250 Years of “Common Sense”: Iona University’s Slonimsky Depicts Legacy of Thomas Paine in NPR Publication
Continuing Iona University’s Institute for Thomas Paine Studies’ (ITPS) celebration of the 250th anniversary of Common Sense, program director Dr. Nora Slonimsky spoke with NPR correspondent Sarah McCammon to analyze the ideals presented in Paine’s best-selling publication, providing context as to how the dissimulation of the revolution-sparking literature is — in many ways — similar to how information is shared today.
Throughout the conversation, Slonimsky provided insight on the premise and significance of Common Sense, noting how the straightforward nature of the publication moved the needle in the United States’ movement towards declaring independence while effectively conveying the limitless possibilities of a country in which individuals from all walks of life to come together as one.
Bridging the gap between the publication’s historical significance and its effect on the sharing of ideas in the modern day, Slonimsky compared the book’s rise to popularity to the works of social media influencers paired with conversations around an office water cooler.”
“The best way I think you can explain how "Common Sense" gets out there into the world is Paine is not all that dissimilar from a social media influencer today. Pamphlets are short, relatively speaking, and his was particularly concise and readable…people would have having physically read the book, they're also talking about it in taverns or coffeehouses or, you know, around the 18th century version of the water cooler.”
To learn more about ITPS’s role in the celebration of the 250th anniversary of Common Sense, read the full story here.
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Founded in 1940, Iona University is a master's-granting private, Catholic, coeducational institution of learning in the tradition of the Edmund Rice Christian Brothers. Iona's 45-acre New Rochelle campus and 28-acre Bronxville campus are just 20 miles north of Midtown Manhattan. With a total enrollment of nearly 4,000 students and an alumni base of 55,000 around the world, Iona is a diverse community of learners and scholars dedicated to academic excellence and the values of justice, peace and service. Iona is highly accredited, offering undergraduate degrees in liberal arts, science and business administration, as well as Master of Arts, Master of Science and Master of Business Administration degrees and numerous advanced certificate programs. Iona students enjoy small class sizes, engaged professors and a wide array of academic programs across the School of Arts & Science; LaPenta School of Business; NewYork-Presbyterian Iona School of Nursing & Health Sciences; and Hynes Institute for Entrepreneurship & Innovation. Iona also continues to be recognized in prestigious national rankings. Most recently for 2025, Iona has been named one of the nation’s best colleges by The Princeton Review, The Wall Street Journal, Forbes and others. Additionally, U.S. News & World Report recognized Iona as one of top for social mobility in the country, while Georgetown University's Center on Education and the Workforce (CEW) ranked an Iona degree in the top 6 percent nationally for long-term return on investment. Iona’s LaPenta School of Business, meanwhile, is also accredited by AACSB International, a recognition awarded to just 6 percent of business schools worldwide. In addition, The Princeton Review once again named Iona to its “Best Business Schools for 2025,” recognizing both its on-campus and online MBA programs. Connecting to its Irish heritage, Iona also opened a new campus in County Mayo, Ireland, located on the historic 400-acre Westport House Estate. A school on the rise, Iona officially changed its status from College to University on July 1, 2022, reflecting the growth of its academic programs and the prestige of an Iona education.