Uncommon Sense
How to Think Clearly When the World Has Lost Its Mind
Written by Jack Valerio
About the Book
Uncommon Sense: How to Think Clearly When the World Has Lost Its Mind is about questioning assumptions, looking beyond conventional answers, and making better sense of the choices and situations we encounter every day.
Jack Valerio draws on ordinary experiences to examine how we think, why we sometimes accept conclusions without questioning them, and what can happen when we look at familiar situations from a different angle. Rather than telling readers what to think, Uncommon Sense invites them to follow the reasoning, consider the evidence, and reach their own conclusions.
Written in a direct, conversational style, the book explores clear thinking, judgment, decision-making, and the everyday assumptions that influence how we see the world.
Readers purchased Uncommon Sense and, entirely on their own, began sending me photographs of the book and their experiences with it.
Erna
It’s clear that Erna read thoughtfully, underlining passages that had meaning for her so she could return to them and consider them again.
Anna and Rob
Rob and I knew each other as educators in Martin County and share a love of Italian-American food. He brought his copy of Uncommon Sense to Anna’s Original Pizza in Jensen Beach, where Anna, a longtime friend whose cooking I have admired and learned from for many years, joined him for this photograph.
Carmen
Carmen was in my first class when I began teaching in 1973. More than fifty years later, we remain close, and she still considers me an important influence in her life.
Nancy
Nancy, an author herself, and I met through Facebook, where we discovered a shared interest in encouraging people to think differently about life’s difficulties. She became intrigued by Uncommon Sense, read it, and later wrote a review.
Linda
Linda is my niece, but with only two and a half years between us, we grew up more like brother and sister. Bright, funny, and endlessly interesting to talk with, she has always felt more like a sister to me.
Ara
Ara is a close friend and confidant with a deeply academic approach to reading. The notes marking her copy of Uncommon Sense reflect the careful, engaged way she reads and considers the ideas before her.
Iris Ruth Pastor
Iris and I discovered we were cousins through a DNA match and quickly became close. After reading Uncommon Sense, she was moved to write about the book on her blog and share it with her readers.
Florida Library Assn.
After publishing Uncommon Sense, I was accepted into the Florida Library Association’s Performer & Speaker Directory, where I’m available to speak about the book and about writing, publishing, and promoting books.
A Meaningful Milestone
Soon after publishing Uncommon Sense on Amazon, I discovered it was also available through Barnes & Noble. Since then, I’ve found the book offered by booksellers around the world, including in the United Kingdom, Australia, China, India, and Italy.
Ermithe
Ermithe was a student at Martin County High School, where I came to know her and her siblings during their years there. Ermithe and I have remained close over the years, and I treasure our friendship.
Al
Al was principal of Martin County High School, where I served as assistant principal for 20 years. We worked together for three of those years. An avid reader himself, he encouraged his assistant principals to read as well. We have remained friends, and it was a delight to learn that he had read Uncommon Sense.
Paperback • 98 pages • Published January 2026
ISBN 9798994257302
2026 NYC Big Book Award • Distinguished Favorite