《常识》，本书内容确实如书名所言，全是常识，但这些常识是就今天而言的。在莱克星顿的枪声打响之后的1776年1月，这本书所具有的震撼人心的作用是今人所不可想象的，可以说它就是促使美国从不列颠帝国中独立出来的出版物，本书的出版深刻揭露了英国的黑暗与压迫本质，使得很多人最终下定决心与英国决裂，极大地鼓舞了人们谋求独立的士气。(Common Sense, literally as the title describes, contains common sense only; however, these are easily called common senses in today only. In the January of 1776, after Lexington's gunfire, the shocking and inspiring effect of this book was beyond imagination: it could be said that this is the publication that prompted the United States to be independent from the British Empire. The publication of this book had profoundly exposed the dark and oppressive nature of Britain, making many people's final determination to break with Britain, and had greatly encouraged the people in their seeking of independence.)