COMMON SENSE

Thomas Paine alienated his British countrymen by championing the American and French Revolutions. In fact, he ended up alienating the Americans and French, too--but not before publishing passionate and influential writings that still stir hearts and minds. His pamphlet COMMON SENSE (1776) provided a concise, plain-language rationale for America's break with the mother country. It still makes valuable reading. Narrator George Vafiadis captures the essay's passion and sincerity, but skimps on the meaning. He has so wrapped himself up in an orator's mannerisms that he leaves little room for the sense of COMMON SENSE, aside from marking the punctuation. Y.R. (c) AudioFile 2003, Portland, Maine [Published: APR/MAY 03]