Making Global Sense revives ideas and ideals from Thomas Paine and the Enlightenment to champion 21st century enlightenment.

A book about how we got to where we are, and what we can do from here.

• “Thomas Paine rallied Americans to a new sense of themselves and their possibilities. Judah Freed does likewise for citizens of the planet.” 
-- Bill McKIBBEN

IN THESE TRYING TIMES of global climate change, as autocracy threatens democracy, award-winning author and international journalist Judah Freed weaves essay and memoir to update Common Sense by Thomas Paine.

- Revised in 2025 -

Overview

Making Global Sense .follows the logic and structure of Common Sense. Where Paine in 1776 challenged monarchy and hereditary succession to propose a republic, Freed challenges ancient alpha male rule and authority addiction (hidden by split perceptions) to propose mindful self rule, personal democracy and direct republics. Where Paine inspired independence and armed revolution, Freed inspires interdependence and peaceful evolution.

Freed reports that more than one billion people on earth are now aware of our global connectivity or oneness. Global thinkers in all forms are generating a global sense movement to repair our world.

Storyline - Balancing heart and mind, Judah Freed interweaves his essays with the personal survival story behind his ideas, Stories tell truths beyond ideas alone. Stories help us make sense of life.

Judah vulnerably narrates scenes of childhood abuse, school bullying; joining a cult at age 20, fleeing at 24; then facing his authority addiction and committing to self rule. He recalls ego follies in five decades of local to international journalism. He relates world travel adventures, like landing in Fiji amid a coup, He shares his soul choice a decade ago to survive lethal cancer and finish this book

Why Thomas Paine? - The American Revolution would have failed without Paine’s 1776 Common Sense galvanizing public opinion in favor of a republic without any king. His clear clarion call again rings true for us today.

Markets for Making Global Sense

Written for the billion global thinkers (couscous consumers, cultural creatives) and the "global curious" in all nations who care about freedom and democracy as well as personal growth. A global book transcends niches.

The book is a versatile teacher's resource..