James A. Connor
Author of Kepler's Witch
About the Author
He lives in the Pocono Mountains of Pennsylvania with his wife, two border collies, and two stray cats. He is currently teaching English at Kean University in Union, New Jersey. For eighteen years, he was a Catholic priest and a member of the Jesuit Order, where he served as a teacher, worked in show more parishes, and ministered to Native peoples---notably the Shuswap, Nez Perce, Moses Lake, and Navajo. A winner of the Iowa Journal of Literary Studies Essay Award, he has published in Traditional Home Magazine, The Iowa Review, and has a collection of short stories entitled GOD'S BREATH AND OTHER STORIES. (Bowker Author Biography) show less
Works by James A. Connor
Tagged
Common Knowledge
- Canonical name
- Connor, James A.
- Birthdate
- 1951
- Gender
- male
- Nationality
- USA
- Birthplace
- Washington, DC, USA
- Education
- University of Iowa (PhD)
Saint Meinrad School of Theology
California State University, Northridge - Occupations
- Professor
Jesuit Priest - Organizations
- Kean University
St. Louis University
Gonzaga University
Lessing Institute - Short biography
- James A. Connor is a former Jesuit priest and is professor of English at Kean University in Union, New Jersey; he has also held teaching posts at St. Louis University and Gonzaga University. He is a director of studies at the Lessing Institute in Prague. He holds degrees in geoscience, philosophy, theology, and creative writing, and a Ph.D. in literature and science. He is a prize-winning essayist published widely in such places as American Book Review, Traditional Home, Willow Springs, The Critic, The Iowa Review, and The Iowa Journal of Literary Studies.
Members
Reviews
Kepler's Witch: An Astronomer's Discovery of Cosmic… by James A. Connor
While Johannes Kepler was breaking ground in the field of astronomy, he was also fighting to save his mother from a charge of witchcraft. This book gives an account of that struggle along with a biography of Kepler's life in general. Sounds pretty fascinating, no? Welp. Apparently not, at least as Connor tells it. Bone dry and so disappointing.
Johannes Kepler's biography, scientific career, family problems, including elderly mother tried as a witch, and beginning of 30 yr war.
Interesting and insightful, easy to read and understand. A vivid description of The Last Judgement and how it was painted, as well as an outline of Michelangelo's life. I recommend reading this with a picture of The Last Judgement within reach.
A former Jesuit priest tells the story of Blaise Pascal's life and major works - those on vacuum, the invention of the first computer, the invention of the science of probabilities, which lead him to his famous wager. This smacked too much of a religious apologist, but given the context of Pascal's life, which I didn't know about, it would make sense. All in all, though, I didn't like it.
Lists
Witch Hunts (1)
Art of Reading (1)
Awards
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Statistics
- Works
- 5
- Members
- 623
- Popularity
- #40,415
- Rating
- 3.7
- Reviews
- 5
- ISBNs
- 18
- Languages
- 4