sound somewhat romanticized, Paine's words ignited the energy for the colonists to free themselves from the tyrannical-monarchical leadership of England's King George III. With all the talk of Paine being a founding father, he may also be considered the father of revolution, American Revolution and French Revolution, and human rights. Without the inspiration from his friend Edmund Burke, author of REFLECTIONS ON THE REVOLUTION IN FRANCE, Paine may not have been able to write the pamphlet Rights of Man. Indeed, his power of the written word translated to revolutionary action, and Jeffersonian ideology. In clear and no nonsense language, Paine's perspective of the state of the colonies are elaborately told in COMMON SENSE. He adamantly shows his opposition toward hereditary rule and limitations imposed on individuals by George III and his vehement disdain towards aristocrats and kings. For RIGHTS OF MAN, he proposed possible solutions toward poverty, and created a blueprint towards achieving social and political institutions through his written abstracts. The other essential writings include the pamphlets, THE CRISIS, part one of THE AGE OF REASON, and selections of AGRARIAN JUSTICE. These writings gives readers an idea the political and religious atmosphere in which Paine lived, and how "breaking ties" with the so-called "motherland" was necessary towards forging a free nation. COMMON SENSE AND RIGHTS OF MAN is indeed accessible with its pocketbook size form. After reading the book, readers may have a better understanding of what it takes to build a nation. Paine's words are lessons of history and humanity, and is definitely recommendable reading.
72 of 77 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Paine's common sense,
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This review is from: Common Sense, The Rights of Man, and Other Essential Writings of Thomas Paine (Paperback)
Thomas Paine's clear and concise writings make him one of the greatest political authors of his time. Basic thoughts of freedom and democracy, that seem so common place nowadays, were brought about because of Paines "radical" ideas. His books Common Sense and The Rights of Man were written not just for the political philosopher but also for the common man. Both the aforementioned books played a big part in the American and French Revolutions.
20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Must-read for anyone seriously interested in American history,
By Maria Folsom (East Glacier Park, Montana USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Common Sense, The Rights of Man and Other Essential Writings of Thomas Paine (Signet Classics) (Mass Market Paperback)
This is what we're founded on, what America is supposed to be, and the way we should conduct our political affairs. Paine should probably be required reading for every citizen, every student, anyone wondering what freedom really means. Besides being informative, it is incisive, sarcastic, humorous, and passionate. The English is old and dated, but that just adds to its delight. I read this in short segments and then thought about each chapter. It made me proud to be an American and sad to realize how much freedom we've lost since Paine's day.
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Inside This Book
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First Sentence:
Perhaps the sentiments contained in the following pages, are not yet sufficiently fashionable to procure them general favor; a long habit of not thinking a thing wrong, gives it a superficial appearance of being right, and raises at first a formidable outcry in defence of custom. Read the first page Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
mixed government, simple democratical form Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
National Assembly, French Revolution, The French Constitution, William the Conqueror, English Government, Jesus Christ, Garde du Corps, General Washington, United States, English Parliament, Count D'Artois, Cour Plénière, Declaration of Rights, Government of England, Sir William, Count Vergennes, House of Commons, General Burgoyne, English Nation, General Howe, House of Peers, Houses of Parliament, Marquis de La Fayette, Prime Minister, Mayor of Paris New!
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Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
Perhaps the sentiments contained in the following pages, are not yet sufficiently fashionable to procure them general favor; a long habit of not thinking a thing wrong, gives it a superficial appearance of being right, and raises at first a formidable outcry in defence of custom. Read the first page Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
mixed government, simple democratical form Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
National Assembly, French Revolution, The French Constitution, William the Conqueror, English Government, Jesus Christ, Garde du Corps, General Washington, United States, English Parliament, Count D'Artois, Cour Plénière, Declaration of Rights, Government of England, Sir William, Count Vergennes, House of Commons, General Burgoyne, English Nation, General Howe, House of Peers, Houses of Parliament, Marquis de La Fayette, Prime Minister, Mayor of Paris New!
Books on Related Topics | Concordance | Text Stats Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
Citations (learn more)
This book cites 30
books:
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18
books
cite this book:
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- Rights of Man (Dover Thrift Editions) by Thomas Paine on 15 pages
- The Age of Reason by Thomas Paine on 7 pages
- Reflections on the Revolution in France & The Rights of Man by Edmund Burke in Front Matter (1), and Front Matter (2)
- Reflections on the Revolution in France (Oxford World's Classics) by Edmund Burke in Front Matter (1), and Front Matter (2)
- Reflections On The Revolution In France by Edmund Burke in Front Matter (1), and Front Matter (2)
See all 30 books this book cites
- Saving General Washington by J.R. Norton in Back Matter (1), and Back Matter (2)
- Declaring Freedom (How Government Works) by Gwenyth Swain in Back Matter (1), and Back Matter (2)
- Alien Nation: Common Sense About America's Immigration Disaster by Peter Brimelow in Back Matter
- Race, Citizenship, and Law in American Literature (Cambridge Studies in American Literature and Culture) by Gregg D. Crane in Back Matter
- Citizen Tom Paine by Howard Fast on page 313
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