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    Common Sense
    Common Sense
    Common Sense

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    Audiobook1 hour

    Common Sense

    Written by Thomas Paine

    Narrated by The Synthetic Voice of Brian

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    About this audiobook

    Thomas Paine's groundbreaking pamphlet, Common Sense, is a stirring, persuasive argument for American independence and democratic governance. Paine, with his clear and forceful rhetoric, challenges the legitimacy of British rule and advocates for the colonies' right to self-determination.

    His powerful call to action resonates with the principles of freedom and equality, urging colonists to embrace revolution and establish a new, just society. Paine's work remains a cornerstone of political thought, inspiring movements for liberty and democracy around the world.

    Please note: The audiobook narration was digitally synthesized, and the cover was made in collaboration with AI tools.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherRetroSynth Classics
    Release dateApr 25, 2024
    ISBN9781094473093
    Author

    Thomas Paine

    Thomas Paine was an English-American political activist, philosopher, political theorist, and revolutionary.

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    Reviews for Common Sense

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    • 1/5

      May 6, 2024

      Breathy - choppy - hurt the ears with every word! This reader should NEVER read another book - EVER!!
    • 5/5

      Jul 13, 2024

      The original classic on liberty. Perhaps more timely today
    • 4/5

      Dec 8, 2023

      Paine’s impassioned argument for American Independence was a best seller in the country its initial printing and it has remained in print ever since . This 1997 Dover Thrift reprint of the “new” 1776 edition starts with his idea that monarchy is nonsense and proceeds with his reasons why the colonies south of Canada are right in demanding independence, then proceeds to attack the reasons and persons who disagree, citing other thinkers who agree with him. He is insistent that now is the time for this to happen. Independence should not be delayed. It is not time to hesitate or negotiate; it is time to act.
    • 4/5

      Mar 2, 2021

      Thomas Paine references history and the Bible. He assumes his readers are well education in both history and the Bible. He also brings in humor to his writing.
    • 4/5

      Oct 25, 2020

      After reading David McCullough's 1776 I went for this. It's surprisingly readable, short and consumable. Some of the writing and insights are quite striking! And he had only recently come to America when this was written, so his passion is a bit surprising.
    • 4/5

      Dec 12, 2019

      Thomas Paine's seminal 1776 publication arguing in favor of independence for the American colonies, and against further attempts at reconciliation with England.

      As important historical documents go, this one has the benefit of being short, accessible, and still surprisingly readable nearly 250 years later. Some of Paine's arguments are better than others, and his opinions about the function of government look very simplistic from my 21st century perspective, although there is no doubt there are still plenty of people who think much the same way even now. But he does a great rant about why the whole concept of hereditary monarchies is irrational and morally bankrupt, and you can certainly see why he got people fired up and ready to get their rebellion on.

      It also provides a fascinating sense of perspective to watch an important figure from the past thinking about the legacy the actions of his own time are going to leave for posterity, when you yourself are that posterity.

      Rating: I'm giving this one a 4/5, as an interesting and painless-to-read window into history. (No pun intended.)
    • 5/5

      Apr 14, 2019

      Like all dated material, a little bit of a challenge to get through, but well worth the effort. In this brief little book, Paine lays out the underlying rationale of the country's founding and impetus for the revolution. Long story short: the King is not law: the Law is king. Nuff said.
    • 3/5

      Feb 22, 2019

      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.

      Unfortunate that the knee-jerk Right has appropriated this polished wit. I can't see how is reconciles with the specks of froth about emails and birth certificates. Baggage eschewed, this remains a powerful pamphlet, a catalyst for defiance. Not as convincing as J.S. Mill, but one rife with images and optimism.
    • 3/5

      Oct 20, 2017

      I'm sure I read excerpts from this in school many years ago. I'd forgotten most of the specifics but the general idea (yay independence, boo monarchy) is pretty plain. I was a little surprised by how similar the eventual US government became to the British system, given how much time Paine spends complaining about it. (Granted, he spends even more time complaining about the idea of hereditary power.) I was also struck by how "religious freedom" only included Christians. Freedom of religion is one of the basic rights in the Constitution, and yet here we have one of the biggest advocates completely ignoring most of the religions of the world (including the Deism of many of his contemporaries, though it's not explicitly stated). In short, it was a very important and influential book, well worth reading by any American who wishes to learn more about the early days of their own country. It also really stretches today's definition of "pamphlet".
    • 3/5

      Aug 15, 2017

      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...
    • 5/5

      Nov 7, 2016

      Indeholder "Common Sense", "Agrarian Justice".

