Making Global Sense

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.

Awards

Visionary 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

• Culture, 2023

Nautilus Book Award

• Memoir, 2023

Dayton Literary Peace Prize 

• Nominee, 2023

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.