Thomas Paine's Common Sense (released in January 1776) is no doubt one of the most important books ever written in American History. Initially, Paine published the book anonymously. However, after three months in publication Paine was revealed as the author, putting him in serious danger. Still, Paine and his fellow revolutionaries labored on. Since most of the population was illiterate, those who were sympathetic to the books message who could read went around to taverns and gathering areas to read the pamphlet out loud. After all, the Revolution was in its infancy and many more people needed to support it in order for it to succeed.
In the book, Paine advocates for independence from Great Britain through moral and political arguments. "Society is produced by our wants," Paine said in Common Sense, "and government by wickedness; the former promotes our happiness positively by uniting our affections, the latter negatively by restraining our vices." That is the truly the crux of Paine's argument.
By every measure Common Sense was a massive success. Some suggest that However, Paine never profited from Common Sense. In fact, many suggest that he lost money on the book. Regardless, Common Sense is the best-selling American book of all time and still remains in print to this day. Historian Gordon S. Wood sums up the books merits wonderfully, calling Common Sense: "the most incendiary and popular pamphlet of the entire revolutionary era."
