Rating: 
Summary: Paine as "Wisdom Literature"
Review: A "must have" for any legitimate personal "library".Paine's thoughts are important reading for every person who would call himself educated and versed in the history of ideas about how society should organize -- particularly "Common Sense" and "The Age of Reason". I myself would have included him in Stephen Covey's "Wisdom Literature" ("First Things First"). Carl Sagan cites him ("The Demon Haunted World") in support of his own reflections on "the God hypothesis". COMMON SENSE speaks to form and purpose of government and was the pivotal Revolutionary pamphlet in which Paine disected and debunked the legitimacy of monarchy, giving voice to the growing feelings in the Colonies that being ruled by the King of England had become obsolete. Paine's articulation served to "tune" the chorused voices of the Colonies, which before his writing, were loud but out of tune. (War was underway, but the Colonies not well organized in a joint defense.) COMMON SENSE even has a refreshed relevance in the aftermath of the 9/11/01 tragedies in New York, as we re-examine some of our institutions. THE AGE OF REASON will be disagreeable reading to devout followers of any organized religion -- particularly Christians -- as it is Paine's book-by-book disection and denunciation of the Bible (and, by extension, the "scriptures" of all other religions) as a collection of fables, nurtured through the ages for corrupt purposes of church leaders (starting hundreds of years BC). But, almost by definition, an educated person MUST acknowledge disagreeable ideas and THEN make disposition of them Once in a while "disagreement" is even persuaded to new thinking, n'est ce pas?. This edition is a particularly excellent resource for these pieces and Paine's other writings. It is scrupulously based on the best discoverable versions, with meticulous notes documenting the sources. The physical quality of the printing and binding is premium in every aspect, and will last for generations. Truly a "library" quality volume, far superior to the typical "best seller" construction.
Rating:
Summary: A Man of Reason
Review: At the height of The Age of Reason, The United States of America was created by men such as Thomas Paine and many others who held Man above all other philosophies long enough to get the idea "Individual Rights" down on paper in the form of The Constitution of the United States of America. Paine's contribution to this end is well known. Paine noted in this book that "we have it in our power to make the world over again", and they did. Man has a right to his own life, and there is no law above this. No one has a right to another man's life, not God, not the Race, not the dictatorship, not the proletariat, not The Great Society nor the New Deal. Thanks to Thomas Paine and men like him we have it in writing "We own our own life and we are free to dispose of it in our own way". Let's work together as free men and women to keep our freedom and to spread it around the world to our oppressed brothers and sisters. To the Glory of Man!!
Rating:
Summary: A Man of Reason
Review: At the height of The Age of Reason, The United States of America was created by men such as Thomas Paine and many others who held Man above all other philosophies long enough to get the idea "Individual Rights" down on paper in the form of The Constitution of the United States of America. Paine's contribution to this end is well known. Paine noted in this book that "we have it in our power to make the world over again", and they did. Man has a right to his own life, and there is no law above this. No one has a right to another man's life, not God, not the Race, not the dictatorship, not the proletariat, not The Great Society nor the New Deal. Thanks to Thomas Paine and men like him we have it in writing "We own our own life and we are free to dispose of it in our own way". Let's work together as free men and women to keep our freedom and to spread it around the world to our oppressed brothers and sisters. To the Glory of Man!!
Rating:
Summary: The Forgotten Father
Review: Before reading the Collected Writings of Thomas Paine, I understood very little about him. Though his language and vocabulary are a little dated, his deep wisdom and understanding of the human condition shines through remarkably as if he were alive today. If only he were. What would he think of our current state of affairs? The best part of the collection has to be both parts of The Age of Reason. If this isn't required reading in school, it should be. If you've forgotten what it means to be American, then read and re-read this book.
Rating:
Summary: The Forgotten Father
Review: Brilianty written with passion and fury for the common men of this historic period of time. Essays written not for the elitests but for those who could and did make a difference. Paines works are truly historical and express the point of view of the common man who day after day is raped with taxes and control by a royal family thousands of miles away who could care less for the people they take claim to. His works helped give birth to the greatest nation to bless the Earth.
