Brother Astronomer: Adventures of a Vatican Scientist
- Book Review,
by Guy Consolmagno
From Publishers Weekly
It's the last two words of its subtitle that will arouse interest in this amiable book--and deservedly so. Like other Jesuit scientists before him, most notably Teilhard de Chardin, Consolmagno conveys well a passion for science wed to faith in God: two objects of devotion that, as Consolmagno realizes, many see as mutually exclusive. The triumph of his book is its persuasive argument that doing science can be a religious act--"that studying creation is a way of worshipping the creator." Regrettably, that triumph is confined to only a minor portion of the text, which overall, despite its other merits, has a ragtag feel, with Consolmagno moving from a look at his monastic-scientist's routine to discussions of his specialty, the study of meteorites; a history of Galileo's problems with the Church; a mini-autobiography; and Consolmagno's experiences hunting meteorites in Antarctica. And, in fact, the final chapter reveals that much of the book consists of reworked versions of the author's past talks and papers. Other than the brilliant defense of science's place in the religious life (and vice versa), no section of the book excels, though all are serviceable. The hard science discussions are elegant but rather technical; the Antarctic narrative, while enjoyable enough, lacks the alert wordsmithery of the practiced storyteller; and some of Consolmagno's statements, such as that all of Western science's achievements result "from the Incarnation," are so bald as to deny anyone but a devout Christian any grip. Even so, the book works, and well, for Consolmagno is a charming writer, witty, self-deprecating and, above all, genuine. There's not a whit of posturing in his words, but, instead, a sincerity and enthusiasm that are consistently congenial and infectious. 60,000 first printing; author tour. (Mar.) FYI: Brother Astronomer launches McGraw-Hill's ambitious new trade science program, which in the year 2000 will publish books by, among others, Ellen J. Prager, Alan Lightman and Joel de Rosnay. Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From Library Journal
Consolmagno, a Jesuit brother for the past ten years, has spent 25 years as an astronomer. He is now at the Vatican Observatory, where he curates one of the largest meteorite collections in the world. Consolmagno's book is an uneven mix of memoir, science, and religion; four large sections cover meteorites and comets, the perceived rift between science and theology, his life's path leading up to the decision to join the Jesuits, and his recent participation in a scientific mission to the Antarctic. The threads connecting these disparate topics are clear, deft writing and a mind at home with science and faith. However the four sections, while interesting in themselves (the last one on Antarctica is especially wonderful), do not make a cohesive whole. In addition, parts of the text were conference presentations or previously published articles, adding to the book's cut-and-paste feel. Recommended for larger collections.-Michael D. Cramer, Cigna Healthcare, Raleigh, NC Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From Booklist
Consolmagno long had the scientific qualifications to be the pope's astronomer but didn't join the Jesuits, whose bailiwick the Vatican observatory is, until, at age 37, God told him he was ready. After settling in, he concentrated on the Vatican's meteorite collection, continuing his research on what such literally unearthly rocks might reveal; providing plenty about procedure, he traces that research in the first part of his ingratiating memoirs. In the second, he discusses the relationship of religion and science, arguing that because Christianity holds that what God has created, including human rationality, is good, the Catholic Church has always strongly encouraged science, the suppression of Galileo--the only incident of its kind in church history--notwithstanding. In the third part, Consolmagno presents his journey from brainy, devout youth through MIT and academic astronomy to the Jesuits and the Vatican, and in the last he describes, from firsthand experience, what meteorite gathering in Antarctica is like. Congenially conveying both meaty science and meaty theology, Consolmagno contributes vitally to the rapprochement of science and faith. Ray Olson
Natural History, March 2000
"The book mingles memoir with theology and science and includes a particularly memorable chapter on meteorite hunting in Antarctica."
Review
My adventure in the world of e-books came about because a publisher, McGraw-Hill, cleverly sent a gallery of an upcoming book, Brother Astronomer: Adventures of a Vatican Scientist, loaded onto a Rocket eBook. Written by Brother Guy Consolmagno, the $24.95 hardcover will be available to readers in March. Blending God, the stars and Galileo, the text is well-chosen for a brave new variation on a device that Gutenberg created in the 15th century. The author is an astronomer at the Vatican Observatory. A Jesuit brother, he lives and works part of the year at Castel Gandolfo, the pope's summer residence. Yet he communes via e-mail with astronomers around the globe.
Book Description
In the current debate over science and religion, we tend to overlook the fact that not all religious traditions are anti-scientific. People are often surprised to hear that the Vatican supports an astronomical observatory, yet the Vatican Observatory is one of the oldest astronomical institutes in the world, with its beginnings dating back to the reform of the calendar in 1582. Astronomy was one of the core subjects (along with arithmetic, geometry, and music) in the great medieval universities, taught by the Jesuits. Following the tradition of his order, Jesuit brother and working astronomer Guy Consolmagno considers himself to be a "missionary of science;" his mission: to undo the false assumption that the Church remains hostile to science. Blending memoir, science, history, and theology, Consolmagno takes us on a grand adventure. We revisit the infamous "Galileo affair" and see that it didn't unfold in quite the way we thought. We tour the Vatican's extensive meteorite collection and learn how astronomy progresses despite its dearth of tactile evidence. We get a rare glimpse into the world of working scientists and see how scientific discoveries are proposed and advanced (it hasn't changed much since Galileo's time). We learn the inside story of the "Mars meteorite": how can we be sure it's really from Mars, and why can't scientists agree on whether or not it contains evidence of life? With Consolmagno as our guide we travel to Japan and see how geology informs planetary science; we go to Africa and witness mankind's innate curiosity about the heavens, even in the midst of desperate poverty; and we hunt for meteorites in Antartica. Most importantly, we see how science and religion can come together in one individual, and by extension, how they both are needed to answer the big questions. What would it mean to us if we did find life elsewhere in the universe? How did the world begin, and why does it follow natural laws? "Science and Religion have an intimate tie," Brother Guy writes, "Without faith in a Creator God, one who looks at His universe and declares it Good, how can you justify the belief that this universe is worth studying; indeed, that the universe even makes enough sense to be able to be studied?"
Download Description
Ever since Galileo was forced to recant his proofs of a sun-centered solar system, the Roman Catholic Church has been considered hostile toward science. Not quite true, argues Jesuit Brother Guy Consolmagno in his moving and intellectually playful memoir of a life lived in the active interplay of science and religion. Blending memoir, science, history, and theology, Consolmagno takes us on a grand adventure. We revisit the infamous "Galileo affair" and see that it didn't unfold in quite the way we thought. We get a rare glimpse into the world of working scientists and see how scientific discoveries are proposed and advanced. We learn the inside story of the "Mars meteorite": how can we be sure it's really from Mars, and why can't scientists agree on whether or not it contains evidence of life? Brother Astronomer memorably sets forth one scientist's conviction that the universe may be worth study only if it is the work of a Creator God.
Book Info
A memoir filled with science, history and theology, of the experiences of a Vatican astronomer. An addition to the age-old debate between science and religion, asking major questions about the origin of the universe and whether life exists outside the planet Earth, explaining how science and religion are both needed to answer each. Softcover.
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