Thomas Paine's Rights of Man

In The Rights of Man, first published in 1791, Thomas Paine argued against monarchy and outlined the elements of a successful republic, including public education, pensions, and relief of the poor and unemployed, all financed by income tax. Here, Christopher Hitchens marvels at the book's forethought and revels in its contentiousness. Above all, he shows how The Rights of Man forms the philosophical cornerstone of the world's most powerful republic: the United States of America.

Tyler

2021-04-27

I have a soft spot for Hitchens, as he has such wonderful prose. His own ideas of liberty, governance, and god seep through the pages. However, his love and respect for Thomas Paine shows most of all. Paine is an inspiration; born in 1737, he remains largely irrelevant and inconsequential until he's 40 years old and publishes Common Sense which sparks a world changing revolution. This book highlights his fascinating life and has interesting insights to other contemporaries like Burke.

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