Joseph Rezek
@rezekjoe.bsky.social
English Prof and Director of American Studies at Boston University. Gay dad and husband. 2024-2025 NEH fellow for “The Racialization of Print,” forthcoming from OIEAHC & UNC Press. https://www.josephrezek.com/
Pinned
The Pamphlet That Has Roused Americans to Action for 250 Years
www.nytimes.com
Friends!!! You know how obsessed I have become with Common Sense.
Tom Paine published that pamphlet 250 years ago this January. I published an essay about it TODAY, in the New York Times. Common Sense remains relevant as ever.
I hope you enjoy it. Gift article ⬇️⬇️⬇️
Tom Paine published that pamphlet 250 years ago this January. I published an essay about it TODAY, in the New York Times. Common Sense remains relevant as ever.
I hope you enjoy it. Gift article ⬇️⬇️⬇️
Reposted by Joseph Rezek
Very excited about this first online sighting of ENGLISH MAJORS AT WORK: CAREER AND LIFE PATHWAYS:
www.rutgersuniversitypress.org/english-majo...
www.rutgersuniversitypress.org/english-majo...
English Majors at Work
English Majors at Work: Career and Life Pathways details the professional superpowers—the many marketable skills—gained from studying literature, creative writing, film, and popular culture. It prepar...
www.rutgersuniversitypress.org
January 6, 2026 at 12:58 AM
Very excited about this first online sighting of ENGLISH MAJORS AT WORK: CAREER AND LIFE PATHWAYS:
www.rutgersuniversitypress.org/english-majo...
www.rutgersuniversitypress.org/english-majo...
It’s fun being gay and reading sports tweets
THIRTY-SIX DAYS UNTIL PITCHERS AND CATCHERS REPORT
I SAY AGAIN
THIRTY-SIX DAYS UNTIL PITCHERS AND CATCHERS REPORT
I SAY AGAIN
THIRTY-SIX DAYS UNTIL PITCHERS AND CATCHERS REPORT
January 6, 2026 at 2:48 AM
It’s fun being gay and reading sports tweets
Reposted by Joseph Rezek
“Fewer children will be vaccinated, and children will be harmed because of this decision,” says @ylepidemiologist.bsky.social about today's vaccine schedule change.
U.S. Axes Number of Recommended Childhood Vaccines in Blow to Public Health
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is reducing the recommended number of vaccines for children to those that protect against 11 diseases instead of the protections against 17 illnesse...
www.scientificamerican.com
January 5, 2026 at 9:48 PM
“Fewer children will be vaccinated, and children will be harmed because of this decision,” says @ylepidemiologist.bsky.social about today's vaccine schedule change.
Reposted by Joseph Rezek
Looks like I found the cover image from my spring Reading AI grad course at UVA. That was from an 1820s series entitled the March of Intellect. More here: publicdomainreview.org/collection/m... “I come, I come!”
January 6, 2026 at 2:30 AM
Looks like I found the cover image from my spring Reading AI grad course at UVA. That was from an 1820s series entitled the March of Intellect. More here: publicdomainreview.org/collection/m... “I come, I come!”
We need to absolutely just completely and utterly destroy all the mf robots
“ChatGPT started coaching Sam on how to take drugs, recover from them and plan further binges. It gave him specific doses of illegal substances, and in one chat, it wrote, ‘Hell yes—let’s go full trippy mode’”
www.sfgate.com/tech/article...
www.sfgate.com/tech/article...
A Calif. teen trusted ChatGPT for drug advice. He died from an overdose.
"Who on earth gives that advice?"
www.sfgate.com
January 6, 2026 at 2:37 AM
We need to absolutely just completely and utterly destroy all the mf robots
Reposted by Joseph Rezek
This is Ollie. He found a perfectly placed carrot snack on his walk. Simply can't believe his luck. 13/10 best day ever (TT: maxime_aries)
January 5, 2026 at 11:10 PM
This is Ollie. He found a perfectly placed carrot snack on his walk. Simply can't believe his luck. 13/10 best day ever (TT: maxime_aries)
Reposted by Joseph Rezek
🧵
The first great American 250th anniversary date of the year arrives this Friday: the publication of Thomas Paine's COMMON SENSE, which occurred on January 9, 1776.
