Global Sense: Awakening Your Personal Power for Democracy and World Peace

Judah Freed
Media Visions Press (2006)
ISBN 0972890521
Reviewed by Paige Lovitt for Reader Views (11/06)

“Global Sense” was written to be a modern update of “Common Sense” which was written by Thomas Paine and published in 1776.  Judah Freed wrote “Global Sense” to “Awaken your personal power for Democracy and World Peace.”   It is written from the perspective of what he thought Thomas Paine would write if he was alive today.  What is interesting is that the same ideals hold true for today.  Both men wanted us to empower ourselves so that we can empower others.  Freed wants us to bring back true democracy and achieve world peace.

 “Global Sense” addresses four main areas:  1. Mindful Self Rule and Modern Republics; 2. Male Rule and Authority Addiction; 3. Thoughts on the State of World Affairs; 4. Our Ability for Democracy and World Peace.  These topics are written to renew our hope and inspire us into taking action for change.  “Awakening to a global sense of our unity in a divided community is our best hope for democracy and world peace.”

In addition to Thomas Paine, Freed also reflects on the works of; Thomas Hobbes, Barich Spinoza, Friedrich Nietzsche, John Locke, and Charles Darwin, to name a few.  He also puts in thought-provoking quotes by some of these people.  At the end of the book there is an extensive bibliography and a “Global Sense Study Guide.”  In addition to being valuable for self reflection, this guide would also be great for use in the classroom or in a readers group. 

I found “Global Sense” to be very thought-provoking and informative.  I wish that I had access to a book like this when I was in college.  I know that I would have retained much more information because it is written in a way that is interesting and not like a dry textbook.  In college, I did what I needed to pass the required philosophy and political science courses.  I did not retain much.  Today I find myself sadly lacking information in these areas and unable to contribute to a decent conversation on these matters.  I really feel like “Global Sense” has helped to fill in the gaps where I am lacking.  I highly recommend it to people who are interested in philosophy and political science, and people like myself who have some catching up to do.

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