Common Sense

The original 18th century text of Thomas Paine’s Common Sense, updated into today’s modern English (with the original text at the back).

Also:

• Detailed illustrations
• Explanatory footnotes
• Background historical info
• King George III’s speech (also updated into today’s English)
• An opponent’s tract (also updated into today’s English)
• “What happened next?”
• An historic timeline
• Reading group questions

Examples of updated English:

• “your goodliest young men and your asses” → “your best young men and your donkeys”
• “the prudent reflexion of not making a rod for themselves.” → “knowing that betraying that trust would only harm themselves.”
• “a worm, who in the midst of his splendor is crumbling into dust” → “a mere mortal — a creature who, even at the height of his glory, is already crumbling into dust”
• “the present mode of impressing men” → “today’s practice of conscripting men”

With our modern updates, you’ll never be confused or get the wrong idea; and if you wish, you can always check the original text at the back.

The updated text contains:

• The full original meaning
• No censorship
• No modern political correctness