At age 28, he held the Briggs–Copeland appointment in the teaching of writing, and was Allston–Burr Senior Tutor, and later, Master of Dunster House.

At Harvard, apart from creative writing, he taught Irish drama, modern poetry, and the university's first course in African American literature.

Under managing editor Ray Cave, Rosenblatt also wrote the magazine's first "tone poems," brief interpretive essays introducing cover stories.

"[14] He followed Making Toast with Unless It Moves the Human Heart, a book on the art and craft of writing, which was also a New York Times bestseller,[15] as was Kayak Morning,[16] a meditation on grief.

His two most recent books are Cold Moon: On Life, Love, and Responsibility (2020) and Cataract Blues: Running the Keyboard (2023).

[17] Of Cold Moon, The Washington Post wrote: "In this deceptively short book, the celebrated author and essayist takes us on a tour of his 'weathered mind.'

"[18] Kirkus Reviews wrote: "In brief passages connected by associations and the improvisational feel of jazz [Rosenblatt] moves fluidly among memoir, philosophy, natural history and inspiration... A tonic for tough times filled with plain spoken lyricism, gratitude, and good humor.

Prompted by his wildly successful eye surgery, Roger Rosenblatt celebrates his new favorite wavelength by letting it wash over everything that matters — nature, history, music, memory, laughter, loss, and love.

He has also written six off-Broadway plays, including Ashley Montana Goes Ashore in the Caicos, and The Oldsmobiles, both produced at the Flea Theater.

His comic one-man show, Free Speech in America, which he performed at the American Place Theater, was cited by the New York Times as one of the 10 best plays of 1991.

[22] William Safire of the New York Times wrote that Roger Rosenblatt’s work represents “some of the most profound and stylish writing in America today.”[23] Vanity Fair said that he “set new standards of thought and compassion” in journalism.

[24] The Philadelphia Inquirer cited his essays for “unparalleled elegance and wit.”[25] Kirkus Reviews noted, "He has excelled in nearly every literary form.

[30] In June, 2016, he was awarded the President's Medal of the Chautauqua Institution for the artistic and moral quality of his body of work.

Also in 2021, he founded Write America, a national reading series broadcast weekly by writers devoted to healing divisions in the country.