Jonathan Fast
Encyclopedia
Jonathan Fast is an American
author
and social work
teacher
.
Fast was born in New York City
. He attended Princeton University
, and earned graduate degrees at Columbia University
and Yeshiva University
. He has a daughter (http://MollyJongFast.com) Molly Jong-Fast
from his first marriage to author Erica Jong
, and two sons from his marriage to Barbara Fast, a Unitarian
minister.
Fast currently resides in Greenwich, Connecticut
, and Westerly, Rhode Island, and teaches research at (http://yu.edu/Wurzweiler) the Wurzweiler School of Social Work at Yeshiva University
.
His father, Howard Fast
, was the author of many best-selling novels, including the book Spartacus, that later became the basis for the film of the same name. Howard was a member of the American Communist Party, and he later served a three-month prison sentence for "contempt
of Congress". While growing up in a literary milieu influenced Jonathan toward a career as a writer, a liberal political climate laid the groundwork for his interest in social work.
Jonathan Fast began writing science fiction
and then broadened out into other genres. Of his eight novels, the most successful, from both a commercial and literary perspective, is the historical novel, The Golden Fire, an account of two brothers who battle to be king, set in India during the Gupta Empire
(ca. 300 AD).
Fast seems to have given up the writing of fiction, but frequently publishes scholarly articles in the field of social work, concentrating in the area of school safety, violence, and school rampage shootings (e.g., The Columbine High School massacre
) and the use of technology in teaching.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
author
Author
An author is broadly defined as "the person who originates or gives existence to anything" and that authorship determines responsibility for what is created. Narrowly defined, an author is the originator of any written work.-Legal significance:...
and social work
Social work
Social Work is a professional and academic discipline that seeks to improve the quality of life and wellbeing of an individual, group, or community by intervening through research, policy, community organizing, direct practice, and teaching on behalf of those afflicted with poverty or any real or...
teacher
Teacher
A teacher or schoolteacher is a person who provides education for pupils and students . The role of teacher is often formal and ongoing, carried out at a school or other place of formal education. In many countries, a person who wishes to become a teacher must first obtain specified professional...
.
Fast was born in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. He attended Princeton University
Princeton University
Princeton University is a private research university located in Princeton, New Jersey, United States. The school is one of the eight universities of the Ivy League, and is one of the nine Colonial Colleges founded before the American Revolution....
, and earned graduate degrees at Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
and Yeshiva University
Yeshiva University
Yeshiva University is a private university in New York City, with six campuses in New York and one in Israel. Founded in 1886, it is a research university ranked as 45th in the US among national universities by U.S. News & World Report in 2012...
. He has a daughter (http://MollyJongFast.com) Molly Jong-Fast
Molly Jong-Fast
Molly Jong-Fast is an American author. She wrote about her wild life as a girl in 1990s New York.She is the daughter of Erica Jong and Jonathan Fast. She is the granddaughter of Howard Fast...
from his first marriage to author Erica Jong
Erica Jong
Erica Jong is an American author and teacher best known for her fiction and poetry.-Career:A 1963 graduate of Barnard College, and with an M.A...
, and two sons from his marriage to Barbara Fast, a Unitarian
Unitarianism
Unitarianism is a Christian theological movement, named for its understanding of God as one person, in direct contrast to Trinitarianism which defines God as three persons coexisting consubstantially as one in being....
minister.
Fast currently resides in Greenwich, Connecticut
Greenwich, Connecticut
Greenwich is a town in Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States. As of the 2010 census, the town had a total population of 61,171. It is home to many hedge funds and other financial service companies. Greenwich is the southernmost and westernmost municipality in Connecticut and is 38+ minutes ...
, and Westerly, Rhode Island, and teaches research at (http://yu.edu/Wurzweiler) the Wurzweiler School of Social Work at Yeshiva University
Yeshiva University
Yeshiva University is a private university in New York City, with six campuses in New York and one in Israel. Founded in 1886, it is a research university ranked as 45th in the US among national universities by U.S. News & World Report in 2012...
.
His father, Howard Fast
Howard Fast
Howard Melvin Fast was an American novelist and television writer. Fast also wrote under the pen names E. V. Cunningham and Walter Ericson.-Early life:Fast was born in New York City...
, was the author of many best-selling novels, including the book Spartacus, that later became the basis for the film of the same name. Howard was a member of the American Communist Party, and he later served a three-month prison sentence for "contempt
Contempt
Contempt is an intensely negative emotion regarding a person or group of people as inferior, base, or worthless—it is similar to scorn. It is also used when people are being sarcastic. Contempt is also defined as the state of being despised or dishonored; disgrace, and an open disrespect or willful...
of Congress". While growing up in a literary milieu influenced Jonathan toward a career as a writer, a liberal political climate laid the groundwork for his interest in social work.
Jonathan Fast began writing science fiction
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
and then broadened out into other genres. Of his eight novels, the most successful, from both a commercial and literary perspective, is the historical novel, The Golden Fire, an account of two brothers who battle to be king, set in India during the Gupta Empire
Gupta Empire
The Gupta Empire was an ancient Indian empire which existed approximately from 320 to 550 CE and covered much of the Indian Subcontinent. Founded by Maharaja Sri-Gupta, the dynasty was the model of a classical civilization. The peace and prosperity created under leadership of Guptas enabled the...
(ca. 300 AD).
Fast seems to have given up the writing of fiction, but frequently publishes scholarly articles in the field of social work, concentrating in the area of school safety, violence, and school rampage shootings (e.g., The Columbine High School massacre
Columbine High School massacre
The Columbine High School massacre occurred on Tuesday, April 20, 1999, at Columbine High School in Columbine, an unincorporated area of Jefferson County, Colorado, United States, near Denver and Littleton. Two senior students, Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold, embarked on a massacre, killing 12...
) and the use of technology in teaching.
Fiction
- The Secrets of Synchronicity (1977)
- Mortal Gods (1978)
- The Inner Circle (1979)
- The Beast (1981)
- The Golden Fire (1986)
- The Jade Stalk (1988)
- Stolen Time (1990)
Non-fiction
- Ceremonial Violence: The Psychological Explanation for School Rampage Shooting (2008)
External links
- Ceremonial Violence website
- Fast's faculty page at Yeshiva University
- The Reluctant CyberProf, Fast's personal website.