NPR's Book of the Day

Episode: Brush up on American history with 'Common Sense' and 'We the People'
Date: February 20, 2026
Host: Andrew Limbong

Episode Overview

In recognition of the upcoming 250th anniversary of American independence, this episode explores the lasting relevance of two foundational texts in American history: Thomas Paine’s Common Sense and the United States Constitution. First, historian Nora Slinimski discusses the revolutionary impact of Common Sense and its method of reaching the public in the 18th century. The episode then turns to author and historian Jill Lepore, whose book We the People examines the dynamic history and interpretation of the U.S. Constitution, focusing especially on debates about whether the Constitution is a static document or a living, evolving one.

Thomas Paine's Common Sense and Its Enduring Relevance

Guest: Nora Slinimski, Director of the Thomas Paine Institute at Iona University
Host/Interviewer: Sarah McCammon

Key Discussion Points

• Core Arguments of Common Sense
  • Paine’s pamphlet was a direct call for independence, arguing that "A Government of Our Own is Our Natural Right." (01:14)
  • He advocated for a republic over hereditary monarchy, emphasizing, as Slinimski put it:

    "Monarchy bad. Republic. Good." (02:29, Slinimski)

• The Radical Nature of Independence
  • At the time, ideas like equality, liberty, and democracy were not part of everyday thinking; allegiance to Britain was strong in many quarters.
  • Slinimski explains Paine’s unique ability to unify various groups—Patriots, Loyalists, and the indifferent—by “view[ing] all those different disparate voices and perspectives as one” (03:31, Slinimski).
• Pamphlet as 18th-century “Viral” Media
  • Common Sense’s concise, readable format made it accessible.
  • Slinimski draws an explicit parallel to today’s social media influencers:

    “Paine is not all that dissimilar from a social media influencer today.” (04:39)

  • The pamphlet spread both through print and lively in-person discussions—“the 18th-century version of the water cooler.” (04:57, Slinimski)
• Modern Echo Chambers
  • The episode notes similarities between historical and modern patterns of communication:

    "The question of echo chambers or silos or different communities listening to very specific sources for their information… That's not really a new problem." (05:59, Slinimski)

  • Paine’s open, transparent writing style helped him reach diverse groups, offering a lesson for communicators today.
• Civic Knowledge and Democratic Life
  • On the enduring importance of informed citizenship:

    "Where I see Paine speaking most clearly to our present day experiences is the importance of how learning and knowledge and being an informed citizen is central to the sort of democratic experiment." (07:36, Slinimski)

  • The episode concludes that this civic value continues to unite Americans even amidst today’s noisy, polarized climate.

Notable Quotes

• Nora Slinimski:

  “He was a good faith writer and I think that's why multiple publics found him so persuasive… He was deeply informed, deeply knowledgeable. He was a true expert in his craft.” (06:39)

Important Timestamps

• [01:14] – The heart of Paine’s argument and historical context
• [02:12] – Core arguments of Common Sense revisited
• [03:06] – How different groups responded to the pamphlet
• [04:36] – The pamphlet as a precursor to viral media
• [05:41] – Comparisons to the modern media landscape
• [07:29] – Lasting impact on American civic life

Jill Lepore on We the People and the Evolution of the Constitution

Guest: Jill Lepore, Historian and author of We the People
Host/Interviewer: Steve Inskeep

Key Discussion Points

• The Constitution: Living Document or Set in Stone?
  • Lepore's new book traces the history of debates regarding whether the Constitution can and should be reinterpreted over time (09:07).
  • Focus on early 20th-century “living constitutionalism,” particularly as advocated by President Woodrow Wilson—a constitutional scholar by training.

    “Wilson… argued that the Constitution is an organism, a living thing that has to be allowed to grow naturally.” (10:38, Lepore)

• Progressive-Era Reforms and Amendments
  • Major amendments responded to industrialization, inequality, and immigration—including women’s suffrage and the federal income tax (09:45–10:07).
  • The period saw the creation of independent federal agencies (e.g., Federal Reserve), with debates persisting about their constitutionality (10:17).
• Contemporary Relevance and Partisan Divides
  • Lepore addresses how historical criticisms and defenses of the active federal government echo today's discussions.

    "You can find all the arguments that a John Yoo is making now, you can find those in the 1920s and 1930s." (12:16, Lepore)

  • The FDR era "buffered the forces of the market," balancing democracy and economic protection at a moment when democracies worldwide were under threat (12:52–13:30).
  • Modern challenges—such as disputes over the 14th Amendment’s birthright citizenship clause—are seen as continuing this long arc of constitutional contestation (15:33).
• The Broad Canvas of Constitutional History
  • Lepore’s approach emphasizes optimism and perseverance through constitutional change:

    “It's just a much bigger, more colorful, wildly interesting canvas of constitutional history that makes me feel quite a bit better about a sense of possibility moving forward.” (14:37, Lepore)

  • She cautions that not all amendments are positive:

    “A lot of amendment ideas are really terrible ideas, and some of them, once put in place, turn out to not have the effect that was hoped for or they're betrayed or they're defied.” (15:33, Lepore)

Memorable Moments & Quotes

• On historical continuity:

  “I think it will ultimately be unsuccessful now because the kinds of benefits that accrue to societies as a whole… the more those provisions are dismantled and withdrawn from ordinary Americans, the more visible they become and their absence becomes more painful.” (14:16, Lepore)

• On optimism and perspective:

  “…If you widen that out and look at the whole of American history in that broad canvas… it's a kind of glorious history.” (14:51, Lepore)

Important Timestamps

• [09:07] – Introduction to We the People and the question of a living Constitution
• [10:07] – Living constitutionalism and Woodrow Wilson’s approach
• [11:14] – Criticisms of the administrative state and independent agencies
• [12:52] – Benefits and effects of an expanded federal government
• [14:37] – Embracing the “wildly interesting canvas” of constitutional history
• [15:33] – On the pitfalls and realities of constitutional amendments

Summary & Takeaways

• Common Sense was revolutionary not only in its arguments for independence but also in the radically accessible, viral way it reached the public—a lesson for modern civil discourse.
• The Constitution, as chronicled by Jill Lepore, remains a site of vibrant, unresolved debate over its meaning and its capacity to adapt to new challenges.
• Both segments highlight the enduring necessity of an informed, engaged citizenry in sustaining democracy.
• The episode offers historical context and fresh perspective on the debates shaping American civic life as the nation approaches its 250th anniversary.

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