Rating:
Summary: I feel like punching the Queen evertime I read his works
Review: Brilianty written with passion and fury for the common men of this historic period of time. Essays written not for the elitests but for those who could and did make a difference. Paines works are truly historical and express the point of view of the common man who day after day is raped with taxes and control by a royal family thousands of miles away who could care less for the people they take claim to. His works helped give birth to the greatest nation to bless the Earth.
Rating:
Summary: Food for radical republicans
Review: I just finnished reading a Common Sense and I thought it was extremely radically written by a very perswasive or better said agressive aproach. However there are passing a very big amount of very very interesting arguments which are surely ones to reminded forever. As a historical person I dont think I have to add something to his personality already, since its a very difficult one to avoid. And in fact he should be remembered for what he did. Only to bad that a great man had to end in such a way. The stuff thats gathered in this book is amazing. It contains his 4 somewhat major works. But also several shorter one, a few letters and other writings. I think for every historystudent of that age, looking for some thoughts in the pure sense of the enlightenment. Thomas Paine is your man.
Rating: 
Summary: Paine's natural fire and wit stands out in this collection
Review: This anthology offers a wide survey of Thomas Paine's writings, including the complete series of articles on "The Crisis" and the whole of "Rights of Man" and "Age of Reason." Through these writings, one gains a self-portrait of Paine in all his strengths and weaknesses. Some of his deficiencies stand out markedly in "Age of Reason," where his attempts to discredit what he calls "the stupid texts of the bible" actually highlight his own misunderstanding and the gaps in his education (which was largely self-achieved). His natural wit comes to the fore in his superb Revolutionary War propaganda pieces ridiculing the British generals who were then besieging the colonists. And his extreme bravery and committment to principle appears in his speech, when serving as a delegate to the French Assembly just as the Reign of Terror was beginning, pleading for the life of Louis XVI . Eric Foner has chosen the pieces well and supplies excellent notes, and the volume is up to the usual high typographical and binding standards of the Library of America. Highly recommended
Rating:
Summary: Paine's natural fire and wit stands out in this collection
Review: This anthology offers a wide survey of Thomas Paine's writings, including the complete series of articles on "The Crisis" and the whole of "Rights of Man" and "Age of Reason." Through these writings, one gains a self-portrait of Paine in all his strengths and weaknesses. Some of his deficiencies stand out markedly in "Age of Reason," where his attempts to discredit what he calls "the stupid texts of the bible" actually highlight his own misunderstanding and the gaps in his education (which was largely self-achieved). His natural wit comes to the fore in his superb Revolutionary War propaganda pieces ridiculing the British generals who were then besieging the colonists. And his extreme bravery and committment to principle appears in his speech, when serving as a delegate to the French Assembly just as the Reign of Terror was beginning, pleading for the life of Louis XVI . Eric Foner has chosen the pieces well and supplies excellent notes, and the volume is up to the usual high typographical and binding standards of the Library of America. Highly recommended
Rating:
Summary: Excellent in every way
Review: This book collects together Paine's Common Sense (which was instrumental in collecting and gathering America's attention to the benefits of strict independence from Great Britain); his letters or series entitled "the American Crisis," which galvanizes his previous topics; gives a brief account of his engineering work for arches bridges; provides another span of letters on his involvement in the French Revolution, and finishes with his Age of Reason, in which he examines and debunks the Bible. Though his reasoning and conclusions may alarm some and even offend others, his thinking and writing is lucid and cogent, and for reflective minds will provide much food for thought. Accused of sophistry and impudence by some of his contemporaries, his reasoning is normally sound and simple, as he inquires into the root of things, and only seldom does he make debating points fit only for the playground. A sensible and likable man, Paine's writing should engage any American for its historical sense, any lover or researcher interested in human rights and the hope of removing human misery, and any person interested in reading the entertaining but vital arguments of a man whose love of liberty and order forced him late in life to become one of America's most influential revolutionary and socially-minded voices.
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