N THESE TRYING TIMES of rapid climate change when autocracy threatens democracy, Making Global Sense revives ideas and ideals from Thomas Paine and the Enlightenment to champion 21st century enlightenment.
Seasoned journalist Judah Freed weaves essay and memoir to update Common Sense by Thomas Paine. Where Paine in 1776 challenged monarchy and hereditary succession, instead proposing a democratic republic, Freed challenges ancient alpha male rule and authority addiction (hidden by split perceptions), instead proposing mindful self rule, personal democracy and direct republics. Where Paine inspired independence and revolution, Freed inspires interdependence and evolution.
Making Global Sense reports that more than a billion of us on earth are aware of our global oneness. We form a global sense movement that's now generating critical mass for a global shift into enlightened societies.
Judah Freed frames his essays within the memoir survival story behind the insights voiced in Making Global Sense, which he began writing in 2001. He vulnerably narrates childhood abuse, school bullying; joining a cult at age 20, fleeing at age 24, then recovery by facing his authority addiction and committing to self rule. He recalls ego follies in decades of local to international journalism, making vivid his world travel adventures, like landing in Fiji amid a coup and the impact of visiting Gandhi's home in Mumbai. He shares his soul choice as an elder to survive cancer, so he can finish this book.
Updated in January 2025 for the Trump era and evolving world news.
AwardsVisionary Book Awards (COVR)
- -Rising to the Challenge, 2024
- -Earth Changes, 2024
- -Social Justice, 2024
Colorado Evvy Book Award
- -Culture Studies / Social Issues, 2024
Eric Hoffer Book Award
Nautilus Book Award
Dayton Literary Peace Prize
THE AUTHOR
Judah Freed is a seasoned journalist and author who's written or edited 15 books that won a dozen awards. His 50 years in journalism feature a decade covering Colorado, two decades pioneering coverage of new media for U.S. and European trade magazines, a decade covering Kauai, and today covering Colorado for a national news service.
Judah earned a 1988 double BA in journalism and communication from the University Without Walls at Loretto Heights College (Regis). He researched rhetoric, organizational cultures and public communication through the Individualized MA program of Antioch University.
Freed, Judah: - JUDAH FREED is a seasoned journalist and award-winning author. He made a soul choice as an elder to survive cancer and publish Making Global Sense, which he began writing in 2001.. As a freethinking student of Thomas Paine and the Enlightenment, Freed distills 18th century ideas and ideals for 21st century minds. To balance head and heart, he frames his thoughtful essay within a vulnerable memoir of the life behind his insights. Giving back beyond his writings, Judah serves on the First Amendment committee of the American Society of Journalists an Authors. He represents ASJA on the executive steering committee of the international Banned Books Week Coalition. He serves on the board of of directors in the Thomas Paine Historical Association. He's also active in the Thomas Paine Memorial Association, which awaits final congressional approval for a Paine statue in Washington, DC.
Paine, Thomas: - Thomas Paine (1737-1809), an English-born writer and activist, is renown for his 1776 essay, Common Sense, the world-changing call for independence and democracy that inspired the American Revolution. During the French Revolution, Paine voiced the ideals of the Enlightenment in Rights of Man, the #1 bestseller in Europe and the new United States.
