Common Sense by Thomas Paine – Hardcover

The Pamphlet That Started a Revolution

On January 10, 1776, Thomas Paine published a 50-page booklet that changed the course of history. Common Sense made the case for American independence from Britain in plain, passionate language that ordinary colonists could read and believe—and it sold half a million copies in a nation of three million people.

Paine had arrived in America from England in 1774, carrying a letter of introduction from Benjamin Franklin. Already a poet and pamphleteer who had written against the slave trade, he turned his pen to the most urgent question of his era: should the colonies break free? His answer—and his argument—lit the fuse.

Why It Matters

• Published January 10, 1776 – Six months before the Declaration of Independence
• 500,000 copies sold – The best-selling American title of the 18th century, per capita
• Written for everyone – Paine deliberately used plain language to reach ordinary colonists, not just the educated elite
• A direct influence on the Revolution – Credited with shifting public opinion decisively toward independence
• Endorsed by Benjamin Franklin – Paine arrived in America with Franklin’s personal recommendation

Book Details

• Author: Thomas Paine
• Publisher: Applewood Books
• Format: Hardcover
• Originally Published: January 10, 1776
• ISBN: 9781557094582

A Gift That Speaks for Itself

For history lovers, civics students, Independence Day, or anyone who believes in the power of a well-made argument—Common Sense is as urgent and readable today as it was in 1776. Pairs naturally with the Declaration of Independence, U.S. Constitution, and Bill of Rights pocket editions from Applewood Books.