Many sources have the date as January 10, 1776. This is incorrect. But what accounts for the confusion???? Friends, follow me.
Many sources have the date as January 10, 1776. This is incorrect. But what accounts for the confusion???? Friends, follow me.
January 6, 2026 at 12:49 AM
🧵
Reposted by Joseph Rezek
"This Day was/is Published" drives me *nuts*
The first great American 250th anniversary date of the year arrives this Friday: the publication of Thomas Paine's COMMON SENSE, which occurred on January 9, 1776.
Many sources have the date as January 10, 1776. This is incorrect. But what accounts for the confusion???? Friends, follow me.
Many sources have the date as January 10, 1776. This is incorrect. But what accounts for the confusion???? Friends, follow me.
January 6, 2026 at 1:07 AM
"This Day was/is Published" drives me *nuts*
Reposted by Joseph Rezek
The first great American 250th anniversary date of the year arrives this Friday: the publication of Thomas Paine's COMMON SENSE, which occurred on January 9, 1776.
Many sources have the date as January 10, 1776. This is incorrect. But what accounts for the confusion???? Friends, follow me.
Many sources have the date as January 10, 1776. This is incorrect. But what accounts for the confusion???? Friends, follow me.
January 5, 2026 at 5:20 PM
The first great American 250th anniversary date of the year arrives this Friday: the publication of Thomas Paine's COMMON SENSE, which occurred on January 9, 1776.
Many sources have the date as January 10, 1776. This is incorrect. But what accounts for the confusion???? Friends, follow me.
Many sources have the date as January 10, 1776. This is incorrect. But what accounts for the confusion???? Friends, follow me.
Reposted by Joseph Rezek
Cool. Thanks for sharing!
The first great American 250th anniversary date of the year arrives this Friday: the publication of Thomas Paine's COMMON SENSE, which occurred on January 9, 1776.
Many sources have the date as January 10, 1776. This is incorrect. But what accounts for the confusion???? Friends, follow me.
Many sources have the date as January 10, 1776. This is incorrect. But what accounts for the confusion???? Friends, follow me.
January 5, 2026 at 8:38 PM
Cool. Thanks for sharing!
Their little jerseys!!!
January 5, 2026 at 8:42 PM
Their little jerseys!!!
Reposted by Joseph Rezek
A marker in Philadelphia with the inscription, ‘At his print shop here, Robert Bell published the first edition of Thomas Paine’s revolutionary pamphlet [Common Sense] in January 1776. Arguing for a republican form of government under a written constitution.’
January 3, 2026 at 2:15 AM
A marker in Philadelphia with the inscription, ‘At his print shop here, Robert Bell published the first edition of Thomas Paine’s revolutionary pamphlet [Common Sense] in January 1776. Arguing for a republican form of government under a written constitution.’
Reposted by Joseph Rezek
@theitps.bsky.social has all bases covered by putting this conference across 9th and 10th (I will happily be speaking on the 9th!): theitps.org/event/common...
January 5, 2026 at 8:11 PM
@theitps.bsky.social has all bases covered by putting this conference across 9th and 10th (I will happily be speaking on the 9th!): theitps.org/event/common...
Reposted by Joseph Rezek
This is the funniest thing that's ever happened on Threads.
January 5, 2026 at 4:47 AM
This is the funniest thing that's ever happened on Threads.
Reposted by Joseph Rezek
Reposted by Joseph Rezek
Just got my author copy of Black Atlantic Worlds! I’m honored and delighted to be a part of this volume.
www.hup.harvard.edu/books/978088...
www.hup.harvard.edu/books/978088...
