Jonathan Fast (born April 13, 1948) is an American author and

social work Social work is an academic discipline and practice-based profession concerned with meeting the basic needs of individuals, families, groups, communities, and society as a whole to enhance their individual and collective well-being. Social work ...

teacher.

Life and career

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, Molly Jong-Fast, from his first marriage to author Erica Jong, and two sons from his marriage to Barbara Fast, a

Unitarian Unitarian or Unitarianism may refer to: Christian and Christian-derived theologies A Unitarian is a follower of, or a member of an organisation that follows, any of several theologies referred to as Unitarianism: * Unitarianism (1565–present ...

minister. Fast's nonfiction book, ''Ceremonial Violence: A Psychological Explanation of School Shootings'' (2008), analyzes five school shootings from a psychological perspective:

Cleveland Elementary School shooting (San Diego) The Cleveland Elementary School shooting was a school shooting that took place on January 29, 1979, at Grover Cleveland Elementary School in San Diego, California, United States. The Principal (education), principal and a custodian were killed; ...

, the Columbine High School shooting, the shootings at Simon's Rock College, the

Bethel Regional High School shooting The Bethel Regional High School shooting was a school shooting that occurred on February 19, 1997, at Bethel Regional High School in Bethel, Alaska. Two people were killed and two people were wounded by 16-year-old student Evan Ramsey. Ramsey is ...

, and the Pearl High School shooting. , Fast is an associate professor of social work at the

Wurzweiler School of Social Work The Wurzweiler School of Social Work at Yeshiva University was founded in 1957. It is a methods-based institution offering concentrations in clinical casework, social group work, and community social work. Fieldwork is an integral part of the curric ...

at Yeshiva University. His father, Howard Fast (1914–2003), was the author of many best-selling novels, including '' Spartacus'' (

1951 Events January * January 4 – Korean War: Third Battle of Seoul – Chinese and North Korean forces capture Seoul for the second time (having lost the Second Battle of Seoul in September 1950). * January 9 – The Government of the United ...

), which became the basis for the

1960 It is also known as the "Year of Africa" because of major events—particularly the independence of seventeen African nations—that focused global attention on the continent and intensified feelings of Pan-Africanism. Events January * Ja ...

film of the same name.

Publications

* Science fiction ** ''The Secrets of Synchronicity'' (1977) ** ''Mortal Gods'' (1978) ** ''The Inner Circle'' (1979) **"Prisoner of the Planets" (1980) ** ''The Beast'' (1981) * Other fiction ** ''The Golden Fire'' (1986) ** ''The Jade Stalk'' (1988) ** ''Stolen Time'' (1990) * Adaptations ** ''Newsies'' (1992) * Non-fiction ** ''Ceremonial Violence: a psychological explanation of school shootings'' (2008). ** ''Beyond bullying : breaking the cycle of shame, bullying, and violence'' (2015).

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Fast, Jonathan 1948 births Living people Yeshiva University faculty 20th-century American novelists Writers from New York City Writers from Rhode Island Writers from Greenwich, Connecticut People from Westerly, Rhode Island Jewish American novelists American science fiction writers American male novelists Columbia University School of Social Work alumni Princeton University alumni Yeshiva University alumni 20th-century American male writers Novelists from New York (state) Novelists from Connecticut 21st-century American Jews