Common Sense and Other Writings (Barnes & Noble Classics Series) Book

"THESE ARE THE TIMES that try men's souls."

Overall 4 out of 5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ for Common Sense and Other Writings by Thomas Paine. This collection of Paine's major works includes: African Slavery in America, Common Sense, The American Crisis Papers, Rights of Man, The Age of Reason, Agrarian Justice, and Letters to the Citizens of the United States of America

African Slavery in America was decent but it was too short and there wasn't a lot of "meat on the bones", so I'd give it 3 stars. The issue of slavery was heavily debated in America before and during the Revolution, but it was ultimately decided by the Founders that it was too much of a hot button issue and they kicked the can down the road. Paine was a staunch abolitionist.

Common Sense is awesome and I'd give it 10 stars if I could. It was a powerful political pamphlet published right near the beginning of the American Revolution and I believe it should be required reading for all Americans. In Common Sense, Paine took Americans from simply arguing taxes to why they should make a complete separation from Great Britain. It is very well written, and I have read that Washington had it read to his troops after it was published to get them fired up for their cause.

The American Crisis Papers were published throughout the Revolution and again were powerfully written and Paine provided sound reasoning throughout his Papers for America's break with Great Britain. Common Sense and the Crisis Papers were THE political pamphlets that folks in America were reading during the Revolution. I have read a lot of Revolutionary biographies and Thomas Paine's publications are mentioned in every one of them because they were so controversial at the time.

In Rights of Man Paine gets into literary criticism by lambasting a book by Edmund Burke that had condemned the French Revolution. Paine rips Burke's work to shreds and he really gets personal and downright nasty in his critique of Burke. Paine was not shy and he didn't hold back - I knew right where he was coming from at the beginning of Rights of Man. Paine argued how the English Monarchy was already past its prime, and he discusses the "natural rights of man" vs the "civil rights of man". It is some good stuff, although it does get bogged down with too much detail of tax plans, etc.

The Age of Reason is Paine's personal reflections on religion and theology. He was a Deist which was very popular in the late 18th century, and he goes into how he believes Christianity is basically a big load of crap. Age of Reason was the most personal out of the works in this collection and it was interesting to read what Paine believed in because it puts his political writings into perspective.

Agrarian Justice is Paine's attempt to propose a plan to end poverty through a tax plan to spread wealth to everyone. Paine was a social liberal but he advocated smaller, less constrictive government like Thomas Jefferson did.

Letters to the Citizens of the United States of America were done later in Paine's life after he returned to America after being imprisoned in France during its Revolution. He was basically saved by James Monroe who was minister to France at that time and he lobbied the French to allow Paine to come back with him to America. In Letters, Paine aligns himself inseparably with the Jeffersonians and he dogs out President John Adams' administration, The Federalists, and the passing of the Alien and Sedition Acts.

Thomas Paine loved America and you can tell his passion for it throughout his writing career, the highlights of which are all included in this collection, I enjoyed this much more than I thought I would. Paine was a wonderful writer and while I didn't personally agree with all of his arguments, it is still very interesting to read all of this. All the mentions of Paine in the Revolutionary bios and history books I've read about the period finally have a solid background for me and I am glad I read this collection. Now I need to read the Federalist Papers which I believe will be quite the opposite of Paine's belief in a "less is more" government style.

Highly Recommended!