Black Atlantic Worlds — Harvard University Press
Landscapes are key to the Black Atlantic. The history of how Africans and their descendants populated and transformed nations, regions, and ecosystems has always been attentive to the multiple meaning...
www.hup.harvard.edu
January 5, 2026 at 5:59 PM
Just got my author copy of Black Atlantic Worlds! I’m honored and delighted to be a part of this volume.
www.hup.harvard.edu/books/978088...
www.hup.harvard.edu/books/978088...
Reposted by Joseph Rezek
Great thread!
The first great American 250th anniversary date of the year arrives this Friday: the publication of Thomas Paine's COMMON SENSE, which occurred on January 9, 1776.
Many sources have the date as January 10, 1776. This is incorrect. But what accounts for the confusion???? Friends, follow me.
Many sources have the date as January 10, 1776. This is incorrect. But what accounts for the confusion???? Friends, follow me.
January 5, 2026 at 7:05 PM
Great thread!
They are out here tearing down Robin Hood??? In this economy???
January 5, 2026 at 6:49 PM
They are out here tearing down Robin Hood??? In this economy???
Reposted by Joseph Rezek
The anniversary will be commemorated by continuing displays of uncommon idiocy.
The first great American 250th anniversary date of the year arrives this Friday: the publication of Thomas Paine's COMMON SENSE, which occurred on January 9, 1776.
Many sources have the date as January 10, 1776. This is incorrect. But what accounts for the confusion???? Friends, follow me.
Many sources have the date as January 10, 1776. This is incorrect. But what accounts for the confusion???? Friends, follow me.
January 5, 2026 at 6:14 PM
The anniversary will be commemorated by continuing displays of uncommon idiocy.
Reposted by Joseph Rezek
There are few texts I enjoy dissecting with students more than COMMON SENSE. So, happy 250th birthday to that book later this week. Here's some fun digging into when it actually appeared.
The first great American 250th anniversary date of the year arrives this Friday: the publication of Thomas Paine's COMMON SENSE, which occurred on January 9, 1776.
Many sources have the date as January 10, 1776. This is incorrect. But what accounts for the confusion???? Friends, follow me.
Many sources have the date as January 10, 1776. This is incorrect. But what accounts for the confusion???? Friends, follow me.
January 5, 2026 at 6:16 PM
There are few texts I enjoy dissecting with students more than COMMON SENSE. So, happy 250th birthday to that book later this week. Here's some fun digging into when it actually appeared.
Reposted by Joseph Rezek
I just purchased a new copy with TP’s other writings. It’s something each one of us should read.
The first great American 250th anniversary date of the year arrives this Friday: the publication of Thomas Paine's COMMON SENSE, which occurred on January 9, 1776.
Many sources have the date as January 10, 1776. This is incorrect. But what accounts for the confusion???? Friends, follow me.
Many sources have the date as January 10, 1776. This is incorrect. But what accounts for the confusion???? Friends, follow me.
January 5, 2026 at 6:12 PM
I just purchased a new copy with TP’s other writings. It’s something each one of us should read.
😱😱😱
Bro, you can fix Wikipedia yourself. It’s the whole point.
January 5, 2026 at 6:09 PM
😱😱😱
It is done
Tomorrow I will solve a bibliographical problem of little to no importance. Watch this space.
January 5, 2026 at 6:01 PM
It is done
Reposted by Joseph Rezek
Good thing I didn't include the "exact date" before printing...what a trainwreck that would've been...phew!
January 5, 2026 at 5:30 PM
Good thing I didn't include the "exact date" before printing...what a trainwreck that would've been...phew!
Reposted by Joseph Rezek
These are indeed the times that try men’s souls
The first great American 250th anniversary date of the year arrives this Friday: the publication of Thomas Paine's COMMON SENSE, which occurred on January 9, 1776.
Many sources have the date as January 10, 1776. This is incorrect. But what accounts for the confusion???? Friends, follow me.
Many sources have the date as January 10, 1776. This is incorrect. But what accounts for the confusion???? Friends, follow me.
January 5, 2026 at 5:49 PM
These are indeed the times that try men’s souls