The Daily Thomas Paine

A Year of Common-Sense Quotes for a Nonsensical Age

by Thomas Paine

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Pub Date Mar 08 2020 | Archive Date Mar 01 2020

University of Chicago Press

History | Politics & Current Affairs

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Description

Thomas Paine was the spark that ignited the American Revolution. More than just a founding father, he was a verbal bomb-thrower, a rationalist, and a rebel. In his influential pamphlets Common Sense and The American Crisis, Paine codified both colonial outrage and the intellectual justification for independence, arguing consistently and convincingly for Enlightenment values and the power of the people. Today, we are living in times that, as Paine famously said, “try men’s souls.” Whatever your politics, if you’re seeking to understand the political world we live in, where better to look than Paine?

The Daily Thomas Paine offers a year’s worth of pithy and provocative quotes from this quintessentially American figure. Editor Edward G. Gray argues that we are living in a moment that Thomas Paine might recognize—or perhaps more precisely, a moment desperate for someone whose rhetoric can ignite a large-scale social and political transformation. Paine was a master of political rhetoric, from the sarcastic insult to the diplomatic aperçu, and this book offers a sleek and approachable sampler of some of the sharpest bits from his oeuvre. As Paine himself says in the entry for January 20: “The present state of America is truly alarming to every man who is capable of reflexion.” The Daily Thomas Paine should prove equally incendiary and inspirational for contemporary readers with an eye for politics, even those who prefer the tweet to the pamphlet.

A Note From the Publisher

Edited and with a Foreword by Edward G. Gray, professor of history at Florida State University and coeditor of the University of Chicago Press series American Beginnings 1500–1900.

Available Editions

EDITION	Other Format
ISBN	9780226653518
PRICE	$15.00 (USD)
PAGES	176

Additional Information

Average rating from 12 members

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Featured Reviews

Morris M, Reviewer

I found this to be an excellent collection of bite-sized excerpts of the writing of Thomas Paine. It's a good introduction for those interested in learning more about his viewpoints. In this current climate, the bits will provide good starting points for daily reflection upon the path we want this country to go in the future.

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Kaye T, Reviewer

An excellent collection of Thomas Paine's quotes. Reading one a day is insightful views by a timeless writer. For example, "A treacherous friend in power is the most dangerous of enemies" or "Society in every state is a blessing, but government even in its best state is but a necessary evil." Although short and sweet, it is well worth reading. If nothing else, it should spark the reader into reading the actual works. Would recommend.

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Annie B, Reviewer

The Daily Thomas Paine is exactly as stated, a year's worth of quotes and observations from founding father and rationalist Thomas Paine. Due out 8th March 2020 from the University of Chicago Press, it's 176 pages and will be available in paperback format.

The book contains a lengthy foreword by Edward Gray with some chilling observations and comparisons between Paine's time and the embattled political landscape in the USA. Paine's stirring and no-nonsense observations are more relevant today than ever.

This is a good (if niche) read and I enjoyed both sampling a quote per day and reading large chunks of the quotes at a time. The quotes themselves were often choppy and taken out of the larger context. This would be a good source for readers to find interesting excerpts to follow up in the original contexts later, however.

This would be a good fit for students of history, philosophy, politics, current events or anyone concerned with the current political climate in the USA.

Four stars.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes

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Flora K, Reviewer

Ever since I read Rights of Man, Thomas Paine has been among my favourite thinkers. His notions and maxims are such that one cannot help agreeing with him, and he says just as much wise things about private life as about the structure and existence of governments. This book can be the perfect way to whet one's appetite for reading Paine's works - but I think one must have proper self-control to stop at reading only one entry per day: I certainly couldn't stop.

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Jennifer C, Reviewer

This was a excellent collection of quotes from Thomas Paine. This is a good book to introduce the ideas of this great man to new readers or nice refresher for people familiar with his works. I enjoyed the idea of reading one quote a day, although I definitely enjoyed reading several at a time. The quotes will likely mean many to want to read the full works at another time to grasp the full context and meaning of his works. Thanks to Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an unbiased and honest review!