Mr. Pipes writes trenchantly; and at times superbly....No single volume known to me even begins to cater so adequately to those who want to discover what really happened to Russia....Nor do I know any other book better designed to help Soviet citizens to struggle out of the darkness."-- Ronald Hingley; The New York Times Book ReviewGround-breaking in its inclusiveness; enthralling in its narrative of a movement whose purpose; in the words of Leon Trotsky; was "to overthrow the world;" The Russian Revolution draws conclusions that have already aroused great controversy in this country-and that are certain to be explosive when the book is published in the Soviet Union. Richard Pipes argues convincingly that the Russian Revolution was an intellectual; rather than a class; uprising; that it was steeped in terror from its very outset; and that it was not a revolution at all but a coup d'etat -- "the capture of governmental power by a small minority."
#419219 in Books Everyman's Library 1994-10-04 1994-10-04Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 8.20 x 1.05 x 5.25l; 1.01 #File Name: 0679433147368 pages
Review
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful. A Wildfire of Radical Liberal IdeasBy RenaissanceManWhen I write Liberal I mean it in the traditional sense -- We're all liberals (free men/women) in America.Before Common Sense; the American revolution was something that the elites talked about and academics thought about but after the publishing of Common Sense; every American of his time found himself with a deep fire in his heart and a profound love and understanding for inalienable human rights and how it utterly made zero sense for for there to be Kings and Queens on earth and how utterly dispicable it was to be ruled under such terms. It made us want to be free!Common Sense set the American landscape on Rhetorical Fire. Deep concepts from such people as Locke and Brewster and all of these obscure thinkers bubbled up and were made utterly REAL by the firey words of Thomas Paine's pamphlet.As relevant as back then; Common Sense is a must read book for every American today. If you wonder what it means to be an American; what it truly means to be an American regardless of race; color; creed; or anything -- read Thomas Paine's Common Sense - you will understand how the divine right of kings is flawed and how we must care for and govern ourselves on earth by rule of law and rule of human and how we must cherish; protect; and be ready to even fight and die for that idea and how living in any other state is not living at all.Its a fascinating read. The second book Rights of Man is also very interesting but was targetted more at the French Revolution than at the American Public. Definitely worth reading but it's Common Sense that makes every member of government who has ever overextended his power or felt that government and the State as superior to the people -- Common Sense makes all of those people quiver in fear. Read it; and know what it means to be an American; the idea of America. It's that profound and thankfully; its a short read.I like this binding because its priced right and very sturdy. It's not pretentious; everyone can afford it - like Thomas Paine would have wanted it. Its a regular sized book when you combine Common Sense with Rights of Man it forms a nice book about 1.5 inches thick....and if Thomas Paine had lived today I am 100% certain that he would have titled it "Rights of People." This book looks great in a library. Comes with a dust jacket but the book is hardbound woven cloth - nice.If you're contemplating Thomas Paine; you probably already know what I'm talking about - if you don't; take a read.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Everyone should read it learn the truth about our nation's foundationBy Steven J. HooksThe truth is the truth; and history can not be changed to fit one piticular political parties' advantage. The concept of Mr. Paine's message is so simple in nature; that it is almost sad that a group of people could not be able to understand it/or want to understand it. It's a great read!1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. Limited in contentBy J. JanssenThomas Paine's contribution to the American Revolution; and to liberal political thought in general; cannot be denied. While I generally favor Everyman's Library editions; in this one case I would suggest you look at the Library of America's "Thomas Paine: Collected Writings" which is available for approximately the same amount of money; has comparable book binding qualities; and includes more of Paine's written output than does this edition (the only reason for my 4 star rating).Paine was the original firebrand revolutionary; and a particular hero for those that feel American democracy has veered off track. Unlike; socialism's Marx/Engels; capitalism's Adam Smith; or the purist philosophers of the Enlightenment; Paine spoke in the voice of the common man rather than the didactic of class struggle or Darwinian economics. His populist publications roused the citizenry and emboldened more established political figures into taking separatist positions leading up to the war. However; those who try and conflate 18th century passions with contemporary political debate are treading in deep and treacherous waters. Much to the chagrin of those that would like to believe otherwise; the founding fathers cannot be easily pigeonholed into contemporary R vs. D political identities. It's very much an "up is down and down is up" reality. Paine; for example; spent most of the 1790's in France championing the French Revolution and famously became the arch foe of conservatism's founding father; British MoP Edmund Burke. Likewise; he infamously rejected Christianity in favor of Deism ("The Age of Reason"); questioned the inherent right to "private property" ("Agrarian Justice"); and wrote the first tract promoting an old age pension system the SSA credits with forming the basis for our modern Social Security ("Agrarian Justice"). Yet; he often adopted positions siding with the likes of Hamilton against Jeffersonian interests when the notion suited him. Many of his positions are at one time libertarian AND liberal; an unthinkable pairing today; but not at all unreasonable in the late 1700's. Unlike our current crop of politicians; the founding fathers took issues as they found them rather than manufacture specific ones to suit a coordinated ideological platform.Very simply; Paine believed all men were born with natural rights which included freedom of (and from) religion; freedom of speech; and freedom to assemble and elect those to represent them in the affairs of government; the operative word being "represent". He didn't trust authority; but saw the value of what government could do for it's citizenry. Pretty simple stuff; yet curiously contentious in our current political climate.
