Thomas Paine's Rights of Man (Books That Changed the World)

There is nothing to dislike in this appreciation of Paine, a bold and honest man, by Hitchens, an equally bold and incisive reader and writer. Americans who still read can learn much about one of the significant Founders who had no other agenda than human rights.

Thomas Paine has one of the most incredible life stories of any significant historical figure. And yet it's rendered here in convoluted, constricted prose. Each sentence with a built-in speed bump determined to stop all flow if possible. I gave up about 3/4 of the way through the book after suffering through the main bio, just before he got around to discussing The Rights of Man. This is my first experience reading Hitchens and will be my last.

This pint size book provides some interesting commentary on the writings of Thomas Paine. Although it is also a mini biography, it is foremost a tale of the verbal battle between Paine and Edmund Burke who wrote a criticism of the French revolution entitled "Reflections on the Revolution in France."Paine always spoke his mind. His fiery remarks helped spark the American revolution, and later, in France, he so freely vented his opinions on what the French should be doing that he was thrown into prison, and narrowly escaped execution. Paine was vastly irritated by Burke (who deplored the French revolution), and was prompted to do a 19th century version of flaming.Thomas Paine wasn't the only one irked by Englishman Burke. Jefferson wrote about him to a friend of his discussing the "rottenness of his (Burke's) mind." How else should a new American feel about Burke's glorification of the aristocracy and scruffy put-down of the rights of citizens. It is both informative, and entertaining to read about this famous debate between Burke and Paine.I feel obliged to add John Barrell wrote a very negative review of this book in the London Review of Books. He accuses Hitchens of historical inaccuracy and even plagiarism. Nevertheless I enjoyed the book. It is quite accessible to the average reader, and I highly recommend it.Finally I can't help but remark on what seems to be an ego trip on Hitchen's part. On the front and back cover of the book is a picture of a man. Thomas Paine's picture? No, Christopher Hitchen's picture. Again, on the front cover, we find Mr. Hitchen's name in significantly larger type than the name of Thomas Paine. I guess when you have a book on the best seller list (God Is Not Great) you get a little puffed up.

I'm a big Hitchens fan, but I really wish some American history scholar had done this work instead of my favorite atheist. Hitchens drives home the point as he reads about the life and works of Thomas Paine, and where one does get a sense of Hitchens' own social values, one becomes curious why he didn't also Locke, Hobbes, Jefferson or even Benjamin Franklin.Even so, I do wish Hitchens had not passed on, or at least done more audio books with his own voice before succumbing to cancer. The work feels a bit of tone to me because it is Hitchens narrating a work of American history, but at the same time it is rather befitting both him and the work itself. It's one of those strange dichotomy's that has both at odds and synching with one another as the work unfolds.Give it a listen.

I find ( at least so far ) that any book written by Christopher Hitchens is very well thought out and presented . His research is phenomenal and his overall knowledge is amazing . I was tempted to dig out a dictionary to look up some of the words he uses because I didn't know that they existed , even so if you have a grasp of the passage leading up to such words , you can decipher what he meant . Thomas Paine should be honored at least as much as our other founding fathers .

Few of us have read all of the works and commentaries by about Thomas Paine, much less studied the same in depth. Mr. Hitchens has done so and we welcome his artfully written effort to reveal Paine, the complex man during the complex and difficult times of his life.

I just say. I enjoyed this book. Readable and informative without being trite. Insights into some of my favorite pamphlets from the beginnings of the United States of America

Mr. Hitchens outlines very lucidly the historical context of Thomas Paine’s writings and of his life.A thoroughly readable and enjoyable biography and critique of Paine and his contemporaries, predecessors and his successors, all well known to the amateur historian like me.

A well written, concise view of Paine who was the moral author of the US Constitution. Recommend background reading of Edmund Burke as a majority of material is concentrated on the 2 and their materials.

Looked like old book, but unused. Slight yellowing of pages, dusty cover.

It has revolutionary ideas on human rights and democracy.

Thomas Paine`s Rights Of Man was written, during a massive transformation of society. The feudal society was collapsing and being replaced by the nation state. The historic rights of the ruling class were being over thrown. This was a massive upheaval in society. This of course produced many debates, on how to best run a society. Hitchens attempts to examine the thinking process, that was taking place during Paine`s life. Paine outlines, what he feels will produce a free and prosperous society. Hitchens compares and contrasts Paine`s outlooks. The best chapter was the comparison of Thomas Paine and Edmund Burke. Both men outlined, what they felt were societies best step forward. Burke believed; many of the older institutions like the monarchy, should be maintained. Paine wanted a completely new order for society. Personally, I believe freedom to be a very precious commodity. It`s important to understand, what enables a society to be free. This book provided some good insights, into the foundations of a free society.

I was absolutely intrigued by the manner of Hitchen's writing. I brought together so many loose ends for me. Well written.