Common Sense vs Rights of Man: Which Should You Read?
Both live on shelves: Causes, Political science, Politics and government, Early works to 1800, History, Fiction
Common Sense
Throughout history, some books have changed the world. They have transformed the way we see ourselves – and each other. They have inspired debate, dissent, war and revolution. They have enlightened, outraged, provoked…
vs
Rights of Man
“AMONG the incivilities by which nations or individuals provoke and irritate each other, Mr. Burke's pamphlet on the French Revolution is an extraordinary instance.”
Written in a fit of pique brought about by Edmund Burke's blistering attack of the French Revolution, Paine's The Rights of Man has come to be regarded as one of the most important works in the realm of Western…
Banned book
The verdict
- Ratings are close across the board — any is a safe pick by score.
- Rights of Man has the widest readership — 10525 ratings behind its score.
- Common Sense reaches further in scholarship and criticism — cited 999 times.
How to choose
Scores by source
| Common Sense | Rights of Man | |
|---|---|---|
| Goodreads | 4.0 (2802) | 4.0 (10525) |
| Hardcover | 5.0 (1) | — |
| Google Books | 5.0 (2) | 4.0 (3) |
| Apple Books | 4.0 (1364) | 4.5 (8) |
Reception
| Common Sense | Rights of Man | |
|---|---|---|
| Ratings | 2802 | 10525 |
| Editions | 171 | 282 |
| Citations | 999 | 38 |
| Film adaptations | 1 | 1 |
| Want to read | 55270 | 18037 |
| Reading it now | 12 | 1007 |
| Written reviews | 2802 | 289 |
| Wikipedia attention | 291 | 4403 |
| Pages | 60 | 162 |