Title: The Rise and Fall of Common Sense
Author: Vivian Robinson
Publisher: XlibrisAU
ISBN: 979-8369487983
Pages: 638
Genre: Politics & Social Sciences / Philosophy
Reviewer: Christina Avina

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In a world filled with fiery and politically charged rhetoric, questions of freedom coming to light, and a divide between people on a fundamental level, the idea of common sense has become a distant memory to far too many people. Common sense is a person’s ability to logically solve problems and make decisions based on common knowledge and widely accepted facts, and yet with questions of reality itself coming into question for so many, it is hard to imagine a world as divided on how common sense comes into play than our current age.

Yet in author Vivian Robinson’s The Rise and Fall of Common Sense, the author takes a deep dive through history and highlights the role that common sense plays in a society ruled by monotheism, or the belief in a religion ruled by a singular “God.” The book highlights the tenants and laws laid out by prophets in two major religions at various points in time, from Moses and Jesus in Christianity to Muhammad in Islam. It also shows how these belief systems influenced the modern world on morality and how people are expected to treat one another.

The author did an amazing job of creating a thought-provoking and compelling read. The book blends history, culture, social sciences and religion seamlessly together in a way that creates conversation amongst readers. The author shows how the term common sense may be a more modern social convenience, the ideas behind it are not and have become an earmark for human evolution and history as well. The way the author explored how these ancient texts and religious foundations have been interpreted and changed throughout history by different authors and writers who bring their own unique viewpoint of the original writing to life was so insightful, and yet the baseline, overall common sense message behind each interpretation remained at its core.

This was a powerful book that spoke to readers who enjoy non-fiction books, especially ones which delve into philosophy, culture, political science, religion and culture. The amount of detail and research the author poured into this book was astounding, and the way the author gave equal time to explore both Christianity and Islam throughout the book was wonderful to read. The author’s writing style felt very educational and thought-provoking, invoking a sense of expertise and attention to detail that allowed me to feel engaged in the topic at hand and allowed me to push me to look into certain topics, stirring both conversations to others around philosophy and common sense on an entirely new level.