Common Sense (Annotated)

First released in 1776 at the height of the American Revolution the treatise denounced British rule and is thought to have been so popular as to have influenced the path of the revolution itself. Wood Common Sense was, "the most incendiary and popular pamphlet of the entire revolutionary era.". When Thomas Paine first anonymously published his series of pamphlets titles Common Sense they became an overnight success. In the words of Historian Gordon S

"These are the times that try men's souls," begins Thomas Paine's first Crisis paper, the impassioned pamphlet that helped ignite the American Revolution. . A powerful piece of propaganda, it attacked the idea of a hereditary monarchy, dismissed the chance for reconciliation with England, and outlined the economic benefits of independence while espousing equality of rights among citizens. Paine fanned a flame that was already burning, but many historians argue that his work unified dissenting voices and p

William Brennan said Uncommon Sense. Common Sense is one of the greatest articles of argumentation ever written. Paine was the finest pamphleteer of his age and was able to turn the discontents of the colonists and, especially, the intellectual leaders of the revolutionary movement into arguments that were easily understood by ordinary colonials and which inspired them to rally to the cause of independence.I first read Common Sense more than fifty years ago and remember well being impressed with Paine's ability to carry arguments and to anticipate those of his opponents b. David said Decent quality, vital text.. Arrived somewhat bent. Not sure who's fault that is. The book itself is a decent copy of Common Sense; I've seen better and worse. The content, the words from Paine, is imperative knowledge for any student of any vocation or citizen of a modern democracy.. "Good for High-Schoolers" according to Aran Joseph Canes. I was surprised how dated Common Sense and The Rights of Man are. Many of the arguments are of interest only to people of the last-eighteenth century and don’t address deeper philosophical topics. In addition, the selections from other works of Paine is sparse in this edition. With its low price and brief excerpts this edition is more for high school students in American history than intellectuals or scholars interested in the history of ideas.