      "Common Sense" handler om ???
      "Agrarian Justice" handler om ???

      Dette værk satte fut i den amerikanske frihedstanke, hvilket alene er nok til at sikre det et langt liv. Men derudover er det meget velskrevet.
    • 2/5

      Apr 3, 2016

      Quotes to remember:

      Time makes more converts than reason.
      “The greatest remedy for anger is delay.”

      Some writers have so confounded society with government, as to leave little or no distinction between them; whereas they are not only different, but have different origins. Society is produced by our wants, and government by our wickedness; the former promotes our happiness POSITIVELY by uniting our affections, the latter NEGATIVELY by restraining our vices. The one encourages intercourse, the other creates distinctions. The first a patron, the last a punisher.

      I love the man that can smile in trouble, that can gather strength from distress, and grow brave by reflection. 'Tis the business of little minds to shrink; but he whose heart is firm, and whose conscience approves his conduct, will pursue his principles unto death.
    • 5/5

      Sep 30, 2015

      If you ("you" as in US citizens) haven't read this book, you should. And the narrator gives it all the force and emotion needed to be read as it should (audiobook)! Great!
    • 4/5

      Jun 11, 2015

      Thomas Paine is my favorite writer's (the late Christopher Hitchens) favorite writer, and therefore my responsibility to experience. Upon reading, I quickly understood the admiration. Paine, like Hitchens, is an enviously eloquent silver-tongued wordplayer who holds immoral sycophants to account for their cowardice. For shame that this was not part of my curriculum. How could a work like this be buried in general, purportedly as a result of future quasi-antitheistic work? This writing should be judged upon its own merits. History should have been kinder, as it is a masterpiece of reasoning and rationalism and a supreme galvanizer of men.
    • 4/5

      Jul 4, 2013

      A very appropriate book to be reviewing on the Fourth of July! This is the argument that started the American Revolution - the argument that a break from British ties is the only way to make America great. His arguments are both very persuasive (as a 21st century reader, I found myself agreeing with him on all points) and is very enlightening on the politics of the time.

      I found it difficult to read at some points - the shift in language required me to read the same passages multiple times to understand it. And sometimes, a sentence only made sense in the context of the larger page. But- the arguments are very clear.

      I think all politicians should read this book - as a country, I think America have gone away from the intent of elected officials. Thomas Paine makes it very clear the best government is when each person gets to vote on an issue but when populations are too large second best is vote for a representative.

      This is a book of it's time... There are non-politically correct references to "Savages" of Africa and Native Indians. It is very clear that Thomas Paine was writing to an audience who thought Christianity was the most "Civilized" religion. I say this because the introduction indicates that Thomas Paine was Deist and was against slavery. So, was he writing to his audience? or did he actually believe what he wrote. It is an interesting question.
    • 5/5

      Dec 12, 2012

      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!
    • 4/5

      Mar 13, 2012

      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.
    • 5/5

      Mar 3, 2012

      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.
    • 4/5

      Jan 4, 2011

      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.
    • 4/5

      Nov 30, 2010

      I'd heard about this document for years, and since it was a free download from the Kindle store, I thought I'd read it. Because I read for pleasure, I'm not much into working hard at reading. But because "Common Sense" was written in 1776, the language could be a little tough at times. In fact, I found myself reading most sentences several times, but was well rewarded with the work. This is a fascinating piece that every American should read.
    • 5/5

      Sep 25, 2010

      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.
    • 5/5

      Aug 3, 2010

      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.
    • 5/5

      Jul 8, 2010

      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.
    • 5/5

      Feb 17, 2010

      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.
    • 5/5

      Mar 27, 2009

      "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.
    • 4/5

      Jul 22, 2008

      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.
    • 4/5

      Jul 6, 2008

      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.
    • 3/5

      May 9, 2008

      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
    • 5/5

      Jul 6, 2007

      These essays could be written yesterday. They are so timely, even today.
    • 5/5

      May 20, 2007

      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.